OMB requires officials assigned to geospatial issues

Departments will need to assign a senior official to handle geospatial information issues agencywide, according to an Office of Management and Budget memo.

Agencies have 45 days from March 10 to comply.

The officials will be responsible for pushing the issues ahead within their agencies and overseeing the establishment of geospatial requirements and policies. They will also serve as the policy-level officials representing their agencies on the Federal Geographic Data Committee’s steering committee, according to the memo released March 3.

“While these activities may be undertaken by various components of an agency, OMB will look to the senior agency official for information regarding the agency’s coordination of these activities,” the memo states.

OMB believes coordination among agencies is more beneficial than independent investment in data and capabilities.

Geospatial information covers many areas, such as national security, health care and the environment. Geospatial technologies include maps, satellite imagery, and census and housing data.