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The MetroGIS DataFinder website (www.datafinder.org)
implements a stated goal of MetroGIS:
- To provide a "metro-wide mechanism through which particpants easily and equitably share geographically referenced data that are accurate, current, secure, of common benefit."
DataFinder website features:
- Standardized metadata
- Web mapping services
- Downloadable spatial datasets via FTP or via interactive
Café application (allows datasets to be clipped to areas of interest)
- Café application for online data browsing
- Registered NSDI Clearinghouse node (allows user to do a search
of metadata on DataFinder and other local agencies such as the
Minnesota GeoGateway and allows other
clearinghouse nodes to search DataFinder)
DataFinder Website Projects
October 2006: Launch of OGC-compliant WMS & WFS
March 2005 - October 2006: DataFinder Cafe Version 2
May 2001 - July 2002: Enhanced Internet Data
Distribution Project (DataFinder Café)
September 2001 - September 2002: Implementation of Web Map
Services
June 2000 - January 2001: Convert
to Node of NSDI
January 1997 - April
1998: DataFinder Initial Development
Launch of OGC-compliant WMS & WFS
October 2006 |
Top of Page |
In October 2006, DataFinder launched 35 OGC-Compliant map services (18 image and 17 feature services) organized into the same theme categories as the DataFinder Catalog.
To learn more about DataFinder map services, see the MetroGIS web services page for background on the
project,
or to actually use the map services, see the DataFinder services page.
DataFinder Café Version 2
March 2005 - October 2006 |
Top of Page |
In early 2005, it was apparent that the original DataFinder Café, launched in 2002, was aging and ready for an update. Reasons for this update included requested enhancements from Café users, general review of application requirements and standard hardware upgrade of the computer hosting Café.
The company that developed the original Café, Syncline, Inc., no longer existed so upgrading the existing software was not an option. Several steps were taken to redefine
the needs for the next generation of Café:
- Usage statistics from the original Café were organized and analyzed
- Statistics indicated that some of the functionality, such as data format change, was not being used frequently enough to justify its continued inclusion in
Café. A summary of the data analyzed is found in the workgroup agenda listed below.
- A Café user survey was conducted
- A MetroGIS workgroup was formed to advise on a plan for Café
- The workgroup met three times
(click link below to access agenda for each meeting.)
- The workgroup provided valuable advice on interpretation of the user statistics and survey and assisted MetroGIS staff in selection of a software solution. Several custom and off-the-shelf solutions were examined. The Latitude Geographic’s Geocortex IMF and Data Distributor extension were selected as software to replace the existing Café. The workgroup provided a review of the new Café client and specific advice on its functionality before release. It was clarified that the primary objective of Café should continue to be data delivery and not be mapping or analysis.
The reengineered Café was released in October 2006 and can be launched from the DataFinder Café page.
On July 11, 2001, the MetroGIS Policy Board endorsed the project
objectives and authorized the Metropolitan Council to publish a Request for
Proposals (RFP) to design and implement an Internet-based data distribution
mechanism for the MetroGIS community as an extension of MetroGIS DataFinder.
This mechanism is referred to as MetroGIS DataFinder Café, which is
launched from a link on the DataFinder website.
The need for an Internet-based data distribution mechanism was
confirmed as a conclusion reached via
MetroGIS's Regional Parcel Data
Pilot Project. The project objectives were as follows:
- Automate MetroGIS's data distribution process, including
ability to distinguish between data requests that require licensing and data
requests that require fees.
- Provide the user with the ability to specify a geographic area
of interest within the seven-county area.
- Support a format(s) readily useable by all major GIS software
types used by the MetroGIS community to the extent possible and practical.
- Work in conjunction with MetroGIS's Web Map Services
capabilities.
- As a bid option, provide the user with the ability to specify
attributes from all those available for each data theme.
A project team, comprised of persons with appropriate expertise
and representing the diversity of the MetroGIS community's perspectives, helped
MetroGIS staff prepare the Scope of
Work for the RFP and select a consultant team. In October 2001, Syncline,
Inc. from Boston, MA was selected from a field of seven proposers.
