One of the greatest areas for confusion is in the area of terms and definitions. If 
anything will bring a standards process to a halt it is this problem. Within the 
international Digital Geographic Information Working Group (DGIWG) we have 
struggled with some very basic concepts with respect to data. First of all we have 
differentiated between the term data and information. Data is defined as "instances 
of facts with specific meanings occurring in the real world". On the other hand, 
information is "a grouping of data in context related to a specific purpose .... a 
formalized accumulation of data to resolve uncertainty". Neutral data is "data which 
is not intended to support a specific application unless combined with other 
information". In other words individual data elements may be neutral. The Feature 
Attribute Coding Catalog (FACC) is a neutral dataset specification. Annex C of 
FACC, in DIGEST 1.2, is a first draft of a neutral dataset. For the time being, efforts 
on further definition and management of neutral datasets has been suspended. The 
next term used is a DIGEST dataset, which is "a collection of data arranged in a 
DIGEST compliant format .... normally used for bulk transfer between producers". 
From there we can define a standard DIGEST dataset, which is "a collection of data 
which has a specification which pre-defines the content and the DIGEST 
encapsulation". An example of standard DIGEST dataset is the Background Display 
Dataset (BDD) which has specified contents for level O (» 1:1,000,000), level 1 
(1:250,000 - 1:1,000,000) and level 2 (1:50,000 - 1:250,000). The last term used 
is a DIGEST product, which is "a standard DIGEST dataset with a defined media and 
packaging, stated in a product specification .... usually delivered to an end user". An 
example would be the Vector Smart Map (VMap) series which meets the BDD 
standard DIGEST dataset specification. 
5. GEOSPATIAL TOOL BOX 
One of the key ingredients for the successful adoption of a world standard is the 
ready availability of a comprehensive geospatial toolbox which adheres to open 
system architecture. Without a method of visualizing the data users will never buy 
into standardization or interoperabilty. This allows for maximum reusability of data 
and reduction in duplication of effort in software development. 
DIGEST View is a three year R&D effort within DGIWG, initiated by Canada. This 
project is built on and in cooperation with a U.S. Defence Mapping Agency effort 
known as the Mapping, Charting and Geodesy (MC&G) Utility Software Environment 
(MUSE). The primary objective is to demonstrate multiple system platform 
interoperability (DOS, MAC, UNIX), and to provide a basic capability to import, display 
and manipulate matrix, raster, vector and text DIGEST products. Release of the 
software will be in the public domain including full source code, user manuals and 
system description manuals. This will allow users and integrators to fully exploit all 
DIGEST products. 
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