----------------------------Original message----------------------------
 
         Announcement of Electronic Technical Work Group  to Incorporate
        Spatial Data Elements and Operators into the ANSI Z39.50 Standard
 
                      -------------------------------
 
                               March 18, 1994
 
This note is a request for participation in the development of an attribute
set for spatial query and retrieval to operate within the ANSI Z39.50 standard
(Information Retrieval Application Service Definition and Protocol
Specification)
Version 3.  The Z39.50 search and retrieve is already used extensively by the
library community which has focused on the development of search and retrieval
tools for library collections including electronic card catalogs, inventories,
inter-library loans, and document retrieval.  A draft Spatial Metadata Content
Standard has also been developed by the U.S. Federal Geographic Data Committee
and is being developed as a standard within the Mapping and GIS Section of
the ASTM standards organization (D18.01.05).  The draft metadata standard
will be used as a starting point for the development of a spatial attribute set
within the Z39.50 environment. The proposal is to conduct on-line discussions
via electronic mail focused on the query and retrieval of information which can
be referenced in multi-dimensional coordinate space.  These discussions will
be available to the Z39.50, ASTM, and ANSI standards groups and to software
implementors.
 
If you are interested in participating in this discussion list, please send
e-mail to [log in to unmask] with the contents of the first line of
your message being:
 
SUB ZMAP Your Name
 
You will then be added to the list server for integration of spatial operations
into Z39.50.  To send messages to this new group, send e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]  This list server is housed at the Clearinghouse for
Networked Information Discovery and Retrieval (CNIDR) in North Carolina and
will be moderated by Doug Nebert of the U.S. Geological Survey (also Section
Chair of ASTM Section D18.01.05).
 
Individuals are encouraged to join this discussion list who are experienced in
the development and maintenance of digital spatial information within either a
geographic information system, image processing, or Z39.50 environment.
Individuals involved in spatial data processing and storage software development
are sought, as well as those with experience and perspectives on "scavenging"
for spatial data.  Individuals with Z39.50 experience are especially needed to
keep the development of an attribute set syntactically correct and "in line"
with
the requirements of the standards process.
 
This ad-hoc group will serve in a review and advisory capacity in the
development
of the spatial profile for Z39.50.  Activity will peak in the second calendar
quarter of 1994 and should subside thereafter as the service becomes
incorporated. The attribute set and operations developed by this group will be
forwarded to the Z39.50 Implementor's Workgroup for further review and
incorporation into the standard.  The U.S. Geological Survey is a registered
implementor of Z39.50 and will promulgate the spatial processing extensions to
the standard.
 
A more detailed information document on the discussion list is available via
anonymous ftp to 130.11.51.187 under /pub as zmap.details.