Creating A-16 Compliant National Data Theme for Cultural Resources

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1 Creating A-16 Compliant National Data Theme for Cultural Resources Cultural Resource GIS Facility National Park Service John J. Knoerl Deidre McCarthy Paper 169

2 Abstract OMB Circular A-16 defines a set of requirements for Federal agencies to follow when they create, manage, or distribute spatial data. A-16 also identified the National Park Service as the lead agency for developing the cultural resources national data frame; within the National Park Service the Cultural Resources Geographic Information Services (CRGIS) office has assumed this responsibility. The task of developing the cultural resources national data theme includes setting data content standards, metadata standards, monitoring the progress towards converting paper historic inventories into digital files, coordinating the development of cultural resources databases that have spatial data, eliminating duplication of spatial information, identifying best practices and disseminating this information to other Federal, state, local agencies, historic preservationists, and universities. CRGIS is working toward the development of standards that will be both A-16 compliant and user friendly through meetings and workshops.

Locating Cultural Resources Locational information is a key factor in understanding cultural

than an understanding of where the resource is Geographic clues provide information about the

exists and how it relates to others A geographical context provides managers with a different

3 Locating Cultural Resources Locational information is a key factor in understanding cultural resources, and their treatment Knowing the location of a resource on the ground provides more than an understanding of where the resource is Geographic clues provide information about the human and environmental influences on cultural resources, helping to explain why the resource exists and how it relates to others A geographical context provides managers with a different perspective on our resources, allowing us to see the interaction of resources, and larger trends

The Need for Consensus The NPS is a Federal Agency, producing spatial data that describes cultural resources, and therefore must follow specific rules outlined by Circular A-16 Data we produce is

4 The Need for Consensus The NPS is a Federal Agency, producing spatial data that describes cultural resources, and therefore must follow specific rules outlined by Circular A-16 Data we produce is part of the National Spatial Data Clearinghouse and must follow the standards produced by the Federal Geographic Data Committee Circular A-16 designates the NPS as the lead agency for cultural resources, responsible for the stewardship of the data assess existing standards and identify needs develop and implement FGDC standards develop plan for the implementation of standards and population of the data set collect and analyze information regarding user needs publish data online

5 To Whom does this Circular apply? Circular A-16 applies to your program if you: collect, produce, acquire, maintain, distribute, use, or preserve paper maps or digital spatial data to fulfill your mission

What types of data activities does the Circular apply to? iall spatial data and geographic information systems activities - financed by federal funds.

6 What types of data activities does the Circular apply to? iall spatial data and geographic information systems activities - financed by federal funds. ifor example A-16 applies to: National Mapping Program (USGS) National Wetlands Inventory (FWS) National Public Land Survey System (BLM) Natural Resource Inventory and Monitoring Program (NPS) iit also applies to: Agency Section 106 activities Agency Section 110 activities such as: * nominating properties to the NR * conducting survey * maintaining an inventory of cultural resources

We need guidelines that relate cultural resource spatial data to cultural resource attribute data.

7 Accomplishing our Goals Guidelines for both legacy and future data are needed in a number of key areas: We need guidelines for collecting cultural resource spatial data: geometry, accuracy, datum, coordinate systems, sub-entities etc. We need guidelines that relate cultural resource spatial data to cultural resource attribute data. We need guidelines that address how to safeguard sensitive spatial data. We need guidelines to create metadata standards at the data set and feature levels

8 Beginning the Process Start with our own agency first (get our house in order) Get input from those who maintain cultural resource data Draft working guidelines that reflect the input Branch out to other Federal agencies to gain their input and counsel Revise the guidelines Field test the guidelines Go through the FGDC standards making process Provide technical assistance to those who need to implement them

9 Cultural Resource GIS Workshop Began with a workshop that focused on open discussion regarding our responsibilities and issues related to A-16 and NPS role Participants included: NPS cultural resource database managers and users Regional NPS GIS coordinators The National NPS GIS coordinator Members of the Federal Geographic Data Committee National Trails System representatives NPS park unit GIS users Executive Director of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training Executive Director of the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers Assistant Director, National Center for Cultural Resources

Workshop Questions What is the best way to link the cultural resource databases together and still maintain the autonomous database structures?

10 Workshop Questions What is the best way to link the cultural resource databases together and still maintain the autonomous database structures? Should all resource types be contained in the same theme and how should the resources be described? What is an effective way to generalize sensitive resource data, yet provide enough information for preservation planning? Through what means can accurate locational information be collected and incorporated into the existing cultural resource databases? How can accurate locational information be found for legacy resource data already entered into the existing databases?

