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Constituent Reports:

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

Scott McEwen

CR Regional Computer Specialist -- Denver, CO

Welcome and Introductions/Agenda Review
Presented by: Athena Clark (Chair)

Athena Clark kicked off the meeting with a Welcome and Introductions/Agenda Review, Introduction of the ITAC members and GIO guests, and Introductions of LA WSC Staff.

Louisiana Water Science Center Overview
Presented by: Charles Demas
Expected Outcome: Overview of the Louisiana Water Science Center.

Charles Demas presented ITAC and its invited guests an overview of the Louisiana Water Science Center. He provided highlights of the Science Centers programs and initiatives.

Question: How is ITAC set as far as the future?
Answer: ITAC has no funding and we don’t think we will be affected.

Louisiana Water Science Center IT Overview
Presented by: Scott Beddingfield
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

Scott is an SA. Scott provided an overview of the IT for the LA WSC and Rusten office. There are 60 – 70 total FTE’s state wide. The program size is about 6 ½ million.

Office of Water Information Update
Presented by: Katherine Lins

NWIS Update
Presented by: Susan Trapanese

Susan provided an update on the current NWIS projects and what is currently being tested and what to look for down the road.  Highlights were:

NWISweb QW Refresh

• Software/system to allow changes made to NWIS-QWDATA to automatically update NWISWeb system
• Cyber-seminars available
• Testing complete; software accepted
• Will involve NWIS-side software update
• Available after Reston Power Outage
  

NWIS Core 4.8 Implementation

• User Test: March 31-April 4
• Acceptance Test: June 2-6
• Beta Releases begin late July
  

EDDN/DRGS Backup

• Powerpoint attached
• Completion of project scheduled for end of March
  

Training

• NWIS DBA course - January 2008
• NWIS Training/Cyber Seminars
• New Decodes Training being prepared
  

Other FY08 NWISWeb Activities

• Enhancments to Ratings Depot
• Web Sevices real-time/current Unit Values
  

Question: Is there any plan to increase the unit values on NWISWeb? 
Response: Yes; the current 31 days of units values will be increased to the current 60 days. This will be       available sometime later this year.

Question: What is the status or plans for changing the "MIDAS- like" structure of the NWIS-core Unit Values (UVs) database tables?
Response: The UV table structure is not directly "readable" due to the compression constructs. This is a known limitation that NWIS is considering as part of longer-term future architecture changes. At this time, a major change to UV table structure is not in the "queue" of the prioritized projects projected for release in the next 2 years.

Question: Is the user group working on the error bars and if so how aggressive?
Response: The need for "error-bars" is part of the Surface Water User Group's draft requirement for data       uncertainty. This particular requirement is not in the current FY09 NWIS release plan. Susan will check with SWUG on its status and get back to Kevin Grimsley.

Question: Is generic primary’s still on schedule?
Response: Currently there is not a  detailed plan and "schedule" for the release of the generic primary.The goal for initial planning purposes is a 2010 release. Once the detailed planning has been completed, a project plan with the project schedule and needed budget/resources will be determined. This will also us to better define   the schedule and the scope of the releases. The generic primary is considered the highest priority new project for the NWIS ADAPS team and SWUG for FY09 and beyond.

Bureau IT Updates
Presented by: Paul Exter

XP STIG and February deadline - The USGS has done an excellent job, every Region is over 99% complete. 

ESN Security Architecture cut-over on March 1

Encryption – A memo was sent out a short time ago that said hold on ordering items such as encrypted pen drives until further information comes out. There are currently too many issues.

Futures Service Center Team – New lead has been hired (Scott Holmes). They are currently working on the requirements to replace Heat, the current software ticketing system.

Single password with Active Directory – Single password is currently being worked on by Patti Damon and Scott Holmes.

"official" support of MS Office 2007 -

Email: Consolidated mail platform. This project is turned off right now. There is not program to move to exchange. Lotus is going through an upgrade right now.

CWES – A memo will be coming out next week to the Directors and AO’s in reference to an upcoming data call requesting cell phone information.

National Center – There will be a power outage this weekend at the National Center. NWIS and NatWeb will not be affected.

TIC – Trusted Internet Connection – OMB has a requirement to decrease all the point of presence to the US Government to 50. There is a current data call that is presently out requesting this information.

VISTA – No Vista at the USGS at this time
IM – IMing such as AOL and Google  will most likely be going away with the new STIG, however Sametime will not be affected.

