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Constituent Reports:

Senior Staff Report
Data Chiefs Report
District Chiefs Report
AO Report
Study Chiefs Report

Scott McEwen (on phone)

CR Regional Computer Specialist -- Denver, CO

Welcome and Introductions/Agenda Review
Presented by: Donna Schiffer (Chair)

Welcome and dynamics of the meeting.

Texas Water Science Center Overview
Presented by: Ann Ardis, Studies section chief

Overview of the Texas Water Science Center. 

• Historical database and archival work 
• Cooperators in TX are very vocal – visit Capital Hill (Texas water day Feb 6, 2007), they give their opinion on where money should be spent. 
• Strong support for USGS and streamgaging network.
• Funding is around 21 million now. 
• 475 real time streamflow gages  125 lakes/reservoirs.
• Bob Joseph – Ann indicated that he did a lot to help the program by going to the cooperators

Texas Water Science Center IT Overview
Presented by: Doonan
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

• Overview of IT operations
• Corpus Christi office is co-located with FWS, and they have one WRD IT person there, 2 (3?) on dialup!
• 146 employees total in TWSC
• Txnwisops –
• IT unit staffing—5, 4 in Austin and 1 in San Antonio.  2 Web staff – 1SIMS dedicated, and 1 contract student 
  They use a couple of people budgeted 4 hours a month (or pay period?), who are very field oriented and they are part of the IT_help email alias.  They have PR accounts.
• Very limited PR accounts.  In Oklahoma, also very limited access.  Brian said in TX the GIS people also don’t have admin access (one exception, someone doing ‘SDE’?).
• IT budget-- $818K, of that $468K for salary.  WRD cost recovery = 78K (he thinks this is a little higher than what it ended up being), Equipment = $137K.  20k to WCF each year.  Current WCF balance = 77K
• Travel = $9,209.  They have a dedicated vehicle.
• 310 servers/desktops/laptops (20 servers, 149 desktops, 145 laptops)  Using SMS for package distribution and inventory.
• Acquired a NAS about 1 year ago, 3 terrabytes.  Don’t provide backup to local machines, but tell people to deposit data in a specific location if they want data backed up.

IT unit long-term goals

• Make better use of SMS
• Additional space needed on NAS
• FOs moving to laptops with port replicators!
• Migrate to eSAV/CR WSUS
• Replace field office servers

Town Hall Meeting -
Presented by: ITAC/Center Staff

(Optional for Center Staff)

Introduction of ITAC members and GIO guests

Office of Water Information Briefing - Katherine Lins

NWIS Update - Susan Trapanese

• reviewed NWIS web  pages that have been updated
• Water Quality incremental data updates- latest NWIS-web project  (January-February). Early December is acceptance testing period by Phoenix group. This will require the local NWIS to be updated.
• Backup to Wallops Island is in progress in Sioux Falls SD.  Concrete poured, antennas are up. This was largely pushed by Bob Hirsch, and hurricane Katrina helped further the push for this backup.  Wallops outages some due to software (transmission issues).  Facilities will be done by January and then there will be a lot of testing. Facility will be on line all the time, no ‘switch over’ required. If the backup has better current data than Wallops it will automatically be the transmitter to the LRGS.

• Dane Ohe: What’s coming up in NWIS 4.8  Go to project management page. New parameter codes/medium codes can be updated within 3 months now.

Q&A with District Staff - All

Question: Any plans to create a PDA friendly NWISWeb?  Dane responded, go to the NWISWeb User group (NWUG) and send an email to them suggesting this change.  Chris Leeth mentioned Streamail, which has crude graphic information.  SMTP protocol.  SMS is rather hit and miss now. Streamail is not supported yet. Email to Streamail@usgs.gov

Question: About site visit option in NWIS 4.8  Response: Dane: this primarily gives the field person options 

Question: Any plans for Windows interface for NWIS?  Response: Dane-- Exploring new architectures for NWIS but it will be 5 to 6 years out.

Question: EROS – is under a ‘space’ crunch, several contractors are remote desktop coming on the network from home locations. Office space crunch, and transportation. Is this happening in other locations? Is this being encouraged elsewhere? 
Responses: this is really a supervisory question and determined by the job. Yes it is happening, people work once or twice a week from home. Teleworking is mandated by Congress and they have set quotas up. DOI and USGS are way behind the goals/quotas.
Paul Exter response: Remote desktop is an option, there is no policy prohibiting it. 
Brian Reece said it is difficult to contact others in other agencies on Fridays because so many people are out of the office that day.

