The document discusses portfolio management of federal geospatial data assets according to OMB guidance. Portfolio management coordinates data assets and investments to efficiently support national priorities by reducing duplication, increasing accessibility, and enabling shared services across government. Datasets are organized into themes which are managed by theme leads and dataset managers using practices to improve data quality and access.

1. Portfolio Management, according
to Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) Circular A-16
Supplemental Guidance, is the
coordination of Federal geospatial
data assets and investments to
most efficiently support national
priorities and government
missions.
Portfolio Management applies
consistent management
approaches that help increase the
quality of data through best
practices and documentation in a
manner that:
 reduces duplication and cost
 provides greater accessibility
 supports shared services
across the Federal
Government
Better
Management
Better
Outcomes
Approach Outcomes
Better
understanding
of available
data
Increased
information
sharing
More informed
decision
making
Reduced
duplication of
effort
Improved
transparency
in investment
activities
Coordinated
delivery of
common
geospatial
services
Datasets are organized into management units called Themes which are managed
by Theme Leads. Dataset Managers and Theme Leads use industry accepted
practices to improve management of Datasets and Themes leading to better
outcomes. Data within Themes are made available through the Geospatial Platform
(www.geoplatform.gov).
How does Portfolio Management work?
Portfolio
Theme
Dataset Dataset Dataset
Theme
Dataset Dataset
Portfolio Management
Ensuring the Quality of National Geospatial Assets
PortfolioManagement–Overview

2. National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) Themes are organizational constructs
under which Datasets are grouped and managed. The 16 Themes are:
• Biota
• Cadastre
• Climate and Weather
• Cultural Resources
• Elevation
• Geodetic Control
• Geology
• Governmental Units, and
Administrative and
Statistical Boundaries
• Imagery
• Land Use-Land Cover
• Real Property
• Soils
• Transportation
• Utilities
• Water – Inland
• Water – Oceans & Coasts
Who manages the Datasets and Themes?
Dataset Managers provide information to their Theme Lead for
management and reporting.
For more information go to
www.FGDC.gov/PortfolioManagement
What will the Portfolio ultimately consist of?
What are NGDA Themes?
Dataset Manager provide
coordination and standards
for Datasets at a national
level. Dataset Managers
use the Geospatial Data
Lifecycle to manage their
Datasets.
Dataset Managers
Theme Leads provide cross-
agency leadership and
coordination for the Theme.
Theme leads will submit Theme
reports to the FGDC.
Theme Leads
Here is an example of how a Theme within the
Portfolio will be set up.
PortfolioManagement–Overview
National
Watershed
Dataset
Water Theme
National
Wetlands
Dataset
National
Hydrography
Dataset
NGDA Portfolio

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4. The NGDA Portfolio Management Process
The Portfolio Management Process
The Portfolio Management Process includes an annual
review of assets, consistent management of current data,
and annual progress reporting.
Inventory – Identify existing geospatial datasets that may be considered National
Geospatial Data Assets (NGDAs). The FGDC Steering Committee must know what
geospatial data exist and how they support the business requirements of the Federal
Government and its partners.
Select – Determine if the datasets are NGDA Datasets and if they should become
part of the Portfolio. Inclusion will be based on the following criteria for individual
Datasets:
• Used by multiple agencies and partners;
• Needed to support Presidential priorities as expressed by OMB;
• Required to meet shared mission goals of multiple Federal agencies; or
• Expressly required by statutory mandates.
Manage – Develop and manage Datasets per the OMB Circular A-16 Supplemental
Guidance. This phase of consists of activities at both the Theme and Dataset levels.
These include an initial baseline assessment, implementation of the data lifecycle,
and preparation of an annual Portfolio Summary Report.
Evaluate/ Monitor – Develop Dataset, Theme, and Portfolio summary reports that
capture plans, milestones, and progress of the Portfolio. Metrics will provide a
comprehensive picture of the Portfolio allowing better enterprise-level decision-
making
Identify and Execute – Develop NGDA Theme and NGDA Dataset improvement,
funding, and priorities. Annual recommendations are made on Portfolio actions.
Inventory Select Manage
Evaluate /
Monitor
Identify &
Execute
A key goal of Portfolio Management is to enable the FGDC Steering Committee to
make informed decisions on setting both short- and long-term priorities on Themes
and Datasets as well as cross-agency collaboration targets for Dataset development
and funding.
PortfolioManagement–Process

