OGC To Demonstrate Critical Infrastructure Protection Initiative

Wayland, MA, USA, March 5, 2003 – The Open GIS Consortium, Inc.'s (OGC) Critical Infrastructure Protection Initiative (CIPI) adds real world insight to the challenges of working with vital geospatial information and services required to support Critical Infrastructure Protection. OGC will hold a demonstration on March 27th at the Cleary International Center in Windsor, Ontario, to outline the results of the first of a series of pilots, which focus on the Detroit/Windsor area. Both U.S. and Canadian organizations are participating in this important study, contributing staff and data resources. The demonstration will conclude Phase 1 of the CIPI-1 initiative.CIPI is a series of pilot projects to advance interoperability for critical infrastructure protection and other vital services. The sponsors of CIPI 1 Phase 1 include GeoConnections, led by Natural Resources Canada, the US Geological Survey, and General Dynamics – Advanced Information Systems. CIPI-1 Phase 1 focuses on the use of open standards to establish a common understanding of an emergency situation and coordinate incident response. The demonstration will highlight response options to hypothetical events on the US / Canada border. OGC invites interested parties, especially local communities, to attend the demonstration. Seating is limited and those interested are encouraged to contact Terry Idol ( terry.idol@baesystems.com ), the CIPI Phase 1 Initiative Manager or Stanley Robinson ( stanley.robinson@autodesk.com ) the CIPI Phase 1 Operations and Demonstration Manager, to reserve a seat.The National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) is the sponsor of CIPI-1 Phase 2, which begins in March. CIPI-1 Phase 2 builds on the work of Phase 1 and will add a NIMA data server, examine information security issues, test extensions to the existing Web Feature Service Specification and perform integrated experiments between all of the CIPI data servers delivered as part of Phase 1. Phase 2 also addresses the challenge of sharing data, specifically transportation features, between communities that define and manage their geographic data differently. This critically important “Information Interoperability” work draws from other OGC initiatives including the GeoSpatial One-Stop Transportation Pilot, an initiative supporting the U.S. e-government Geospatial One-Stop initiative aimed at sharing mapping data and services.The Critical Infrastructure Protection Initiative is part of OGC's Interoperability Program, a global, collaborative, hands-on engineering and testing program that rapidly delivers proven candidate specifications into OGC's Specification Program, where they are formalized for public release. Autodesk, BAE SYSTEMS, Intergraph Mapping and Geospatial Solutions and Northrop Grumman Information Technology have committed significant resources to the overall CIPI program to help accelerate OGC's advancement toward interoperability objectives. Their leadership, dedicated resources and commitment will enrich OGC's processes related to CIPI.OGC is an international industry consortium of more than 240 companies, government agencies and universities participating in a consensus process to develop publicly available interface specifications. OpenGIS® Specifications support interoperable solutions that “geo-enable” the Web, wireless and location-based services, and mainstream IT. The specifications empower technology developers to make complex spatial information and services accessible and useful with all kinds of applications. Visit the OGC website at www.opengeospatial.org .– end –“