Internal USGS Access Only
Internal USGS Access Only
DAY 1
Opening Remarks
Carl Goodwin, Chief
Joe Carroll, Computer Specialist
Roy Sonenshein, Project Chief
Charting & Statisitics Software
Gloria Stiltner & Conference Call with Jim Slack, Tom Wood, and Merritt Blalock
http://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/dis/graphics_group/recommendation.report.htm
Action Item Review
Created new actions from leftover actions from Aug meeting
Action 1: MetaData Report – Peter Sweitzer, GD (Allord)
Action 2: Draft Memo for "Archiving Policy for email & official electronic memoranda" for Lotus Notes implementation (Stiltner, Goodwin)
Action 3: Policy statement addressing existence of Archiving Process. OSW Memo. (Fulford)
Action 4: Software for OSW Labs (LIMS) – Aprise Dan Gooding, CVO of Status. (Williamson)
Action 5: HR Issues with RTD – Complete & present document to Senior Staff (McEwen, Carswell, Goodwin)
Action 6: Individual Contacts to complete Software Projects Inventory (Barnes)
Proposal for WRD Inventory of Hardware & Software
Gloria Stiltner - Presented Proposal for CPAC Consideration
http://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/cpac/docs/hard_soft_inventory.htm
Input from group
Concerns
Action 7: Provide Tasks & Timeline for Inventory Project by Feb CPAC (Stiltner, Trapanese)
Proposal to evaluate other RDBMS Software – Replacement for Ingres
Gloria Stiltner - Presented proposal for CPAC Consideration
http://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/cpac/docs/db_replace_proposal.htm
Concerns & Input
Action 8: Provide a detailed proposal of research of a RDBMS replacement. (Stiltner, Wood)
Action 8a: Email CPAC and key DB Players for input on Proposal. (Wood)
Policy on Serving Real Time Data in a reliable manner – Goal 2
Scott McEwen
Action 9 – Form team to evaluate "Generic Solutions" towards reliable Real Time Data; include associated costs by 12/15 (McEwen)
Action 9a – Follow up from previous RTD Actions (McEwen)
Annual Data Report
Merritt’s Annual Data Report Scripts
Action 10: Contact Colleen Babcock to see that the "Scripts" requirements makes its way to NWIS from Surface Water user group (Lumb)
NAWQA Database Plan
Sandy Williamson (NAWQA Rep)
Attach Document(s)
Action 11: NWIS to contact Bruce Irwin to Provide Guidelines for the access of NWIS Data via ODBC. (Lumb)***DONE***
Action 12: Note to provide Lotus Status; Next Steps; who will pay. (Stiltner)
Action 13: E-Mail Concerns on Lotus Notes/Domino implementation. Compile and pass on to WRD Lotus Team. (CPAC, Barnes)
Develop Policy on Selecting & Supporting Hardware & Software – Goal 1
Gloria Stiltner - Provided Handout for Goal 1 document
Provided budget proposal for field funding for ’99
http://
Group looked at a Model to determine what Software will be supported by DIS
Build Matrix
Proposal:
Consider accepting the document for accepting priority for support for Software & Hardware.
* Motion moved & accepted
Action 14: Reevaluate & modify weighting factors in "Selection Process" – 12/15/98 (Stiltner, Williamson)
Proposal:
Use "Priority" technique to develop a recommendation to management that the levels of support must be funded.
Action 15: CPAC works under Gloria’s direction to prepare draft "Priority" table; through CPAC, send to Senior Staff. – 1/15/99 (Stiltner, CPAC)
Discussion of Y2K Funds
Lew Wade expects WRD to receive (90% certain) 4.7 Million for replacing hardware
Desktop/Laptop
Servers
Model needed to whether Software can be delivered on NT.
| Feasible | Deliver | |
| AIS | Today | 11/00 |
| NWIS | 4/99 | 5/01 |
Data Collection in South Florida
Mitch Murray provided a presentation on the operation
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
Brian Turcotte, Senior Supervising Engineer
Cooperator with USGS
Mission
Data Collection Validation Processing System
Revisit of Charting & Statistics
Sandy Williamson was able to provide a brief demonstration of the S-PLUS
Motion – To accept S Plus as the Charting & Statistics package to replace G2
Accepted
Action 16: Develop a Beta program, Implementation plan including costs. Develop integration & training based on information - 1/15/98 (Wood, Slack)
Action 16a: Announcement from DIS Office 12/15/98 (Stiltner)
Replacement of Goal 4
Since the development of Web App Develpopment Goal has been met, it may be necessary to replace this goal.
