.United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Environmental
Information
Washington, DC 20460
Document ##
September 2015
EPA GeoPlatform Data Publishing Workflow
Standard Operating Procedure
Draft Version 1.2, September 30, 2015
Ana Greene
Information Exchange and Services Division
Office of Information Collection
Lee Kyle
Chief, Information Services and Support Branch
Information Exchange and Services Division
Office of Information Collection
Harvey Simon
Geospatial Information Officer
Office of Environmental Information
Tom Scheitlin
Chief, Application Solutions Branch
National Computer Center
Office of Technology, Operations, and Planning
Office of Environmental Information
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EPA GeoPlatform Publishing Workflow SOP v 1.2
Document Change Control
The following is the document control for revisions to this document.
Version
Number
Date of
Issue
Author(s)
Brief Description of Change
vl.O
June 22,
2012
Jessica Zichichi, Suzanne
Pierson, Torrin Hultgren,
Innovate!, Inc.
Initial Draft
vl.l
January 11,
2013
Torrin Hultgren, Innovate!,
Inc.
Updated URLs, revised terminology, added EPA GeoPlatform
Online registration
vl.2
September
30,2015
Steven Jett, Mettja Kuna,
Torrin Hultgren, Suzanne
Pierson, Innovate!, Inc.
Review and update to accommodate changes to publishing
environments.
September 30,2015 i EPA GeoPlatform Publishing SOP vl.2
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EPA GeoPlatform Publishing Workflow SOP v 1.2
Table of Contents
Document Change Control i
1.0 Introduction 1
2.0 Scope and Applicability 1
3.0 Procedures 2
Step 1: Understand the Data Publishing Options 2
EPA GeoPlatform Hosting Environment 2
EPA Data Download Sites 3
EPA Clip N Ship Application 3
EPA GeoPlatform Online 3
Metadata Publishing: EPA Environmental Dataset Gateway (EDG) 4
Step 2: Process and Implement in a Development Environment 4
General Data Publishing Requirements 4
General Data Publishing Recommendations 4
Step 3: Deploy/Publish Content 5
EPA GeoPlatform Hosting Environment -Deployment Steps 5
EPA Data Download Site - Deployment Steps 5
EPA Clip N Ship Application - Deployment Steps 5
EPA GeoPlatform Online - Deployment Steps 5
Step 4: Publish Metadata and Create Linkages 5
Create Metadata 5
Step 5: Review/Approve/Finalize Published Data 6
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1.0 Introduction
EPA Regions, Program Offices, and Research Laboratories need cost effective and efficient ways to make CIS data
available for distribution to individuals within the Agency, to Agency partners, and to the public. The need may
range from relatively simple tasks such as making a GIS dataset available for download, to more complex tasks
such as creating a web mapping application to deliver GIS information. The process of making these data available
to a desired audience is referred to as "data publishing."
The EPA GeoPlatform (see Figure 1) provides enterprise GIS resources to EPA offices to meet a variety of
geospatial needs. EPA offices are encouraged to use GeoPlatform resources to publish their GIS data. These
resources include servers and software designed to handle most data preparation and distribution needs. Data
publishing resources, along with data reuse resources and established standard operating procedures, are
collectively referred to as the "GeoPlatform Data Publishing Framework" The Framework is supported by an
experienced staff that will assist offices with data publishing requests.
EPA developed this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document to help guide individuals through the process
of publishing data to EPA's GeoPlatform. This document explains the process of preparing and publishing data to
each of the four data publishing options:
• EPA GeoPlatform Hosting Environment
• EPA Clip N Ship Application
• EPA Data Download Sites
• EPA GeoPlatform Online
Individuals wishing to publish data to the EPA GeoPlatform must follow basic steps for preparing data and
metadata, initiating data hosting requests, and overseeing data updates and maintenance. This SOP outlines those
steps and describes the key components that comprise the GeoPlatform Data Publishing Framework
Applications
GeoPlatform Tools
Other Geospaliol Apps
Arc GIS Online Gallery
Figure 1. The EPA GeoPlatform is a shared, One EPA technology and governance framework which encompasses a
community of expertise as well as a suite of geospatial tools, data, and services that help coordinate and consolidate
mapping activities, applications development, and data management across the Agency.