5. The Key Roles within Portfolio Management
Theme Leads are responsible for the coordination and integration of multiple
Datasets that are often managed in separate agencies. Theme Leads coordinate
with their respective Dataset Managers to provide overall management for the
Datasets associated with the Theme. This will ensure that all relevant Datasets
associated with a particular Theme effectively support the business processes reliant
on them; and that they are produced in the most cost effective manner. Each Theme
Lead also coordinates with other Theme Leads to ensure that Datasets applicable to
more than one Theme are effectively co-developed. In short, Theme Leads are the
master coordinators that guide the overall Portfolio Management process.
Dataset Managers use the Geospatial Data Lifecycle to plan, develop, maintain,
evolve, and archive the NGDA Dataset(s) for which they are responsible. They will
also use the Geospatial Data Lifecycle and the associated evaluation criteria to
provide Dataset reports to the Theme Lead.
The Theme Leads compile Dataset reports to look across the Theme and identify
potential coordination opportunities, efficiencies, and investment and development
priorities. These outputs are communicated to the FGDC for consideration in annual
investment planning.
For more information go to
www.FGDC.gov/PortfolioManagement
PortfolioManagement–Process

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7. Stage 1. Define: Characterization of data requirements based upon business-driven
user needs.
Stage 2. Inventory/Evaluate: Creation and publication of a detailed list of data
assets and data gaps (both internal and external) as they relate to business-driven
user needs.
Stage 3. Obtain: Identify the mechanism(s) for the collection, purchase, conversion,
transformation, sharing, exchanging, or creation of geospatial data that were
selected to meet the business needs.
Stage 4. Access: Making data produced known and retrievable to the community
through documentation and discovery mechanisms so the users can meet their
business requirements.
Stage 5. Maintain: Ongoing processes and procedures for data operation and
maintenance to ensure that the data continue to meet business requirements.
Stage 6. Use/Evaluate: Ongoing assessment, validation, and potential
enhancement of data to meet user needs and business requirements.
Stage 7. Archive: Required retention of data and the data’s retirement into long-
term storage.
Outcomes
• Better understanding of Dataset
quality
• Identification of best management
practices
• Availability of geospatial data to
support business processes and
operations
• Strengthens partnerships and
coordination across all levels of
government to increase cost
efficiency and return on investment
• Improved efficiencies in
addressing Federal and national
priorities, and enhancing citizen
service
Define
Inventory
/ Evaluate
Obtain
AccessMaintain
Use/
Evaluate
Archive
Geospatial
Data
Lifecycle
The Dataset Management Process
The Geospatial Data Lifecycle is the management approach
adopted by Federal agencies to ensure the quality and reliability of
National Geographic Data Assets (NGDA) Datasets.
PortfolioManagement–Datasets

8. Requirements for Managing Data
For more information go to
www.FGDC.gov/PortfolioManagement
PortfolioManagement–Datasets
Dataset Managers implement the Geospatial Data Lifecycle to ensure
that data are trustworthy and useful and that data going to the
Geospatial Platform are current and reliable. Additionally, Dataset
Managers submit annual reports on their Datasets to their respective
Theme Lead.
Theme
Lead
Dataset
Manager
Dataset
Manager
Dataset
Manager
Annual reports
Dataset Management involves implementing the Geospatial Data
Lifecycle, promoting the maturity of Datasets, monitoring key
indicators for annual dataset reports, and providing status
of performance measures.
Regular evaluation of
Datasets, through
annual dataset reports
and Thematic
Subcommittee
discussions, will
ensure that Datasets
are current and
relevant.