HSPD 12 – This is a 3 phrase process. Phase 1 – Everyone will receive a new Smartcard ID card, Phase 2 – Will provide Smartcard access to buildings, Phase 3 – Will provide Smartcard authentication to  computers. We are currently going into phase 1.

LUNCH (we will travel and have lunch near the field trip site)

Louisiana Water Science Center presentations and field trip
Presented by: Science Center Staff, ITAC members, and guests

Update on Field Computing
Presented by: Burl Goree

The software applications supported by FCIS continue to be updated and prepared for the release of the NWIS SiteVisit project. FCIS is working with OSW in implementing an automated sediment sample login. FCIS will be sending out a questionnaire to determine a baseline of the number of users of the FCIS software and will also be releasing "Technology Kits" in the coming weeks

Question: How many people are on the “FC” email list?
Answer: 80 – 85

Question: Have you ever looked at the list to see how many offices are represented? 
Answer: No

Question: Does the Trimble Juno have a GPS? 
Answer: Yes

Real-time nitrate data
Presented by: Demcheck

The Louisiana Water Science Center has installed and operated realtime nitrate analyzers at 7 sites in southern Louisiana for the last 4 years. The nitrate analyzers use the same chemical methods as NWQL, and are a great improvement over the previous generation of ion-selective nitrate probes.The hardware & software are indeed “Ready for Prime Time,” but a substantial investment in trained personnel should be expected. The overall quality of the data is good. Combined with realtime discharge measurements, the La. WSC has achieved its goal to instrument the Mississippi-Atchafalaya system for real-time nitrate loads, but continued operation of the network is uncertain due to lack of long-term funding.

Real-time storm surge data are beneficial to provide timely information to federal and state emergency management agencies and the public on the magnitude, extent, and timing of hurricane storm surge events. At present, real-time storm surge sensors are being tested and evaluated for use as a supplement to the network of non-real time storm surge sensors deployed prior to hurricane storm surge events. Real-time storm surge sensors transmit data (pressure, temperature, and specific conductance) via an Iridium satelite radio on a set time interval. Transmitted data are placed in an FTP depot, where USGS scripts automatically retrieve and process data for inclusion on the Louisiana and host state NWIS_Web.

Update from Central Region GIO
Presented by: Cheryl Morris

Cheryl presented an overview of the Central Region GIO and it’s programs. 

Question: How is the (CR) GIO assisting the SA's.  As you know we no longer have RCS and I don't know that the CR intends to take up that slack. In the past Scott was the RCS and was very helpful in assisting the SA’s in doing their jobs. When GIO stood up and took the positions away from the Disciplines we were told that these functions would not go away. What is being done (if anything) to put this function back in place?

Answer: The services that were provided by the Water Regional Computer Specialists in each region are not being provided by the GIO/RGIO.  If the positions and funding had been transferred to the GIO, then the functions would have continued.  With the Regional realignment, Water decided that the positions would not be funded.  The GIO/RGIO is working with Water to assess the gaps and  determine which services are critical and how the services might be provided.  In the meantime, the Regional Chief Technology Officers are the first point of contact.

Question: Is there anything ITAC can to assist you in pursuing this information?
Answer: It would help to document what services are being missed. Help us define what is critical. What was a nice to have and what absolutely needs to be done.

Question: The status on the TOPO Maps?
Answer: They are currently working on the standard that will be used to create a new product. We will likely not have a warehouse full of maps, but maps will be available.

Question: We have lost out by google earth and others because we are not sticking with a National Map. John Q Public knows the USGS as the location to get the National Map and TOPO maps.

Answer: The Director has heard that loud and clear. There has been a lot of energy put into this program.   There is an 18 month tactical plan.  We are still working to define how graphic products will be supplied to the user at this time, but it will be done.

Data Integration and Interoperability Blueprint
Presented by: Sky Bristol (via conference call)

The "data integration and interoperability blueprint" is also referred to by its Geospatial Information Office (GIO) vision name of Integrated Information Environment. It represents a growing concept and suite of project activities designed to address data integration needs of the USGS. In a presentation to the ITAC on February 21, 2008 Sky Bristol provided some background on the overall concept and approach along with a discussion of three GIO-sponsored building block projects: the myUSGS information management platform, the USGS Comprehensive Science Catalog, and the Geospatial Management Information System.

