We need a national method for coordinating policies, data, tech and resources for supporting geospatial data sharing and application.

Smith, who helped get the federal Geospatial Data Act passed, will serve in a newly created role at the National States Geographic Information Council.

The National Spatial Data Infrastructure is celebrating its 25th anniversary — but it remains an unrealized vision of geospatial data sharing.

Some say existing language in the legislation designed to support the geospatial technologies industry would unfairly exclude many firms from bidding on federal contracts.