OGC Releases Call for Participation / Request for Quotation for Multi-Hazard Mapping Initiative

Business Wire, Oct 25, 2001

Business Editors

WAYLAND, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 2001

The Open GIS Consortium, Inc. (OGC) announces that a Call for Participation / Request for Quotation for the Multi-Hazard Mapping Initiative (MMI) Phase I is available for download at http://ip.opengis.org/mmi/. This pilot project, sponsored by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will establish a limited operational framework of interoperable services to illustrate the advantages of using products with OGC interfaces to access, fuse and visualize critical spatial information in support of FEMA multi-hazard mitigation, response and recovery functions.

FEMA is an independent agency of the federal government, reporting to the President. Since its founding in 1979, FEMA's mission has been to reduce loss of life and property and protect the nation's critical infrastructure from all types of hazards through a comprehensive, risk-based, emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. By implementing interoperable geospatial services based on OGC interfaces, FEMA will be able to operationally demonstrate the value of a "common thread of interoperability" across federal, state, and local agencies and with other organizations supporting mitigation efforts. During the pilot, spatial information from multiple agencies and sources will be accessed across the Internet using vendor products and reference implementations developed during OGC's previous Interoperability Initiatives.

Responses to the CFP/RFQ are due November 21, 2001 at 1:00 PM EDT and the program is expected to begin later this year with completion by March 2001. Inquiries related to MMI should be addressed to Mr. Jeff Harrison, Director of OGC Interoperability Programs, jharrison@opengis.org, or (703) 491-9543.

OGC is an international industry consortium of more than 220 companies, government agencies and universities participating in a consensus process to develop publicly available geoprocessing specifications. OpenGIS(R) Specifications support interoperable solutions that "geo-enable" the Web, wireless and location-based services, and mainstream IT, and empower technology developers to make complex spatial information and services accessible and useful with all kinds of applications. Visit the OGC website at www.opengis.org.