Integrating geodata infrastructures from the ground up

The National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) requires vertical integrati on. Multiple levels of government produce geodata at multiple levels of res olution, multiple levels of attribution, differing update cycles, and diffe ring levels of cost. The chronology of developments in data production and application shows the success of varying roles of local, regional, state, a nd national governments to provide data to their immediate constituents. Th e same chronology shows the lack of success in integrating geographic infor mation between government levels. This lack of vertical integration forms a major impediment to a fully robust NSDI. This paper concludes by presentin g a proposal for vertical integration, currently under discussion in Kentuc ky, to serve as a model for other state and local stakeholders to consider.