The Computing Environment of the Water Resources Division, 1997-99

Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1997 11:31:43 -0500
To: "E  - All WRD Employees"<distribution>
From: "Judith B Griffin, Secretary, Reston, VA" <jbgriff> (Judith B. Griffin)
X-Sender: jbgriff@130.11.51.82
Subject: Computing Environment of WRD, 1997-99


In Reply Refer To:
Mail Stop 414

MEMORANDUM
                                                            February 19, 1997

To:       All Water Resources Division Employees

From:     Robert M. Hirsch (Signed)
          Chief Hydrologist

Subject:  The Computing Environment of the Water Resources 
          Division, 1997-99

As a scientific organization, the Water Resources Division (WRD) relies
upon computer technology for meeting all facets of its mission. 
Historically, the WRD has provided this technology through a combination of
consistent systems and task-specific software or hardware.  

The explosion in computer technology provides increased opportunities for
computer-based solutions to scientific and management issues while
significantly increasing the complexity of the computer environment.  The
management of the WRD computer environment must maintain consistency while
allowing for growth and flexibility.  

In September 1996, the Computer Policy Advisory Committee (CPAC) charged a
subgroup "Futures Committee 2 or FUTCOM2" to develop a draft document to
describe the computing environment for WRD over the next 3 years.  The
document "WRD's Computing Environment for 1997 Through 1999" was reviewed
and approved by CPAC and the WRD Senior Staff.  This document may be
accessed on the intranet at:

http://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/uo/cpac/futcom2.html.  

The report provides an assessment of the Division's computer environment,
information that can be used to make sound decisions regarding computer
hardware and software, and guidance in the development of staffing and
training plans for the period 1997-99.  This report has generated a number
of activities for CPAC (see the CPAC minutes for the December 16-18, 1996,
meeting) on the intranet at:

http://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/uo/cpac/mins/auto.html.  

CPAC plans to update this report annually to provide a continuing 3-year
analysis of the increasingly mixed and dynamic hardware, operating system,
network, applications software, and computer-management environment
available to WRD in support of the Division's mission.  

Each of you will find information to benefit you in your work.  In
particular, managers will benefit from the insight and guidance on how best
to provide computer hardware, software, support, and training to their
staffs.  I encourage you to read this report.  

THIS MEMORANDUM DISTRIBUTED BY EMAIL ONLY