Speakers Bio & Abstract

Biography
Mr. DeLoatch serves as the Executive Director for the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Secretariat. The FGDC leads and supports the National Spatial Data Infrastructure Strategy and spatial data policy development in the United States. The FGDC also coordinates with international organizations having an interest in spatial data infrastructures. Mr. DeLoatch has over thirty years of experience in environmental and geospatial program policy in many sectors. He has served in many leadership roles on interagency and international committees addressing geospatial and earth observation technical and policy issues in the use of geospatial data and information. He studied at Bowie State University in the University of Maryland System.Abstract
Geographic Place-Based Services for Socio-economic Sustainability The Federal Geographic Data Committee has the responsibility for implementing the US National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and it is now applying the concept through its National Geospatial Platform (GeoPlatform) and the US Open Data initiative. The evolution and implementations of Spatial Data Infrastructures has exploded over the past several years ? locally, nationally, and internationally. Our economic, social and environmental future depends on the sound use of our resources and sustainable, innovative solutions depend on reliable information, understanding, and informed decision-making. The NSDI has become a critical vehicle for facilitating seamless data development, information sharing, and collaborative decision making across multiple sectors of society and the economy. In this presentation I will share the Geospatial Platform vision and provide insight on the how the Geoplatform connects society to geospatially-enriched data, tools and services for socio-economic understanding and sustainable decision making.