Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access

Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access is Pennsylvania's official public access geospatial information clearinghouse.

PASDA was developed as a research and outreach program by the Pennsylvania State University as a service to the citizens, governments, and businesses of the Commonwealth. PASDA is a cooperative project of the Governor's Office of Administration, Office for Information Technology, Geospatial Technologies Office and Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment of the Pennsylvania State University. Funding and support is provided by the Pennsylvania Office for Information Technology, Geospatial Technologies Office.

In addition, Penn State University provides substantial support to the PASDA program through contributions such as system administration, database administration support, and infrastructure.Penn State partners include Institutes of Energy and the Environment, the Center for Environmental Informatics, and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

PASDA has received additional financial support via successful grants through Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment from the Federal Geographic Data Committee CAP and Don't Duck Metadata programs on the following projects: the Pennsylvania Watershed Atlas, Pennsylvania Framework Data: A Local Approach (with PAMAGIC), and Conservation & Watershed Organization Metadata Outreach Project. In addition, PASDA has received financial support from the US Geological Survey National Biological Information Infrastructure, the US Department of Agriculture Geospatial Innovations in America initiative, and the Penn State GIS Council.

In addition to those listed above, contributing partners throughout the twelve years of the program include the College of Agricultural Sciences and the E-Education Institute.

PASDA supports cooperation and collaboration across state and local boundaries by serving as the Commonwealth's node on the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), Geospatial One Stop, and the National Biological Information Infrastructure. PASDA is also a member of the Geography Network.

Purpose

Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA) is the official public access geospatial clearinghouse for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is Pennsylvania's node on the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, Geospatial One-Stop, and the National Biological Information Infrastructure.

PASDA was developed in 1996 by the Pennsylvania State University and has served as the clearinghouse node for Pennsylvania for the past twelve years.

The purpose of Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA) is to serve as a comprehensive geospatial data digital library by providing free, universal access to geospatial data and information by, for, and about the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Keystones of PASDA

The success of PASDA is based on a long term vision that incorporates the ideas of free access to data, outreach, and community service. The keystones in the success of the program are:

   * Collaboration--PASDA understands that collaboration among the geospatial community benefits everyone in the Commonwealth. Collaboration saves money, time, and makes the most of the limited resources of data providers.
   * Cooperation--PASDA cooperates with all levels of government, non-profits, academia, business, and citizens to support the geospatial data infrastructure and access to data.

• * Continuity--PASDA works with data providers to ensure continuity of data access and storage.

   * Active engagement--PASDA engages the geospatial community to foster understanding and data sharing.
   * Efficiency--PASDA's streamlined processes make data sharing fast and easy for our[who?] partners.
   * Free Access--PASDA provides data storage, data access and retrieval, and metadata services free of charge.

PASDA will continue to provide free storage of geospatial data, as well as build partnerships that enhance ease of access and benefit the data provider, and to develop data access resources and innovative tools to enhance the use and benefits of geospatial data for all citizens of the Commonwealth and geospatial community.

The data made available through PASDA is provided by our^[who?] data partners to encourage the widespread sharing of geospatial data, eliminate the creation of redundant data sets, and to further build an inventory (through the development and hosting of metadata) of available data relevant to the Commonwealth. PASDA serves as a resource for locating data throughout the Commonwealth through its data storage, interactive mapping/webgis applications, and metadata/documentation efforts.

PASDA services are provided free of charge to all users and data stakeholders. The data on PASDA is provided by federal, state, local and regional government agencies, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions throughout the region.

External links

• PASDA homepage