Paul later talked about changes to the Telework policy for the Bureau/and Department such that no non-government computers can be connected to the network from homes. Expects this to come out in the next 8 months.

Introduction to the new Chief, Information Technology and Security Officer
Presented by: Rich Frazier

Background: 8 years in Air force Contractor Foreign military cells, a lot of time traveling, Office of Surface Mining, he was Chief Information officer.  (Bio.) 

Karen Siderelis was the USGS DOI CIO DOI council representative. Mike Howe is the new CIO for DOI, and was from Fish and Wildlife. Deputy is Ed Meagher (VA). Challenges with OMB mandates:

Recommended we keep an eye on the “IT Lines of business initiative” on the e-gov web site. OMB has a real push toward centralization. We have to make OMB understand how the impact to USGS will affect our customers/cooperators. Customers/stakeholders need to know so they provide feedback to the government if changes OMB is pushing will negatively impact the services USGS provides to them.

Performance goals, services provided, and impact

Service model.

GIO did their own SWOT analysis and Karen Siderelis has had a few face-to-face meetings to discuss how GIO can work more efficiently and work together better.

Technology has to align with our mission. (Rich Frazier)  Fear is that we can’t leverage technology fast enough because of stovepipes.

He encouraged everyone to educate ourselves about the blueprints on the initiatives (IT lines of business) so we can give them our input and feedback. Perhaps by putting together briefing papers and submitting them to him.

Federal reforms coming down the road will impact the mission. 

Paul said that they can’t seem to get time on the upcoming Center management meeting.
What do WSC directors need to know about federal reforms will impact our mission.

Pat Lambert will communicate the need to have GIO topics on the agenda for the upcoming Center Directors meeting. 

GIO Topics for Bureau IT Perspective
Presented by: Paul Exter

VPN -- iPASS – add wireless capabilities for use at Hotspots, airports, and wireless locations requiring charge back to customer. Investigating a cost recovery solution.

• http://eras.usgs.gov  go to for latest information including FAQs, software, etc.
• http://Vpn.doi.net
• http://eras.usgs.gov  (for latest information including FAQs, software, etc)

MS Vista -- XP – OMB memo M-07-11 mandating NIST security configurations to establish a baseline security configuration by February 1, 2008. We have six waivers. Will be sending a new template incorporating these waivers. This file/template will have to be applied to all Windows XP and (down the road) VISTA machines. DOI will be checking on these.

DOI Cell Phone Contract with Verizon -- Centralizing the service. Not just Verizon, it’s many of the carriers so there will be flexibility. Verizon and carriers are being provided information from USGS on what cell phone services we currently have. (Discovery phase) Look for DOI memorandum on this.

• Verizon and ProfitLine are the contract managers
• We will be able to choose the same carriers or select a new carrier
• Whatever current equipment is in use will be part of the new contract, just billing will change.
• And, there will be shared minutes more widely applied (among Centers for example)

Reference list of password requirements

Service Desk Futures Team -- Science Centers will NOT be forced to use the Service Desk and will not be forced to pay for it. Service desk just hired a new program manager, came from the army, Scott Holmes, starts 20th of November.

• USGS IT Service Desk Service Catalog
• USGS IT Service Desk Service Portfolio
• Service Desk Future’s Team Frequently Asked Questions

ESN web site status (Paul will send link)

Encryption -- WSC directors will be getting this info soon. Department wide, we are being asked not to invest in any encryption software currently until they work out the details.  But thumb drives with sensitive data will have to be encrypted. WSC Directors will receive this info before the end of the calendar year.

Content filtering -– will be having a face-to-face meeting to further discuss unblocking certain sites including streaming videos. They have a issue paper on this, will work with DOI

Rules of Behavior –- IG audit that we didn’t have this so they automated the process. Finding that most Science centers don’t do the proper paperwork when people leave USGS. Still have issues with students and temporaries, a disabled ID is okay, they can be re-enabled.

Hardware contracts -- we got a waiver on printers. If WSC needs publishing quality printers, we can get that. There is no lightweight laptop. There is a movement to get an Apple contract, it’s on the hardware team’s list of things to do. USGS bought 900Kk of the DOI’s 1.3 million in Apple hardware. Mac STIG is coming (just came up with one 2 weeks ago). Unix technical support team developed the STIGs.

HSPD 12 -- Some WSC are going to be set up to issue the cards. All employees will be getting new cards. If a Center buys a physical access system it must be compatible with the new HSPD 12 smart cards but not going to be needed for offices that are in private facilities that have their own system (not controlled by USGS).

