Integrating geodata infrastructures from the ground up

The National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) requires vertical integration. Multiple levels of government produce geodata at multiple levels of resolution, multiple levels of attribution, differing update cycles, and differing levels of cost. The chronology of developments in data production and application shows the success of varying roles of local, regional, state, and national governments to provide data to their immediate constituents. The same chronology shows the lack of success in integrating geographic information between government levels. This lack of vertical integration forms a major impediment to a fully robust NSDI. This paper concludes by presenting a proposal for vertical integration, currently under discussion in Kentucky, to serve as a model for other state and local stakeholders to consider.