Scott McEwen has provided 5 suggestions:
Motion to adopt the Archival as new Goal 4
Action 17 Research and bring proposal for Archiving Policy if there is an interested - Next CPAC (McEwen & All of CPAC):
Policy of Selection & Support of GIS hardware & Software – Goal 5
Greg Allord gave an update of the GIPO recommendation given by Mark Negri that basically states the support of ESRI on NT platforms.
Motion – Gloria proposes to fold this Goal in the Goal #1 (Policy on Selecting SW & HW to support)
Accepted
NWIS Update
Alan Lumb presented NWIS Status & Issues presentation
Highlights:
Action 18: Prepare to have NWIS Documentation for Architecture on the Agenda for next meeting (Lumb, CPAC)
DAY 3
Develop Policy on Selecting & Supporting Hardware & Software – Goal 1
Gloria presented the latest draft of the Matrix for determining support for Corporate Software
Action 19: Gloria will resend Draft to CPAC by email (Stiltner, CPAC)
NWIS/Sun Cost Analysis
Gloria presented some figures on software & Hardware maintenance and found a high amount being spent on AV 300 workstation support. (90K) Gloria proposes sending a note asking sites to consider dropping support .
Group reviewed the SUN Server Cost analysis
Scott McEwen proposes
Lew Wade propose developing a statement on this matter:
CPAC Says:
"WRD will evolve from its current state (including DG’s) to a non-DG; mixed NT/SUN environment that will continue beyond 2001."
The reasons:
Action 20: Prepare statement to provide for WRD future of DG. As appropriate Districts will be given Y2K opportunities and CPAC instruction (Wade, Goodwin)
Y2K Matter
Return to the Issue of spending the 4.7M for Y2K replacement.
For Y2K Second supplemental DOI/OMB has given us money buy 50 servers.
For the Server Purchase:
Action 21: Need more information on implementing SUN & Solaris to include List of software, and resources. (McEwen, Stiltner)
Windows Terminal Test & Report
Steve Brady provided handout and report.
http://wwwrcolka.cr.usgs.gov/uo/comp/comp/winterm.html
Thinstar 200 & 300
300’s provided higher resoloution & 100BT NICs
Action 22: Get a loaner Thinstar 300 for Steve Brady (Barnes)
Kentucky Sun Analysis Tool
Scott presented the supporting document & tool for implementing the SUN
http://wwwdkylsv.er.usgs.gov/uo/cpac.html
A similar study may be done for desktops.
Action 23: Provide input to Loren on the Sun analysis (CPAC)
Computer-Oriented Strategic View
Bill Carswell presented the Computer oriented Strategic view
Suggested Processes:
Action 24: Take the list of Strategic Directions (1998-2008) and provide feedback by December first (CPAC)
Action 25: Agenda to prioritize in the next CPAC meeting (Barnes)
Futcom 4 Discussion
Considerations of pursuing the next report.
Re evaluate who the audience is
Concept:
Every year to get a 3 year vision of the future of computing.
Action 26: Develop a statement of FUTOM "Concept paper" – Audience, mechanism and scope (Dec. 15) . Make sure it is on the Agenda for next meeting to develop an implementation plan. (Barnes)
Next Meeting
Discussion of availability and location.
February 17 –19th in Albuquerque, NM
May, 11-13 (No Location)
August, 3-5 (No Location)
Action 26: Proposal for next meetings (Carswell/Hollway)
Membership
Gloria proposed eliminating the HASS member and adding a WEB person.
Approved
Action 27: Find a replacement for Data Chief, Web member, Database Admin (Carswell)
Review members and future members.
