[StateGIS] More info on the Census Questions

[Bill Farnsworth]

Everybody,

Below is the email that came with the previous attachment.

Hi Bill,

I hope you were able to relax and enjoy the holidays.  I haven't yet figured out what happened to 2011 - seems like the year went by in a flash.  Must be a sign of getting older!

As you may recall, I sent you a message earlier this month regarding some questions about geospatial information for and within the state of Idaho.  The Census Bureau is embarking upon a Geographic Support System (GSS) Initiative.  The GSS Initiative is an integrated program of improved address coverage, continual spatial feature updates, and enhanced quality assessment and measurement.  It supports a targeted, rather than complete, Address Canvassing operation during 2019 in preparation for the 2020 decennial census.  It also allows for continual updates throughout the decade to support the nations current surveys. There are ten working groups that have been formed: (1) Address Coverage and Sources, (2) Feature Coverage and Sources, (3) Geocoding, (4) GPS, (5) MAF/TIGER Integration/Linkage, (6) Partnerships, (7) Policy, (8)Project and Contract Management, (9) Quality, Assessments and Evaluations, and (10) Research and Development.  The working groups are evaluating existing data, determining how partners might contribute data, developing standards that reflect requirements, and exploring emerging technologies.  Major participants are the US Census Bureau with federal, state, local, and tribal governments, contractor partners, and all users of MAF/TIGER data.

I realize the questions (re-attached to this email) are 'loaded'.  We are basically in the research and development phase of this initiative.  Our primary goal for asking these questions is to try and assess how best to continue gathering information.  Are there sources of information out there that can be referenced by all parties so one individual or agency doesn't have to continually be contacted.  Does the geospatial community of the State of Idaho have any interest in the US Census Bureau keeping the MAF/TIGER files up-to-date and integrated?  If so, how might we partner, ie. consolidate resources, to help make this happen as efficiently and inexpensively as possible?

We've now been asked by Geography Division (at Census Bureau HQ) to report back, using the attached 15 questions, by Jan 13th.  I consider this a 'first cut-off' as partnering and working together are not topics/activities that have an end date.  As the Census Bureau's geographic contact for the State of Idaho, I would be delighted to talk to you about the GSS Initiative and the attached questions at your convenience.  If you could give me a call, I'd appreciate it.  I don't plan to be out of the office during the next month.

Thanks again for your time and consideration.  Have a Happy New Year.

Wendy



***********************************
Wendy Hawley
Supervisory Geographer
US Census Bureau - Seattle Region
601 Union Street, Suite 3700
Seattle, WA   98101
206.381.6305 (direct, vm)
206.381.6300 (General Geography)


Cheers,
Bill

bill.farnsworth at cio.idaho.gov<mailto:bill.farnsworth at cio.idaho.gov>
208 332-1878 (w)
208 863-9039 (c)

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