Status 
The standard was tested in two phases between January 1988 and April 1989. The pur 
pose of Phase 1 testing was to test the conceptual framework and implementation of the 
SDTS, and prove that data could be encoded and decoded into and out of the Standard. 
Phase 1 testing involved organizations from the Federal government that had been closely 
associated with the development of the SDTS: the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of 
the Census, and the Defense Mapping Agency. Each of these organizations completed test 
data sets. The U.S. Geological Survey encoded a Digital Line Graph file, the Bureau of 
the Census, a TIGER file, and the Defense Mapping Agency, a World Vector Shoreline 
file. These files were exchanged and decoded by each participating agency. Errors and 
suggested improvements resulting from this exercise were documented and presented to the 
Technical Review Board. The board reviewed and voted to accept 14 of 17 proposed 
changes. These changes were incorporated in the standard and a revised version, "The 
Proposed Standard for Digital Cartographic Data" (DCDS Task Force, 1988), was prepared 
for the phase 2 testing period. 
Phase 2 testing began in September 1988. The purpose of this second testing phase was to 
open up participation in this activity to include other Federal agencies, the private sector, 
and the university community. Three workshops were held to initiate participants in the 
background, purpose, goals, and content of the standard. Over 60 individuals from more 
than 20 private firms, government agencies, and universities attended. Participants were 
presented with several options for testing the concepts presented in the standard ranging 
from completing a paper and pencil conceptual mapping between one data format and 
SDTS to completing a full transfer of data between two organizations. Testers were re 
quired to document and report their findings. As a result of this testing, 124 suggestions 
were submitted to the Technical Review Board. Participants expressed major concerns 
about the amount of complexity and optionality contained in the standard and offered 
suggestions to clarify specific points. 
The Technical Review Board met in May 1989 to consider the issues raised as a result of 
phase 2 testing. At this meeting discussions were held on terminology, data models, data 
transfer forms (vector, relational, and raster), map annotation, symbology, and ISO 8211 as 
the transfer implementation method. Highlights of the changes proposed at this meeting 
include: 
• Change the official name of the standard from the "Digital Cartographic Data 
Standard" to the "Spatial Data Transfer Standard." 
• Establish a working group to define a conceptual model of spatial data that 
reflects what is described in the standard and to develop a more complete 
description of terminology, including standard objects and their relationships. 
• Establish a working group to consolidate the vector and relational form. 
Relocate modules of the relational form associated with attributes into the vector 
form. Delete the hierarchical method used to code attributes within the vector 
form and all modules in the relational form not associated with attribution. 
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