Action NOV1998.FL.1: MetaData Report – Peter Sweitzer, GD (Allord)
Action NOV1998.FL.2: Draft Memo for "Archiving Policy for email & official electronic memoranda" for Lotus Notes implementation (Stiltner, Goodwin)
Action NOV1998.FL.3: Policy statement addressing existence of Archiving Process. OSW Memo. (Fulford)
Action NOV1998.FL.4: Software for OSW Labs (LIMS) – Aprise Dan Gooding, CVO of Status. (Williamson)
Action NOV1998.FL.5: HR Issues with RTD – Complete & present document to Senior Staff (McEwen, Carswell, Goodwin)
Action NOV1998.FL.6: Individual Contacts to complete Software Projects Inventory (Barnes)
Action NOV1998.FL.7: Provide Tasks & Timeline for Inventory Project by Feb CPAC (Stiltner, Trapanese)
Action NOV1998.FL.8: Provide a detailed proposal of research of a RDBMS replacement. (Stiltner, Wood)
Action NOV1998.FL.8a: Email CPAC and key DB Players for input on Proposal. (Wood)
Action NOV1998.FL.9 – Form team to evaluate "Generic Solutions" towards reliable Real Time Data; include associated costs by 12/15 (McEwen)
Action NOV1998.FL.9a – Follow up from previous RTD Actions (McEwen)
Action NOV1998.FL.10: Contact Colleen Babcock to see that the "Scripts" requirements makes its way to NWIS from Surface Water user group (Lumb)
* Action NOV1998.FL.11: NWIS to contact Bruce Irwin to Provide Guidelines for the access of NWIS Data via ODBC. (Lumb)***DONE***
Action NOV1998.FL.12: Note to provide Lotus Status; Next Steps; who will pay. (Stiltner)
Action NOV1998.FL.13: E-Mail Concerns on Lotus Notes/Domino implementation. Compile and pass on to WRD Lotus Team. (CPAC, Barnes)
Action NOV1998.FL.14: Reevaluate & modify weighting factors in "Selection Process" – 12/15/98 (Stiltner, Williamson)
Action NOV1998.FL.15: CPAC works under Gloria’s direction to prepare draft "Priority" table; through CPAC, send to Senior Staff. – 1/15/99 (Stiltner, CPAC)
Action NOV1998.FL.16: Develop Beta program, Implementation plan, costs. Develop integration & training based on information - 1/15/98 (Wood, Slack)
Action NOV1998.FL.16a: Announcement from DIS Office 12/15/98 (Stiltner)
Action NOV1998.FL.17 Research and bring proposal for Archiving Policy if there is an interested - Next CPAC (McEwen & All of CPAC)
Action NOV1998.FL.18: Prepare to have NWIS Documentation for Architecture on the Agenda for next meeting (Lumb, CPAC)
Action NOV1998.FL.19: Gloria will resend Draft to CPAC by email (Stiltner, CPAC)
Action NOV1998.FL.20: Prepare statement to provide for WRD future of DG. As appropriate Districts will be given Y2K opportunities and CPAC instruction (Wade, Goodwin)
Action NOV1998.FL.21: Need more information on implementing SUN & Solaris to include List of software, and resources. (McEwen, Stiltner)
Action NOV1998.FL.22: Get a loaner Thinstar 300 for Steve Brady (Barnes)
Action NOV1998.FL.23: Provide input to Loren on the Sun analysis (CPAC)
Action NOV1998.FL.24: Take the list of Strategic Directions (1998-2008) and provide feedback by December first (CPAC)
Action NOV1998.FL.25: Add Agenda item to prioritize the Strategic Direction info in the next CPAC meeting (Barnes)
Action NOV1998.FL.26: Develop a statement of FUTOM "Concept paper" – Audience, mechanism and scope (Dec. 15) . Make sure it is on the Agenda for next meeting to develop an implementation plan. (Barnes)
Action NOV1998.FL.26: Proposal for next meetings (Carswell/Hollway)
Action NOV1998.FL.27: Find a replacement for Data Chief, Web member, Database Admin (Carswell)
Tuesday, November 17
8:00 - 9:00 Welcome & Introduction (Miami Sub District)
9:00 - 9:45 Action Item Review (see Action Items)
9:45 - 10:00 Break
10:00 - 11:00 Goal 1 - Policy on Selecting Corporate Hardware & Software (Stiltner)
- Review and Finalize changes to Table
11:00 - 11:30 Proposal to develop a WRD hardware and software inventory (Stiltner)
- The DIS Proposal
11:30 - 12:00 Proposal for analysis for new database software (Stiltner)
- Oracle & SQL Server vs. Ingres
- Cost Analysis
- The DIS Proposal
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 3:00 Goal 2 - Develop policy and plans on serving real-time data in a reliable manner (McEwen)
- Review & decide on next steps based on the recommendation
3:00 - 5:00 Town Meeting with Miami Sub District
Wednesday, November 18
8:00 - 8:30 Discussion of Town Meeting
8:30 - 10:00 Goal 3 - Select statistics and charting software and recommend support policy. (Stiltner)
- Review and Decide upon the Charting Group's recommendation
10:00 - 10:15 Break
10:15 - 10:45 Goal 4 - Proposal to Replace "Develop policy in support of Web application" (McEwen)
10:30 - 12:00 Seed Money for Software Development
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 1:30 Data collection operations by the Miami Subdistrict - Mitch Murray
1:30 - 2:30 South Florida Water Management District - Brian Turcotte (SFWMD)
2:30 - 2:45 Break
2:45 - 3:30 Goal 5 - Present Policy on selection and support of GIS hardware and software
3:30 - 5:00 NWIS Update
- Status
- Review Structure & Matrix
- Documenting the NWIS Architectural Vision
- Data Archiving
Thursday, November 19
8:00 - 9:00 NWIS/SUN Cost Analysis
9:00 - 9:30 Windows Terminal Testing (Brady)
9:30 - 9:45 Break
9:45 - 11:00 Goal 6 - Develop a computer-oriented strategic view consistent with WRD's Strategic Plan
11:00 - 12:00 Wrap-up & Action Review
12:00 Meeting Adjourned
A block of rooms has been made for the USGS at the Wellesley Inn for the nights of Nov. 16-18.
