Presentation to the Department of Labor The Geospatial Profession: An ArchitectureEngineering Discip

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Presentation to theDepartment of LaborThe
Geospatial ProfessionAn Architecture-Engineerin
g Discipline
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Geospatial

• Geospatial technologies and services are part of
  a profession, not an industry, long classified in
  the marketplace and the Federal Government as a
  discipline in Architecture-Engineering, not
  Information Technology

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Defense Authorization Act for FY04Public Law
108-136

• "The term geospatial intelligence' means the
  exploitation and analysis of imagery and
  geospatial information to describe, assess, and
  visually depict physical features and
  geographically referenced activities on the
  earth. Geospatial intelligence consists of
  imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial
  information."

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NGA Definition

• Geospatial Analyst
• a skilled analyst who uses knowledge of
  cartography, geodesy, geography, mathematics,
  photogrammetry, remote sensing, and advanced GIS
  technologies to locate, identify, and convey the
  'what' and 'where' about any object -- natural or
  man-made that can be referenced to a specific
  location on the earth.

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E-Government Act of 2002, Public Law 107-347 (44
USC 101 note)

• Definition.--In this section, the term
  geographic information' means information
  systems that involve locational data, such as
  maps or other geospatial information resources.

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FGDC Framework Data Themes for National Spatial
Data Infrastructure

• Digital Orthoimagery
• Cadastral Data
• Geodetic Control
• Elevation

• Hydrography
• Transportation
• Government Units
• Defined by State of North Carolina as the
  practice of Surveying, requiring performance by a
  licensed professional Surveyor

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OPM Classification

• Federal Government does not classify its
  geospatial workers as Information Technology (GS
  2200 series) for position classifications.
• Position Classification Standard for Professional
  Work in the Physical Sciences Group, GS-1300
• Cartography Series, GS 1370
• Geodesy Series, GS 1372
• Land Surveying Series, GS 1373
• Engineering Group-Criteria for Classification of
  Positions as Professional Engineers, GS-800
• Surveying Technician Series, GS 817
• There is no discussion of geospatial knowledge,
  education or experience in the Information
  Technology Group Series, GS 2200

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OPM Classification

• BLM/USACE Sample Position Classification for GIS
  Specialist is GS-301, not IT 2200
• BLM Instruction Memorandum HR 2002-006 concludes
  Geospatial employees should not be classified as
  IT 2200
• OPM Classification Appeal Decision C-0335-07-04
  finds Forest Service GIS Specialist does not
  qualify for IT 2200 classification

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Labor Classification

• The Department of Labors own Occupational
  Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of
  Labor Statistics,
• www.bls.gov/oco/ocos040.htm
• describes the geospatial community, and
  employment in the field, in a manner consistent
  with the description suggested by MAPPS, not as
  IT described in the High Growth Job Training
  Initiative literature.

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NAICS

• For a variety of government data collection and
  classification purposes, geospatial activities
  are part of NAICS code 541370 Surveying and
  Mapping (except Geophysical) Services, which
  falls under NAICS 5413 - Architecture,
  Engineering, and Related Services, not Sector 51
  Information nor NAICS 541512 Computer Systems
  Design Services, the classification for
  Information Technology.

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Academic Accreditation

• Program criteria for Surveying/Geomatics
  Engineering Technology and similarly named
  programs for university accreditation requires
  coursework and skill development in GIS
• Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Technology
  Programs, Accreditation Board for Engineering
  Technology (ABET) www.abet.org

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Tax Implications

• 1986 Tax Reform Act preserved ability of certain
  personal service corporations to use cash based
  accounting.
• 26 CFR 1.448-1T - A Corporation meets the
  function if substantially all the corporations
  activities for a taxable year involve the
  performance of services in one of more of the
  following fields --
• (A) Health,
• (B) Law,
• (C) Engineering (including surveying and
  mapping),
• (D) Architecture,
• (E) Accounting,
• (F) Actuarial science,
• (G) Performing arts, or
• (H) Consulting.

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Federal Procurement

• The law governing Federal contracts for these
  services (40 U.S.C. 1101 (3) provides, The term
  architectural and engineering services means
• (A) professional services of an architectural or
  engineering nature, as defined by State law, if
  applicable, which are required to be performed or
  approved by a person licensed, registered, or
  certified to provide such services as described
  in this paragraph
• (B) professional services of an architectural or
  engineering nature performed by contract that are
  associated with research, planning, development,
  design, construction, alteration, or repair of
  real property and
• (C) such other professional services of an
  architectural or engineering nature, or
  incidental services, which members of the
  architectural and engineering professions (and
  individuals in their employ) may logically or
  justifiably perform, including studies,
  investigations, surveying and mapping, tests,
  evaluations, consultations, comprehensive
  planning, program management, conceptual designs,
  plans and specifications, value engineering,
  construction phase services, soils engineering,
  drawing reviews, preparation of operating and
  maintenance manuals, and other related services.
  (emphasis added.)

