MMCDERMOTT@USGSRESV.BITNET (06/24/91)
Archive-name: sci/geo/spatial-data-transfer-standard/1991-06-17
Archive-directory: isdres.usgs.gov:[.usgs.sdts] [130.11.48.2]
Original-posting-by: MMCDERMOTT@USGSRESV.BITNET
Original-subject: The Spatial Data Transfer Standard
Reposted-by: emv@msen.com (Edward Vielmetti, MSEN)
Dear Colleagues:
The National Mapping Division of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
would like to take this opportunity to announce the availability of
the final draft version of the proposed Spatial Data Transfer Standard
(SDTS). Also available is a copy of a paper presented at the
American Congress of Surveying and Mapping's 1991 Annual Conven -
tion. The paper is a good introduction to the SDTS; it provides an
overview of the SDTS, its history, capabilities, advantages and,
objectives.
This version of the SDTS has been submitted to the National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST) for approval as a Federal
Information Processing Standard (FIPS). FIPS approval procedures
provide for a 90-day period, following announcement in the Federal
Register, to allow for review and submission of comments on the
proposed Standard.
It is the intent of the USGS and the NIST that the FIPS approval
process be as open as possible. We recognize that the success of a
standard, such as the SDTS, depend s upon its acceptance by, you, the
user-community. If you consider yourself a member of the geographic
community, with an interest in spatial data standards, the USGS invit
es your review of the SDTS. Please forward any comments to:
Director, National Computer Systems Laboratory
Attn: Proposed FIPS for SDTS
Technology Building, Room B-154
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Unfortunately, comments must be received no later than July 10, 1991.
However, if you wish a copy for your records, it will be possible to
retrieve a copy after that date.
Note: The SDTS is likely to undergo further revision as comments are
received a nd evaluated as part of the FIPS review process. It should
be recognized, therefor e, that the Standard is still in draft form
and is to be used as an information source o nly.
The USGS would also like to take this opportunity to announce the
availability of the initial draft of the first Federal SDTS Profile.
In general, a SDTS Profile is a limited subset of the of the entire
SDTS. While the SDTS contains a full range of capabilities and
options that are designed to handle the wide spectrum of geographic
and cartographic data structures, this initial Profile has been
designed for use with a specific data type; geographic vector data
with topology. It is hoped that profiles will simplify the design
and development of encoding and decoding software. The development of
profiles of the SDTS for other data types (e.g., raster) is currently
under discussion. If you or your organization would like to be
involved in the review of this prototype profile, or for further
information on the SDTS please notify me by BITNET or at:
U.S. Geological Surv
ey
Attn: Matthew H. McDermott
510 National Center
Reston, VA 22092
(703) 648-4591/FTS 959-4591
To retrieve a copy of the SDTS, and its supporting materials proceed as follows:
(1) type FTP ISDRES.USGS.GOV <return>
(2) wait for the user id prompt and type ANONYMOUS <return>
(3) wait for the password prompt and type GUEST <return>
(4) change to the proper directory by typing CD [.USGS.SDTS] <return>
(5) at the prompt, retrieve the documents by typing GET *.TXT <return>
Other Notes:
P.S. Due to a printing error, blank pages of the SDTS do not contain
page numbers. Under some circumstances, this situation could be
confusing to the reader of the Standard. Blank pages DO NOT
indicate missing information. In Part 1 of the SDTS the "blank"
pages include 174, 186, and 200. In PART 2 of the SDTS the
"blank" pages include ii, 4, and 18. In PART 3 of the SDTS the
"blank" pages include ii, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36,
38, and 40.
Due to a second oversight, the SDTS does not contain a version number or a
publication date. To correct this, a page showing the version number (ver.
12/90), has been included with this mailing (the file called 2NDPAGE.TXT).
Insert this page directly after the cover page.
-- MSEN Archive Service file verification
isdres.usgs.gov
DUA2:[NETDIST.PUB.USGS.SDTS]
2NDPAGE.TXT;2 2 17-JUN-1991 09:51 [SYSTEMS,SYSTEM] (WD,,,R)
PAPER.TXT;2 56 17-JUN-1991 09:50 [SYSTEMS,SYSTEM] (WD,,,R)
PART1A.TXT;1 315 15-MAY-1991 17:37 [SYSTEMS,SYSTEM] (WD,,,R)
PART1B.TXT;1 128 15-MAY-1991 17:40 [SYSTEMS,SYSTEM] (WD,,,R)
PART1C.TXT;1 324 15-MAY-1991 17:39 [SYSTEMS,SYSTEM] (WD,,,R)
PART2.TXT;1 477 15-MAY-1991 17:40 [SYSTEMS,SYSTEM] (WD,,,R)
PART3.TXT;1 156 15-MAY-1991 17:41 [SYSTEMS,SYSTEM] (WD,,,R)
Total of 1458 blocks in 7 files.
found spatial-data-transfer-standard ok
isdres.usgs.gov:[.usgs.sdts]