THE WELLESLEY INN [Has Pool] 3 blocks East of the Office
MIAMI AIRPORT NW
8436 NW 36 STREET
305/592-4799
Other area hotels:
LA QUINTA INN & SUITES [Brand New, Has Pool]
8730 NW 27 STREET
305/436-0830HOLIDAY INN [New, Has Pool] 2 blocks SE of the Office
3255 NW 87 AVENUE
305/500-9000AMERISUITES [Has Pool] 3 blocks East of the Office
3555 NW 82 AVENUE
305/718-8292
HOMESTEAD VILLAGE 2 blocks SE of the Office
8720 NW 33 STREET
305/436-1811
Directions from the Airport to NW 36 St.
==============================
Exit airport to 42 Avenue (Le Jeune Road), North
There is no Left onto 36 Street, follow detours to 36 St.
Continue west on 36 St. all the way past 87th Avenue.
Our building is [Federal Reserve] the 4th on the left, enter and drive around to the back, entrance is by the overhang.
There is a guarded entrance, be ready to place your belongings on an x-ray machine and
walk through a metal detector. The guards will ask you to sign in and will give you a
vistor pass.
If you are coming from the car rental place on 42 Avenue/Lejeune Rd.
===================================================================
Go south on 42 Avenue to 836 West
[if you are leaving from the east side of 42, go across and to the left] or
[if you are on the west side of 42 Ave then just go right from the rental car
parking lot]
From Miami Int'l Airport to the Wellesley Inn Hotel
===================================================
(west of the airport, ea\st of the USGS)
Exit the Airport [staying in the right hand lane],
exit to LeJeune Rd (south)
Enter 836 west
Exit on NW 12 Street, toward the left to 87 Avenue, turn right on 87 Ave to 36
Street, turn right the hotel will be on your right about 2 minutes.
To the USGS
===========
From the Wellesley go left on 36 street, past 87 Avenue
The USGS (in the Federal Reserve Building) is on your left,
4th building from 87 Avenue
[There are 2 entrances at each end of the Federal Reserve building,
drive around to the back to park,at the entrance see the guard,tell them you
are coming to the USGS, suite 107]
Complete Actions marked with (*)
Cost Estimates for Sun Systems
Action Item – Technical Argument – Type of configuration – Richard, Graig,
Alan
* Action Item – Economic analysis (Stiltner, Shapiro)
Cost Analysis for using Suns in WRD
(Word Document)
Spreadsheet for Cost Estimates
(Excel Document)
Action Item – Use Cost analysis and apply it to 3 Districts (WA, KS, & ?) - Scott
Reaction to FUTCOM3 Presentation
Action Item: Report on Windows Terminal Server (Brady & NT-TAC)
Action Item: Discuss Mac Issues (Graig & Greg)
Action Item: Futcom 4 (Barnes)
Annual Water Data Reports
Action Item: Report on this at the next meeting (Allord, Oberg)
Agenda Item: Address Availability at next meeting – coordination with SPIDER
Discussion of Town Meeting
Action Item: Letter addressing ACWI COOP (Wade)
Action Item: Letter to NWIS encouraging "outside" user groups. (Wade, Lumb)
Action Item: Selected meetings with major Co-op – Maybe Miami. (Goodwin)
Action Item: Pilot group – Real-time surface water users group (Oberg)
Action Item: Contact "Environment Canada" via letter (Oberg, Goodwin)
Action Item: Ask for report on Metadata (Wade, Pierce)
Action Item: Report on the Mac section of FUTCOM3 to CPAC (Allord) Greg should contact
John individually…report back to CPAC
Action Item: NWIS to develop the guidelines and publish - NWIS Remote Client (Lumb)
Action Item: NWIS will announce Web page update - NWIS Remote Client (Lumb)
Action Item: Information on Bibliographic search capability on the web to Mike D in Tacoma
(Wade)
NWIS Update
* Action Item: Document salary estimates for members of the
NWIS user groups. (Wade)
NWIS
User Group Costs