2.0 Scope and Applicability
This document describes the procedures to prepare GIS data and applications for publishing to EPA's GeoPlatform.
It does not provide information regarding publishing to other EPA environments (e.g., offices that use their own
servers). Individuals using other means to publish data may use information in this document as a reference;
however, different rules may apply to other environments outside of the EPA GeoPlatform.
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EPA GeoPlatform Publishing Workflow SOP v 1.2
3.0 Procedures
This section describes the steps required for publishing data to the EPA GeoPlatform Data Publishing Framework.
This SOP details the five steps for publishing data.
1. Understand the Data Publishing Options. Understand the various EPA data publishing options.
2. Process and Implement in a Development Environment. Select the publishing option appropriate for
your content, familiarize yourself with some general requirements and recommendations for preparing
data for publishing, and prepare a development version for testing and troubleshooting your
data/application.
3. Deploy/Publish Content. Follow procedures specific to the publishing option you have selected and work
with the appropriate team (when necessary) to publish your data.
4. Publish Metadata. Follow established metadata procedures and work with your organization's EDG
Steward to publish metadata in the EDG and create linkages between data and metadata.
5. Obtain Approvals and Finalize Deployment. Obtain the appropriate management approvals for your
content based on your selected data publishing option.
Review Existing Data and Services
Before embarking on the process of developing and publishing your data, take some time to determine
whether existing data and services meet your needs. You may search the EPA Environmental Dataset
Gateway fEDGl to find existing datasets or services that other offices have developed. Using existing
services within your applications can save significant resources by avoiding duplicative development and
operational costs.
Step 1: Understand the Data Publishing Options
This section provides an overview of publishing options available within the EPA GeoPlatform. You may
publish data in one or more formats depending on your organization's needs (e.g., use within your own
applications) as well as the needs of your customer(s). Key considerations and limitations for selecting each
option are presented in the sections below.
EPA GeoPlatform Hosting Environment
The EPA GeoPlatform Hosting Environment provides a shared space for EPA personnel to publish web
services and simple, custom GIS applications. Internet and intranet production servers are available in the
EPA GeoPlatform Hosting Environment and the process for publishing to intranet and internet servers is
the same. When you publish services using ArcGIS for Server in the EPA GeoPlatform Hosting Environment,
familiarize yourself the deployment process. If you need more information about ArcGIS for Server
services, please visit Esri's ArcGIS for Server website..
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EPA Data Download Sites
The EPA Data Download Sites (Figure 5} allow EPA Regions, Program Offices, and Research Laboratories to
make GIS data files available in web-accessible folders for others to download. Publishing data as one or
more downloadable files provides others with easy access to your data.
If you wish to publish your data as a downloadable file at the EPA Data Download Sites, familiarize yourself
with the EPA Data Download publishing process as explained at the Environmental Dataset Gateway fEDGl
website.
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Figure 5; EPA Data Download Site web page.
EPA Clip N Ship Application
The EPA Clip N Ship Application (Figure 6) is an interactive data extraction tool that allows users to view
your data on a map, zoom to and select area of interest, choose an output format, and download a copy of
the data clipped to the area of interest.
Clip N Ship provides users the benefit of
being able to simultaneously extract
multiple data layers for an area of interest,
rather than downloading individual large
data files for an entire region, state, or the
nation. An overview of frequently asked
questions and how to use the Clip N Ship
Application is available at the EDG
website.
EPA GeoPlatform Online
EPA GeoPlatform Online allows you to
create and share interactive maps for
geographic visualization. EPA
GeoPlatform Online is continuously
improving, with additional functions and
tools developed on an ongoing basis. Please visit Esri's webpage to see the latest improvements.
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Figure 6: EPA Clip N Ship Application.
