EOM April 2005 > SOAPBOX

Peter Gomez

In this era of heightened data security, protecting critical infrastructure depends on the rapid discovery of and access to disparate internal and external spatial information sources. The world relies heavily on current data in order to respond to a multitude of natural or man-made situations. Recent events have heightened the awareness that current critical infrastructure data are paramount in serving and protecting the public. The basic question, that surfaces time and again, is which entity or entities possess this data and how is it obtained?

The data are typically housed by a variety of organizations. For example, utility companies and municipalities maintain information on key assets for gas, electric, water, waste water, and critical facilities. The sophistication of the spatial data maintained depends on the organization's internal needs and regulatory requirements. Many infrastructure owners and maintainers are members of local Utility Notification Centers, also referred to as "One Call" or "Call Before You Dig" agencies. Data shared with these agencies are protected because agreements stipulate that data are to be used solely for the purpose of locating underground facilities.

Data sharing is a two-way street. Traditionally, utility companies have been viewed as organizations that create and compile sophisticated databases, but will not readily share these data with others, except in emergency situations. Utility companies have spent a great deal of time and money to build sophisticated databases and consequently view and treat them as corporate assets. Utility companies are concerned that their data will become part of the public domain and, as such, be available to anyone who requests it. Widespread availability of these data has serious liability issues. Utility companies have to look at what they receive in return for data sharing. What data can the utility company gain that is not already part of the public domain?

Detailed proprietary agreements are the current means of protecting an organization's data, while still enabling data sharing. These agreements protect data by addressing liability issues and documenting the terms and frequency of data deliverables between the parties. Upfront work by legal representatives of the organization which owns the data and the organization's data steward is required to ensure that all terms are met.

Past emergency events confirm that utility companies are willing to share their data in response to a crisis situation. Why can't this sharing of data be replicated in non-crisis situations as well? The liability issue is one of the primary concerns. A second concern is the amount and frequency of data sharing activity. It turns out that most data sharing ventures involve only specific subsets of the data. Thus, organizations with data are tasked with identifying which specific data attributes pertain to critical infrastructure elements, and are best not shared. This primary obstacle to data sharing emerged as a focal point in efforts spearheaded by the Geospatial Information and Technology Association (GITA), which evolved into a concept, entitled the Geospatially Enabling Community Collaboration (GECCo) initiative. Work in the area thus far suggests that data sharing need not mean sharing data in its entirety, but rather involves identifying certain key elements that can, or cannot, be shared.

The GECCo work aims to create a structure that will enable all data owners to be able to participate in data sharing activities with the knowledge that their data will be protected.

About the Author
Peter Gomez is the Manager of Information Requirements within the Field Operations organization of Xcel Energy. He currently serves as President of the Geospatial Information and Technology Association (GITA). He can be contacted at [email protected]

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