Action Item : Document Resource implications & estimates in 4.1. Contained in NWIS
release notes & Instructions (Lumb)
Action Item: Archiving email and memos.Central Online data. (Kathy Miller)
Web Development
Action Item: Develop document to advise District Chiefs on features & issues of
providing real-time data on the Web. (Goodwin, Davis & Oberg)
Action Item: Information on future QW development. (Oberg)
* Action Item: Proposal for replacing Goal number 4 with
relevent policy needs. (McEwen & Oberg)
Proposal to Replace CPAC Goal 4
NWIS Data Archiving
Action Item: Need to write chapter for NWIS System Administration. Step by Step procedure
for NWIS data Archiving (Wade & Lumb)
Action Item: NWIS Data Archiving needs to be added to the class. Provide status of class.
(Wade & Lumb)
Action Item: Publish Policy statement addressing existence of Archiving process in the
manual. OSW Memo. (Kirby)
Office of Surface Water - From Sediment lab discussion
Action Item: Write a CPAC Recommendation for OSW. Office of Surface Water will develop a
policy for developing standard software for labs. (Kirby, Wade, Goodwin, John Gray)
Software Sharing
Seed Money for Software Development
Action Item: Develop matrix of Inventory for next proposal.
Action Item: Follow through on Inventory of Software projects. (Barnes)
Action Item: further discuss the proposal after receiving matrix of Inventory
(Kirby,Scott, Carswell, RCS’s, Discipline specialists)
Action Item: Develop List of glaring examples of projects that would benefit the Division.
(McEwen)
Policy on Choosing Corporate Hardware & Software
Action Item: Form a group to refine the Method for ranking National Software Support
(Stiltner)
* Action Item: Refine the Method and add value for ranking
National Hardware Support. (Stiltner)
A Method for Ranking National
Hardware Support Activities
A Method for Ranking National
Software Support Activities
Charting & Statistics Software and Policy
* Action Item: Investigation & Proposal of Charting
& Statistics packages. (Tom Wood)
Critical
Requirements for Charting & Statistics software & TIMELINE
CPAC Interaction with NWIS
Action Item – Propose a CPAC review "structure" for NWIS on an annual or
bi-annual basis. (Wade)
Action Item- Develop this Matrix for CPAC to review and decide on (Wade)
System Delivering Real-Time Data
Real-time Data Delivery System - Index Page
Problems and Improvement Opportunities
Action Item: Develop proposal to deal with the Human resources problems related to the delivery of Reliable Real Time Data. Ask Kathy Hill for a professional recommendation for dealing with Human resource issues. (Carswell)
Action Item: Prepare a report to present. (McEwen, Goodwin)
Action Item: Formation of group is 1st recommendation, Modify members and formalize.
(Goodwin)
Action Item: Report on finding and recommended direction. (McEwen, Goodwin)
Action Item: Action to see that recommendation 1 happens in OSW. (Oberg)
Action Item: Modify to reflect 2B – Draft paragraph to get to OSW (Goodwin)
* Action Item: Send memo – tasking individuals in the
memo – Group is different from RTD group (Goodwin)
Memo - High
Availability and Reliability in Serving Real-Time Data
Action Item: Ask DIS to prepare report to deal with issue of reporting Off-hour Telecom
Failures. (Stiltner)
Strategic Directions Document
Action Item: Meet with small group (Meet 1st week in sept) to refine Strategic Directions
Document based on comments received. (Carswell)
Agenda Item: Present to group at next meeting (Carswell)
Next Meeting
Action Item: Recommend a location to meet in the Central Region for Feb. ’99.
(McEwen)
Last Modified: Thursday, November 19, 1998 05:29:16 PM Eastern Standard Time