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Metadata Publishing: EPA Environmental Dataset Gateway (EDG)
EPA's EDG (Figure 8} allows EDG Stewards to publish metadata describing their datasets and web services
so that they are discoverable and accessible to Agency personnel and external users. Data Publishers are
required to contribute metadata to the EDG for all resources published to the EPA GeoPlatform. For more
information, please visit the EDG website.
SERA Environmental Dataset Gatewa
Connecting &>A * ftiwrotoneot®/
Home
Welcome to EPA's Environmental Oataset Gateway (EDG). Anyone may iiw I In* I Or; lo search lor publicly Available data
resources. EPA employees and affiliates may use the Login link at the lop of this page to view all EOG content.
Download tin* EPA Metadata Editor. .1 iimt friendly interfile to : rente
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EPA GeoPlatform Publishing Workflow SOP v 1.2
Step 3: Deploy/Publish Content
This section describes how to deploy content to the EPA GeoPlatform. Follow the steps below to publish the
content to your selected environments.
EPA GeoPlatform Hosting Environment -Deployment Steps
Generally, deploying and publishing content to the EPA GeoPlatform Hosting Environment follows this
procedure:
1. Create development version. GIS Analyst/Developer develops and tests web service(s) and/or an
application on their local server or on a GeoPlatform Sandbox Server. Once satisfied, the Analyst/
Developer delivers the content to the NGS Team.
2. Create staging version. The NGS Team re-creates the development version on a staging server
within the EPA GeoPlatform Hosting Environment, following the instructions provided by the
Analyst/Developer. The staging version allows the Analyst/Developer and other interested
individuals to review the web service(s) and the application and make any necessary adjustments,
in consultation with the NGS Team assigned to their project.
3. Create production version. Once the GIS Analyst/Developer and his or her manager are satisfied
and all approvals have been obtained, the NGS Team will create the live version of the web
service(s) and/or application that is ready to be used by your audience.
EPA Data Download Site - Deployment Steps
The detailed steps for placing downloadable data packages at the EPA Data Download Site are located at
the EDG website. You may decide to visit the EDG Stewards web page to identify the EDG Steward in your
organization responsible for metadata contribution to EDG. If you have questions about this process, please
email the EDG Team atedg@epa.gov.
EPA Clip N Ship Application - Deployment Steps
The detailed steps for contributing your data to the EPA Clip N Ship Application are located at the EDG
website. If you have questions about this process, please email the EDG Team atedg@epa.gov.
EPA GeoPlatform Online - Deployment Steps
As a logged-in user in EPA GeoPlatform Online, you can create web services, tile services, and web
maps/applications/Story Maps that you may share with other GeoPlatform Online users and with the
public. See the detailed information at Esri's ArcGIS Online Help for assistance with creating EPA
GeoPlatform Online content
Step 4: Publish Metadata and Create Linkages
Create Metadata
EPA-compliant metadata must accompany data published in the EPA GeoPlatform Data Publishing
Framework. Metadata preparation processes vary based on the data publishing options you choose. Refer
to the EPA Metadata Style Guide to determine which metadata preparation guidance you should follow, and
follow the instructions in that document for the data publishing option(s) you choose:
EPA GeoPlatform Hosting Environment web service publication requires:
• FGDC CSDGM metadata, published in EDG, describing the web service and how to access it
• Web service metadata at the service's REST page, describing the data in the service
• EPA GeoPlatform Online content item details, on the service's GeoPlatform Online details page,
describing the data in the service (when service is added as a content item)
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EPA Clip N Ship data publication requires:
• FGDC CSDGM metadata, published in EDG, describing the Clip N Ship dataset
EPA Data Download publication requires:
• FGDC CSDGM metadata, published in EDG, describing the Data Download package
EPA GeoPlatform Online requires:
• EPA GeoPlatform Online content item details describing characteristics about the content item.
Step 5: Review/Approve/Finalize Published Data
Before the data publishing process is finished, it is important to review the final product on EPA production
servers for completeness. Although you may have reviewed the content in the staging environment and
approved the move to the production environment, it is important to review the final product and send a
confirmation email to the NGS Team that deployed your data to the production servers to provide a final
approval of the content or let them know if problems exist.
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