C&A  -- Two things happening: CAAST and (2) looking at consultant assistance to get outside expertise, consultants who have had experience with agencies similar to our own.   Will have opportunity for feedback from a group such as CAAST.

Note, Jim Steverson was not at the ITAC meeting but sent the ITAC a PowerPoint presentation on current progress with the CAAST. 

LUNCH

Automated Report Writing using LaTeX
Presented by: William H. Asquith RGE hydrologist (Author of TKG2 software)
           
LaTeX is for many journals the only text type-setting product they will accept. Uses it for production work.

Geophysics in the TX WSC
Presented by: Sachin Sha

Oasis Montaj – product that crosses ESRI product with Geophysics to make a geodatabase
Time domain EM (electromagnetic) resistivity soundings  indicates the vertical distribution
DC (Direct-current resistivity equipment/profile indicates Lateral distribution

Magnetic Resonance Sounding – relatively new (only about 7 years old) only three in the world, TWSC got a hold of one to use for a few weeks, from France because they happened to be in TX

GIS Talks
Brian Reece, Lead

-- Introduction of "the group", our informal organization, our anti-paleo mentality, and marketing

• GIS specialist is funded 25%
• viewed like the other specialists 
• Extensive use of IM, they have a BLOG planned
• Marketing, program development – GIS project portfolio
• Daniel Pearson
• Building geodatabases to energize our data!

--Development and ongoing support of the Digital Geologic Atlas of Texas
David Pearson

--Innovative approach to Watershed Boundary Dataset work

• Interested in the 10 and 12 digit HUCs
• Automated HUC naming.
• There are exceptions but greatly increased the speed of the work being done.
• NHD has attributes that can be used for the automated naming of HUCs but human review is required!
• ArcSDE?

--Houston is sinking, but it's good business for GIS

ean Parcher - Geography discipline: US-Mexico Border Environmental Health Initiative:  Research partnerships. Pan American ….Task 1 is fish health assessment, relating it to environmental attributes.  jwparcher@usgs.gov

--Development of the Global Map 1 million scale hydro dataset

--Additional recent projects and the "little extra" factor

--GIS futures in TX WSC

Brian Reece -- Lessons learned:

• Proposals, Be specific about the final database structure in the proposal.  Allow sufficient time for training and maintenance of the final product.
• Know your terminology – geodatabase terminology = feature dataset, feature class, relationship class, etc.
• Maintain professional GIS “non-unit” within ideas shared freely between colleagues. This is the key to success of this group.
• Good communication
• Produce marketing tools
• Keep moving forward as technology pushes on—stay current
• Expand GIS program, focus on national USGS projects
• Continue to assist and educate the local WSC management with GIS program development
• Customize application for project specific needs by continuing to develop current programming skills (VB, Python)
• Continue to carve out a remote sensing project niche in Texas (UT has a large market share)

EGIS and its role with ITAC

Mark Negri called in. A lot of volunteers (40 authorized callers in the Bureau who can contact ESRI directly.) The Water representative would be one of the 40. 

Recruit a Water representative for the EGIS team (Katherine). 

• suggest looking at who in WRD are already authorized callers, or recruit someone who is interested in becoming an authorized caller.

Update on SIMS RMS merger
Presented by: Brian Reece

• Web based, database driven, dynamic web-based applications
• Use same Microsoft technology (ASP and IIS)
• Servers and server maintenance
• Authentication
• SQL injection

Jim Kolva (chair) for HQ committee on continuous records processing. (CRP)
SIMS developers had an early view of RMS
Phase 1 is underway
Framework will be in place to carry out recommendations of HQ CRP committee

Phase 2:

• Expand integration with Active Directory
• Create a web-based process flow, documentation is done as you do your job
• Reminders are embedded in your documentation (go2 log, actions, critical/non-critical warnings)
• Archiving field data, files equipment tracking, levels information, etc.

Dump terminology “work, check, review” in favor of newer terminology; meaning of ‘check’ differs from location to location.
Station analysis:  revise the way it is done, automate much of it (number of partial record days, etc.)

Recpan=records period analysis, script that summarizes a period and is metadata supporting the station analysis, saving time for the hydrographer.

