If you receive our daily news updates (If you don’t then you should be!) you’ve likely heard that the Geospatial One-Stop Version 2 Portal was recently announced. With GOS2, users have access to a number of new features including:
- Smart search tools
- a visual marketplace
- communities of interest
- personalization tools
- added interoperability

Geospatial One-Stop information on display at the ESRI UC Map Gallery

So what can users do with GOS? Ideally, anyone hosting GIS data will sign-up and register their data and meta-data with GOS, enabling others to locate your data… sharing… that’s what it boils down to. Users are encouraged to post metadata in a directory so others can discover your map services, applications, downloadable data, and related documents. Using a Google-like search interface, discovering data is very simple and frequent users are encouraged to use the “My Geography” utility to save spatial bookmarks. With the marketplace, users can post their data requests to the community. This will enable and encourage partnerships and provide a mechanism for users to be informed when relevant data holdings are added to the database.

A look at GOS 2

Making a map is a breeze at GOS using the Map Viewer. The Map Viewer provides quick and simple access to live mapping services from a number of government agencies (Federal, State, County, local governments). Using the viewer you can then find places, print/save maps, display map services, resize map windows, and get information about features displayed on the map.

The Seattle, WA region as seen in the Map Viewer

With GOS2 it’s even easier to create maps. A special interest tab (left side-bar) makes it easy to access current information (i.e. Hurricane, wildfire)

Looking for more personalization? Using “My GOS” frequent users can register for automatic notifications and receive alerts when new search results meeting specific criteria are made available. Community collaboration tools have been included to help foster even greater collaboration and sharing. User forums, event calendars, a document library, and the what’s new section all serve to inform users and bring them closer together. By joining a “community”, users can have access to content and services that are relevant to the user community. For example, users with a common interest in cadastral data may belong to a specific user community focused on this theme.

When creating your own GOS account you create a username password pair. A new user must confirm her address and information, however, if you take the time to notice, your registration is actually sent to an esri.com domain – something many people may not be aware of. Once registered as a user you can then get rolling and become a data publisher by simply following the instructions. A lengthy metatdata form is required to be uploaded of filled in when adding data to the database... all submissions are subject to review.

The road ahead… National Geographic Society, ESRI, Geospatial One-Stop recently discussed new initiatives - Announced at the 2005 ESRI User http://www.gisuser.com/content/view/6435/ for more information about this partnership.

Finally, users of GOS are encouraged to register their data and take advantage of the wealth of information available in this resource.  To check out GOS 2 see http://gos2.geodata.gov/. Note, GOS1 & GOS2 will only be available concurrently for a limited time until the transition has been completed.

Relevant Weblinks:

• http://www.geo-one-stop.gov/
• http://www.geodata.gov/
• http://gos2.geodata.gov/