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 ManagementEnsuring the Quality of National Geospatial Assets

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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.

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National Watershed

Dataset

Water Theme

National Wetlands Dataset

National Hydrography

Dataset

NGDA Portfolio

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The NGDA Portfolio Management Process

The Portfolio Management ProcessThe 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 ManageEvaluate / 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.

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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

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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 ProcessThe Geospatial Data Lifecycle is the management approach

adopted by Federal agencies to ensure the quality and reliability of National Geographic Data Assets (NGDA) Datasets.

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Requirements for Managing Data

For more information go to www.FGDC.gov/PortfolioManagement

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sDataset 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.