Functional Design Requirements were agreed
upon in December 2001 and the System Design was completed by February 2002. The
consultant team delivered an operational application for beta testing by the
MetroGIS community on March 29, 2002. Beta testing commenced on April 10 and
concluded on May 7. Over 80 individuals were encouraged to test the
application, and each beta tester was encouraged to fill out an online survey
to comment on and rate several aspects of the application.
Click here for a summary report of the
beta test process, objectives, participants, comments and rating results, and
actions taken to address issues identified by the beta testers.
On June 5, 2002, the consultant team loaded the DataFinder
Café on the MetroGIS DataFinder server, with the Metropolitan Council
providing support on behalf of the MetroGIS community. The application was
officially rolled out at the MetroGIS Policy Board's July 2002 meeting.
The DataFinder Café is now operational and can be accessed
via the DataFinder
Café web page. A DataFinder Café White
Paper has been prepared to document the Café design process.
In addition to developing the DataFinder Café application,
the contract with the consultant team also included preparation of an eCommerce
Needs Assessment. The purpose of this assessment was to scope the design
elements and cost to extend the DataFinder Café's functionality to
deliver parcel data via the Internet to non-government interests.
Click here for the report submitted to MetroGIS on
April 3, 2002.
A workgroup was established in August 2002 to investigate how the
metropolitan area counties can collaboratively improve distribution of parcel
data to non-government interests. Visit the
County Data Producers
Workgroup page for information on the workgroup's activities.
In Summer 2003, ESRI's ArcNews published a technical
overview of the Cafe. See the Articles section of this site
for a link to the piece, entitled "MetroGIS Deploys Data Distribution System".
In May 2001, MetroGIS implemented several ArcIMS map services
that are available directly through DataFinder, or through the Geography
Network. One of these map services won first prize in the ESRI National
Geographic "Geography Network Challenge" in June 2001.
MetroGIS's intention is to migrate these ArcIMS map services to
OGC-compliant web map services (WMS). MetroGIS applied for a National Spatial
Data Infrastructure (NSDI) grant to assist with this work and was awarded a
grant of nearly $19,000.
For more information about these projects and to learn more about
web map services, please see the About Web
Map Services page.
In June 2000, work was initiated to expand DataFinder
functionality and, in addition, to modify its architecture to make it compliant
with FGDC Clearinghouse guidelines. This work was completed in January 2001 and
MetroGIS DataFinder was recognized as a registered node of the National Spatial
Data Infrastructure (NSDI). MetroGIS staff asked MetroGIS stakeholders to
provide feedback on the enhanced site and their suggestions were implemented.
More information about these topics can be found in the
Technical Advisory Team's agendas and
minutes from 2001.
Core functionality for DataFinder became operational in April
1998. DataFinder was designed to facilitate data sharing by providing a means
to quickly search metadata for data holdings relevant to specific needs and
facilitate data retrieval. The concept was intended to be similar to that of
the NSDI Clearinghouse. Consequently, there has been close coordination between
the DataFinder project and Minnesota's Geospatial Data Clearinghouse, a node of
the NSDI Clearinghouse infrastructure. The consultant team, led by Lynne Bly
and Associates, documented the project findings and recommendations in a series
of four reports. The Metropolitan Council retained Lynne Bly and Associates to
assist with this project in accordance with its MetroGIS "sponsor" role.
During the latter part of the 1998 and all of 1999, this
DataFinder project focused on identifying incentives to for MetroGIS
stakeholders to institutionalize widespread development of metadata for their
data holdings, in a standardized format endorsed by the Minnesota Governor's
Council on Geographic Information. Emphasis was placed on documenting data
associated with the high priority regional information needs. DataLOGR, a
metadata entry tool, was made available free of charge to government
organizations to facilitate the creation of standardized metadata. The
standardized metadata were then posted in the DataFinder database to enable
them to be searched via the Internet.
The findings and recommendations of this metadata facilitation
effort were presented at the 1999 National URISA Conference and summarized in a
paper entitled "Making Metadata
Part of Your Daily Diet" (2nd from bottom of page.) Tony Mathys, who worked
exclusively on this project, also published an article about the project in an
issue of GeoWorld Magazine. |