Mapper Technology -

How ITAC might facilitate use of new mapping tools across program groups in WRD. (Within WRD, how do we capture the best of what folks are doing across the country?) What tools are currently being used? What are the pros/cons of each? Demonstrations of each tool. GoogleMaps, KML files, ArcGIS server
Presented by: Brian Reece/Sandy Williamson/David McCulloch
Expected outcome: Information sharing and possible action

Call in attendees: Dave Wolock, Dave McCulloch, Sandy Williamson, Gary Fisher, Nate Booth.

Brian Reece: “Terminology” - See handout (Word document)  Excellent handout explaining  Google Earth, GIS Viewers (IMS/WMS cost associated with hosting the server.), ArcGIS Server ($$$)

Sandy: Goals for the discussion: clarify the recommendation message and get the word out, when to use KML vs map serving?
What should ITAC do to promote good directions/technology in the web mapping sphere. 

• HTML is the universal language for web page development
• XML is universal language for data sharing
• KML is soon to be universal language for sharing map data

4 Demos:

Sandy Williamson: <PPT presentation>

• Data Discovery tool
• Suggested having a few Webinars to present how to use Google Earth and KML files for project applications

Mark Negri comment: ArcIMS is going away (frozen development, legacy software) and being ‘replaced’ by ArcGIS server

David Wolock: (no presentation, demonstrated live)

• Water Watch:  uses clickable GIFs , KML output, and most recently, GoogleMaps.
• Feedback from internal and external users of Water Watch.
• Water Watch development is customer-driven.
• Clickable GIF has no zooming capability and people were asking for this feature
• Produced KMLs for every state/region and for some non-US areas
• Most recently added Google Maps option

Nate Booth:  Middleton map project:  <PPT presentation>

• Developed a framework over 6 years, shared across many projects.
• Applications:
  • NAWQA Data Warehouse Mapper
    (tools include showing box plots of concentrations, hover with mouse over points on the box plot links the point to its geographic location)
  • Decision support on the web: more mileage from calibrated models, no dependency on SAS or ESRI or other proprietary software. Showing model results ‘on the fly’
  • Web services: OWQ project with EPA, NWIS Water quality web services.  XML to Google Earth, transformation of data. Use web services to extract NWIS data and create an XML for Google Earth

Gary Fisher:

Kernell Ries -- StreamStats:

• StreamStats is using a variety of platforms and are going to migrate to ArcGIS server, nest of servers in Denver, and they will be hosting 3-4 Centers per server.
• Kernell is the team leader.

David McCulloch -- ArcGIS server and KML functionalilty:

• ArcGIS server is an application that provides web-based map services. Can ‘consume’ them in a variety of clients.
• ArcGIS server maps can be pre-rendered into tiles and you are not dynamically supporting spatial queries. Advantages you can use cartographic features of ArcMap and tell Arc GIS server to ‘serve’ that map.  Higher level cartographic products compared with ArcIMS. 
• Project person can use ArcGIS server cartography with ArcMap
  

Chris Leeth -- GA WSC mapping application: 

GA WSC developed a mapping application that uses Google Maps and also Terra Server to have the quad sheet overlay that field staff can better relate to, but it requires an IIS server at the Cost center.

Why can’t NatWeb host the database services?  Dave Boldt said there is a ‘skunkworks’ project to get IIS database service.  Limited funds, it is a matter of priority.

Google Maps lacks stream layer

The National Map is a tool using our topographic maps.  CAPP has put together a cartographic product that can be used as a background for applications and this may be used to display data.

National Science Foundation report in review, future directions for National Map.

Brian: How do we get the word out that we can use Google Map today with NatWeb to get maps? Capitalize on what NatWeb already has. Will work for projects.

Come up with follow up to this discussion— Email to WSC Directors
Develop a list of Webinars to educate WSCs about the mapping options Google Maps

Per suggestion from Ron Lofton, Acting Central Region CTO, suggested some other people from GIO who are directly involved with mapping issues come to the next ITAC meeting.

There used to be a GIO leadership team that had had Discipline representation Bureau leadership team for IT that included Discipline reps and SMEs.

Rich Frazier asked ITAC for what we need from GIO –improved opportunities for communication? 

Karen Klima and Steve Hammond – raise the priority of mapping for Disciplines. Is it priority or is it money? Should funds be redirected or should there be money coming from the Disciplines?

Katherine: We are a geospatial organization. We have a Geospatial office. This Discipline is water centric but have a strong need for GIS data. Bureau doesn’t seem to be giving the same emphasis to the mapping support for the Disciplines as to the new formats for national map.

Brian: A re-evaluation of NatWeb and its purpose and future directions. 