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DHS GMO

• Congress recently reinforced the classification
  of surveying and mapping as part of the
  geospatial field, related to architecture and
  engineering, when it enacted section 8201 of S.
  2845, which became Public Law 108-458. The law
  includes the following definitions --
• (A) GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION- The term geospatial
  information means graphical or digital data
  depicting natural or manmade physical features,
  phenomena, or boundaries of the earth and any
  information related thereto, including surveys,
  maps, charts, remote sensing data, and images.
• (B) GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY- The term geospatial
  technology means any technology utilized by
  analysts, specialists, surveyors,
  photogrammetrists, hydrographers, geodesists,
  cartographers, architects, or engineers for the
  collection, storage, retrieval, or dissemination
  of geospatial information, including--
• (i) global satellite surveillance systems
• (ii) global position systems
• (iii) geographic information systems
• (iv) mapping equipment

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USACE-FARS

• 36.601-4 Implementation.
• (a)(4)(A) In USACE "surveying and mapping
  services" includes activities associated with
  measuring, locating and preparing maps, charts,
  or other graphical or digital presentations
  depicting natural and man-made physical features,
  phenomena, and legal boundaries of the earth,

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SF 330A-E QualificationsDiscipline/Function
Codes

• Land Surveyor
• Photo Interpreter
• Photogrammetrist
• Remote Sensing
• Specialist

• Aerial Photographer
• Cartographer
• Geodetic Surveyor
• GIS Specialist
• Hydrographic
• Surveyor

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SF 330A-E QualificationsExperience/Profile
Codes

• Aerial Photography Airborne and Imagery
  Collection and Analysis
• Cartography
• Charting Nautical and Aeronautical
• Digital Elevation and Terrain Model Development
• Digital Orthophotography
• Environmental and Natural Resource Mapping
• GIS Services Development, Analysis, and Data
  Collection

• Geodetic Surveying
• Ground and Airborne
• Geospatial Data Conversion Scanning, Digitizing,
  Compilation, Attributing, Scribing, Drafting
• Hydrographic Surveying
• Land Surveying
• Mapping Location/Addressing Systems
• Photogrammetry
• Remote Sensing
• Surveying Platting Mapping Flood Plain Studies
• Topographic Surveying and Mapping

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Legislative History

• Conference Report (H. Rept. 105-746, p. 165)
• The conferees expect the officials responsible
  for the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) to
  strike and revise the last sentence of section
  36.601-4(a)(4) of the FAR(48 CFR 36.601-4(a)(4))
  to define Surveying and mapping in such a
  manner as to include contracts and subcontracts
  for services for Federal agencies for collecting,
  storing, retrieving, or disseminating graphical
  or digital data depicting natural or man made
  physical features, phenomena and boundaries of
  the earth and any information related thereto,
  including but not limited to surveys, maps,
  charts, remote sensing data and images and aerial
  photographic services.

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Liability Insurance

• Classification of Geospatial as an industry and
  part of Information Technology violates loss
  prevention and risk management principles
  advocated by professional liability insurance
  carriers and will result in un-insurability
  issues for geospatial firms

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Conclusions

• Congress and Federal agencies have recognized
  Geospatial to be a new term for surveying and
  mapping-related activities

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Conclusions

• Geospatial (surveying and mapping) is part of
  Architecture-Engineering, not Information
  Technology

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Conclusions

• Congress and Federal agencies recognize
  Geospatial (Surveying and Mapping) as
  Architecture-Engineering, not Information
  Technology

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Conclusions

• Congress and Federal agencies recognize
  Geospatial (Surveying and Mapping) as
  Architecture-Engineering, not Information
  Technology and as a profession -- not an industry

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Conclusions

• No law has been passed nor regulation promulgated
  that has defined Geospatial as Information
  Technology

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Conclusions

• The Department of Labor has no practical or legal
  basis for defining Geospatial as Information
  Technology

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Conclusions

• Defining Geospatial as Information Technology
  would have harmful affects on individual
  practitioners and professional firms with regard
  to
• Federal procurement
• Employment classification
• Professional liability
• University accreditation
• Tax accounting

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Conclusions

• Department of Labor must
• Immediately cease description of Geospatial as
  part of Information Technology
• Immediately cease description of
  apprenticeships as a manner of obtaining
  necessary experience for entry in the Geospatial
  profession
• Immediately cease description of Geospatial as
  an industry
• Immediately engage the traditional
  Engineering-based Geospatial community in its
  workforce development initiative