11 Guiding Principles Agreed Upon Spatial representation of cultural resources is important for their protection and management Each cultural resource database needs to remain autonomous A unique ID needs to be created for each cultural resource entity to enable linking between databases and use in a GIS Each unique feature will have a unique spatial representation Discipline experts for the predominant characterization of a feature should be responsible for the spatial boundary determination Standards should be defined for how each resource type will be represented, and at what level of accuracy, scale and resolution Standards may need to be different for legacy data and new data Questions we are asking of these datasets should drive the resolution and accuracy of spatial data layers

12 Potential Standards and Guidelines Discussed Cultural resource program managers need to require locational data be collected for each resource Guidelines should define how cultural resource spatial data can be used Standards should define how each type of resource should be represented Standards should define the accuracy required for each type of resource Standards should define when to use various levels of resolution Standards should define a datum and coordinate system for national scale data Standards should define when sensitive data can be released Metadata standards should define the attribute fields in each database Metadata standards should define how each boundary is defined Guidelines should define what spatial data to collect: survey boundaries, transects, intrasite features, etc. Guidelines should define how and when updates occur

13 What are we doing now? Create a committee to look at options for securing locational data on sensitive resources Conduct a cultural resource GIS needs assessment nationally Create and prioritize a list of potential standards and guidelines Draft high priority standards and guidelines with the help of the cultural resource community Once several standards are drafted, test the feasibility of linking the cultural resource databases together using a geographic area as a pilot project

14 What Does All This Mean for You! RIGHT NOW, NOTHING except need you input as the draft standards are developed need you to do reality checks to see if they are realistic Eventually the spatial standards will be a catalyst for change in four key areas of landscape survey Field Mapping: Global Positioning Systems (GPS) will be used to map cultural landscapes Field Observation GPS Data Dictionaries will bring CLAIMS into the field Cultural Landscape Development Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will help you build and display historic landscape contexts over time Data Distribution Metadata (data about data) will improve the documentation behind your survey

15 Tentative Guidelines: Guidelines for creating cultural resource spatial data: A cultural resource must be represented by a point, line or polygon feature. A newly inventoried cultural resource must be defined by a polygon when appropriate. Contributing cultural resources to a historic districts or landscape must be represented at a minimum by a point or line feature. The location of vertices defining the polygon boundary of a cultural resource must meet USGS National Mapping Standard for 1:24000.

16 Tentative Guidelines: Guidelines for creating cultural resource spatial data continued: The positional accuracy for vertices defining the polygon boundary of a newly inventoried cultural resource must be within 1 meter of their true position for 90 percent of the vertices. Address fields created for the purpose of geo-coding the location of a newly inventoried cultural resource must follow the FGDC Address Content Standard. Legacy data may be used as a source for creating spatial data for cultural resources if the feature level metadata is known for the legacy data. User defined coordinate systems e.g. an archaeological site grid must be tied into a real world coordinate system.

17 Tentative Guidelines: Guidelines for linking spatial data to cultural resource databases : A point, line or polygon boundary for a cultural resource must be linked to attribute tables that describe these cultural resources. Cross walk tables should be used and completely filled out when data on a cultural resource appears in more than one database.

18 Tentative Guidelines: Guidelines for safeguarding sensitive spatial cultural resource data: Release of sensitive locational data must be done in compliance with the policy of the originating agency. Originating agencies must have an official written and published policy on the release of sensitive locational data before cultural resource data is released to the public or other governmental agencies. Policy should include security measures to prevent unauthorized release of sensitive locational cultural resources.

19 Tentative Guidelines: Guidelines for spatial metadata for cultural resources: Dataset level metadata for point, line, or polygon boundaries must be FGDC compliant for spatial metadata. Feature level metadata for individual points, lines, or polygon boundaries must be able to address the following questions. Does the boundary represent a single cultural resource or an aggregate cultural resource? Does the boundary circumscribe, buffer, or represent the actual boundary of the cultural resource? What method was used to locate and plot the cultural resource? (e.g. address matching, GPS survey, triangulation w/ compass, triangulation with transit, trilateration with tape, trilateration by pacing, unknown etc.?

20 Tentative Guidelines: Guidelines for spatial metadata for cultural resources: When was the boundary created? When was the boundary last updated? Who or what institution created the boundary? What map datum was used in plotting the location of the cultural resource? What coordinate system was used in plotting the location of the cultural resource? If using GPS what was the level of accuracy? What use constraints are there on the boundary? e.g. suitable for Section 106 compliance, National Register boundary, or limited to research etc. Feature level metadata should be entered as fields in the spatial attribute table.

21 Now What? This year we want to: Hold a Federal agency-wide workshop to review these guidelines SHPOs and THPOs will also be included in this workshop Goal: develop consensus and revise accordingly Design a field test for the guidelines

22 Authors Information John J. Knoerl Deidre McCarthy Program Manager Architectural-historian CRGIS CRGIS HABS/HAER/HALS/CRGIS HABS/HAER/HALS/CRGIS National Park Service National Park Service Department of the Interior Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. (2270) 1849 C Street, N.W. (2270) Washington, D.C Washington, D.C Voice: Voice: Fax: Fax: John_knoerl@nps.gov deidre_mccarthy@nps.gov

Integrating GIS and GPS Technologies into Cultural Resource Management Strategies The Technology

SERDP/ESTCP/Legacy Program DoD Cultural Resources Workshop Background Paper: Knowledge Management Integrating GIS and GPS Technologies into Cultural Resource Management Strategies Deidre McCarthy National