WZDx Specification Update Subgroup Charter

Updated January 2022

PURPOSE

The Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) Specification Update Subgroup shall review and recommend WZDx Specification updates to the Work Zone Data Working Group (WZDWG). The WZDx Specification Update Subgroup will be the lead steward in making changes to version 4.0 of the WZDx Specification and in managing the future development of the specification. This subgroup is open to all WZDWG members.

AUTHORITIES

The WZDx Specification Update Subgroup is chartered under the WZDWG, which itself is chartered under the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Transportation Subcommittee.

SCOPE

The WZDx Specification Update Subgroup is accountable to and provides recommendations to the WZDWG, which provides leadership and direction in the use and development of the WZDx Specification. This subgroup works to advance the WZDx mission - fostering the interchange of data between work zone activity data publishers and users by defining explicit, comprehensive, and consistent definitions of the features, attributes, and vocabulary needed to effectively model work zone activity data. The subgroup’s focus is on iterative changes to the WZDx Specification that balance the needs of data producers and users to enable effective data exchange and use.

The scope of the WZDx Specification Update Subgroup includes:

1. Reviewing version 4.0 of the WZDx Specification
2. Identifying how the specification may be expanded/narrowed to better meet stakeholder needs
3. Recommending specification changes to the broader WZDWG
4. Grooming the backlog of potential future changes

The WZDx Specification Update Subgroup is responsible for reviewing comments and inputs received from data users and producers that may inform future versions of the specification. The subgroup will engage with data producers and users (e.g., infrastructure owners and operators [IOOs] and map developers), as well as subject matter experts to determine what data elements and capabilities are necessary to include in future versions of the WZDx Specification; doing so to ultimately accommodate the needs of WZDWG’s respective constituencies (i.e., the various audiences comprising the producers and consumers of work zone activity data, and those other parties with a vested interest [e.g., standards development organizations]).

The subgroup will adapt and refine an iterative, open, and agile process in developing future versions of the WZDx Specification. Subgroup efforts may include expanding the number of data elements and the necessary granularity and/or quality of those data elements, as well as listing the activities needed to drive the generation and dissemination of required WZDx data elements by relevant parties. To promote interoperability and reduce burden, the subgroup will re-use definitions and concepts from existing standards wherever possible and encourage representatives from other standards development organizations (SDOs) to participate.

OBJECTIVES

The Subgroup shall:

1. Provide opportunities for WZDWG members (subgroup members are innately WZDWG members) to propose improvements to the specification.
2. Review the current WZDx Specification and any comments made on the specification on GitHub or received via email from data producers/users.
3. Recommend incremental changes to the current WZDx Specification that will better meet the current and future needs of the data producers/users of work zone activity data.
4. Groom the backlog of potential future changes and sources of technical input.
5. Refine the WZDWG process for updating, testing, and publishing future versions of the WZDx Specification.
6. Support open scalable standards that accommodate diverse mission needs for the creation, consumption, mapping, publication, and analysis of work zone event information.