Send to Rich Frazier what we think the action item is for him take forward. Incorporate the communication we want for Karen Klima and for Bill Carswell.

Katherine: Karen Klima is looking at the ‘next generation’ of NatWeb, but it doesn’t seem to be moving very quickly.

Bill Carswell is being responsive to the demand for printed maps, at the direction of Mark Myers. This is his focus right now.

Updates from GIO

"GOOD" technology (Patti Damon)

• Allows end-to-end encryption for PDAs and smartphones
• Still in pilot phase (Valerie Walker retired so put the project back a bit) brought in testers from other Disciplines and are putting this on a production server (next week). Server consolidation project is taking time. Anticipated launch at the beginning of 2008, a notice will go out to all Lotus Llamas. 

The trouble with using AD authentication for Lotus Notes password elimination (Patti Damon)

A couple of configuration changes required, synchronizes. When the time comes to change the password, it updates notes.id file. AD password and notes.id synchronizing. Trouble happens when the user forgets the AD password. When the AD password is reset, it is no longer the samae as the notes.id password and so you are locked out of Lotus notes. Llama has to unlock the id file and do a password recovery. Metric that should be looked at are the number of AD passwords that have to be reset, because each time this happens, it will require LMA to recover Lotus password and reset it. LMA conference week of April 7th.  notes.usgs.gov will have instructions for how to synchronize passwords between AD and Lotus notes.

Paul Exter – Work with Apps to try and see if we can synchronize the Basis+ password with AD or Lotus password.

Status of WebEx (Patti Damon)

WebEx is still our Web conferencing system but we have problems with going over the limit (5 times this year, 8 times last year). What’s in the marketplace and what are the needs of the USGS?

Summary of USGS Scanning Workshop Wrap-up
Presented by: Brian Reece/ David Boldt
Expected outcome: Information sharing

The notes, presentations and supporting documents from the September 2007 USGS Scanning Workshop are now available on the USGS Intranet for your review and use. Steve Shivers prepared this material before his transition to his new position as an NSDI Liaison in the Dakotas. You can find the information at:

http://internal.usgs.gov/gio/sieo/scanning/index.html

At this time, I would like to hear from you about what you think the next step should be.  Would you prefer to have a listserv on scanning? A Wiki? Monthly teleconferences? Are there other models of coordination and cooperation that you would like to see this community employ so that we can work together and leverage our collective skills and investments?

So, take a look at the conference materials and weigh in on how you want to work together in the future. Thanks!

Richard Huffine, National Library Coordinator
U.S. Geological Survey (MS 159)
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192
Tel 703-648-7182                      
Fax 703-648-6821
Email: rhuffine@usgs.gov

EROS has an evaluation process where they evaluate whether or not something is worth archiving.

Update My USGS and Data Integration
Presented by: Sky Bristol/Scott
Expected outcome: Information update

Integrated information environment: 
“Integrated science” projects crossing disciplines. Efforts related to Bureau science thrusts (Landslides and Debris flows thrust now part of multihazards project, water availability thrust, fire hazards thrust)
Started looking for collaborative tools for data management. Vision for MyUSGS environment, other parts of GIO getting engaged, director Myers push for data integration and modeling. Revisiting and expansion of National Map. 
Still in the formative stages of this. 
Data integration blueprint – several projects identified (My USGS effort, system of collaborative tools and various applications) 
Six major science themes

Geospatial management information system (GMIS) brings together USGS project data with other layers for …?
Comprehensive science catalog

Basis+ now has the beginnings of map applications included for projects. (footprints)

Version 3.0 of myUSGS is the first version that is about ready to be used more globally (community in a box).  Underlying infrastructure with eWeb, etc., working with Karen Klima to make sure they are on convergent paths. 
What soliciting process is in use?  How much of the input is from high level vs. worker level? Names had been provided. Meetings/workshops planned in the next year with some funding and some form of regular meeting to drive the project. Stakeholder piece is important but not sure how best to pull this off. 
Is there a program plan that people can look at?  There is a lot of documentation associated with the projects and they have been coalescing these into a wiki page
myUSGS development community
Have not released it at large yet. 
GIO’s portfolio review board  - Katherine asked if there is a simple sketch of a program plan or summary document.
http://My.usgs.gov

Data integration blueprint
Data strategy wiki

Sky Bristol will send a link to the Power point presentation that Paul Exter suggested sending, that gave some background on the myUSGS project.

ADJOURN

8:00 am

Finish incomplete topics
Wrap Up
Next Face-to-Face Location and Date