ACTIVITIES

Activity / Milestone	Meeting Dates (tentative)	Milestone
Start-up Introduce co-chairs Establish roles, responsibilities, and objectives for the subgroup Perform backlog grooming and prioritization of current issues	Late January
Review and Prioritize Outstanding Issues Create new issues based on review and discussion of v4.0 Conduct a review of outstanding and new issues, examining their relation to existing standards Gather subgroup members' feedback on open issues and the prioritization criteria for creating PRs	Late January Late February Late March Late April (if needed)	Cutoff for new issues: before April meeting
Modify Specification Through Pull Requests Co-chairs and members propose resolutions to open issues by opening pull requests outlining proposed changes Review proposed changes to specification (as well as associated new business rules and standards from the Technical Assistance Subgroup) Create a shortlist of new elements, interdependencies, and clarifications to add to the specification; agree on ownership for finalizing PRs Complete all PRs by implementing proposed changes in the specification on a distinct branch of the GitHub repository and updating example feeds	Late March Late April Late May	All PRs implemented w/ examples: June 3, 2022
Review and Finalize Next Version Finalize all technical and editorial changes to WZDx Specification – comprehensive QA/QC of new changes including a review and comparison to existing standards, as necessary	Early to mid-June (if needed)	All PRs through QA/QC: July 1, 2022
Prepare for WZDWG meeting Compile WZDWG presentation materials outlining the proposed changes to the specification Coordinate WZDWG presentation with other subgroups and manage any interdependencies in timelines	N/A	Presentation materials finalized: July 8, 2022
Present and Vote on Changes Present proposed WZDx Specification changes to the WZDWG Coincides with the WZDWG semi-annual meeting, expected to be held around July 19, 2022 Following the meeting, initiate member voting timeline (10 business days)	Mid-July 2022	Voting closed: end of July 2022
Release Next Version of Specification Update GitHub references, perform final QA/QC of specification, craft specification release notes, perform issue/pull request backlog grooming, and craft other documentation, as necessary Prepare necessary release announcements and publish the next version of the WZDx Specification	N/A	Specification released: end of August 2022

CO-CHAIRS

The WZDx Specification Update Subgroup Co-Chairs shall be from organizations that are active in the development and application of policies related to the creation, publication, consumption, mapping, and analysis of data relevant to the mission of the WZDWG. The subgroup shall have a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of four (4) co-chairs that represent both data producers and users. Co-chairs will have administrative (“admin”) rights on the WZDx Specification GitHub repository in order to manage issue and pull request backlog grooming, as well as the general specification update process.

PROCEDURES

1. Subgroup meetings shall be held at the request of the co-chairs and conducted as frequently as needed in order to meet subgroup objectives. Tentative meeting dates are posted above.
2. Meetings will be held in-person or virtually.
3. Agenda items will be coordinated amongst co-chairs and/or other subgroup members and will be available at least five days in advance of proposed meeting dates.
4. The charter for this subgroup shall be reviewed and updated as deemed necessary by subgroup leadership.
5. Issues and conflicts that need to be resolved will be relayed promptly to the WZDWG chair and/or co-chairs for schedule and resolution.
6. The subgroup may establish additional rules and procedures for conducting business.

COORDINATION RESPONSIBILITIES

The subgroup will employ the tools best suited to meet objectives and perform responsibilities, e.g., the use of teleconferences, GitHub, and web meetings to advance specification development. Subgroup co-chairs will coordinate activities with other WZDx Subgroups, the larger WZDWG, the FGDC Coordination Group, and other appropriate parties that are necessary to accomplish key activities; effectively growing the geospatial community.

REPORTS

The subgroup shall develop an annual summary of accomplishments and planned activities that shall be presented to the WZDWG Chair.

The WZDWG Chair may request that the subgroup prepare special reports, white papers, technical papers, briefings and the like to address pertinent issues, cross-cutting activities, and/or urgent matters consistent with larger FGDC community needs. These requests may come from one or several FGDC offices - the Office of the Secretariat, Coordination Group, or Member Agencies. The WZDx Specification Update Subgroup, through the WZDWG Chair, will submit content for the FGDC Annual Report each year, as requested by the FGDC Secretariat.

The subgroup shall publish information about its activities on the WZDx GitHub wiki page (https://github.com/usdot-jpo-ode/jpo-wzdx/wiki). References may need to be established between independent sites, the FGDC Transportation Subcommittee site, and the GitHub repository.

APPROVALS

This Charter will remain in effect until amended, replaced, or terminated by the WZDWG Chair, the Transportation Subcommittee Chair, the FGDC Steering Committee, or the FGDC Coordination Group.

This charter shall be posted on the GeoPlatform Communities web site at https://communities.geoplatform.gov/ngda-transportation/work-zone-data-working-group/ as well as on the Work Zone Data Exchange GitHub wiki page - https://github.com/usdot-jpo-ode/jpo-wzdx/wiki.