Question: He wants to put up a “google groups” for Google maps it looks like there is not a place for this.
Answer: There is an existing Google Group set up by some Western Region folks on using Google Map techniques. Check with Alan Vaughn to get a line on this. The myUSGS system does not provide the same type of email functionality used by Google Groups gut could provide a wiki and discussion forums. We are slated to have the group email-type feature set within a couple of version releases. We are working on an integration pathway for the feature set now.

Question: Is there a search box?
Answer: myUSGS provides robust full text search capability within its wiki and document management capability. These are not yet federated into a single myUSGS search feature, nor are they integrated into the broader Intranet search. This type of federation has been outlined but is not yet funded for implementation.

Question: Where are the 1400 users mostly based?
Answer:  myUSGS users come from every Discipline and many outside entities and are associated with one or more communities. Anyone with valid Lotus credentials can authenticate and gain access to any resources provided to the USGS security realm (e.g., ClimateChange, OceanScience)

Question: Who are our representatives for the Data Integration Team
Answer: There is no current "Data Integration Team" per se. There was an IIE Coordination Team established last year that helped to provide executive sponsorship and guidance for projects like the GMIS. This has been suspended temporarily as the GIO works to hire a dedicated IIE project manager. That position has closed and will be selected in coming weeks. The need for a team to help guide the IIE effort representing all Science Disciplines is well understood and will be pursued by the dedicated project manager.

Question: Could you request a participant from Water to Bob Hirsh (It was relayed that it was Sandy and
Brian that Bob suggested be on the team)
Answer: I followed up with Anne Frondorf and Tom Gunther today and let them know that Katherine Lins would be calling. My guess is that these nominees would become part of the team discussed in the previous question.

Question: The Blueprint was put together through a multi discipline community, I suggest that it also needs to be rolled out through a multi discipline community, is this in place?
Answer: Please see the answers in the previous two questions.

Geospatial Management Information System (GMIS)
Presented by: Scott McEwen (via conference call)

The Geospatial Management Information System (GMIS) is a spatially-enabled management tool designed to display USGS project information, as well as map the locations of USGS science assets, including people, offices, laboratories, and networks. The goal of GMIS is to enable managers to perform textual queries, geospatial queries, and geospatial visualization/analysis on information about USGS science assets. GMIS consists of information integrated from several sources:

1. Project information from BASIS+
2. Places (i.e. facilities) information from a developing authoritative data source
3. People information from the Lotus Notes Address Book

Currently, the geospatial locations for many projects are incomplete, inconsistent, inaccurate, or missing. The Data Improvement Initiative came about to correct this problem. In this initiative, the Geospatial Information Office (GIO) was instructed to provide staff and tools to aid project chiefs with verifying and/or improving the accuracy of geospatial locations (i.e. extents) for every active science project in BASIS+. The GIO formed a four-person team to conduct the verification/improvement process through two approaches: 1) interview each project chief or 2) work with the Geographic Information System Specialist designated by the Science Center Director.

Geospatial Map Serving Technologies
Presented by: Jerry Ornelas

Question: Is the QA data manual or automated?
Answer: It is mainly manual. Someone only looks at the data if there is a conflict.

There is a production and distribution database. All the versioning is done on the production side. Production information is pushed to the distribution database on a bi-daily basis. There is one way replication via xml exchange with monthly updates.

Question: If the transportation information comes from Census, what value does the USGS give to it?
Answer: We clean it up and put it in a format because it is a little more usable. It is ESRI based. In order to build emergency response data, there is a lot of validation that is done.

Question: Do you feedback your changes to Census?
Answer: There was a lot of talk about it, but not sure where it is now.

Question: Does stewardship include the transportation data?
Answer: Its mainly NHD and structures.

Question: Are there commitments that expressed an interest in this?
Answer: Yes, there are 12 or so states.

Question: Have this been costed out?
Answer: Not, sure he can ask Paul Kinzel.

ICOM Update
Presented by: Fallon (via conference call)

On February 8 2008 Bob Hirsch sent out an email that ICOM was sunset due to budget constraints. The wrap up conference call will be on March 4 & 5, 2008. The Regional Technical Committee groups like CHIDER, WRTAC, and CRACD perform some functions similar to ICOM and some, such as information exchange or sharing of new methods maybe better on a communication basis. However, there could be some gaps resulting from the sunsetting of ICOM, for examples (1) if there is a field need that is not covered and not sure where or how that need will be communicated now (2) a field-level group that influences the HIF's testing or development priorities (can do individually through requests to HIF), and (3), a field-level group to monitor progress and communicate developments of new instrumentation-->HIF and discipline offices will need to communicate more.

There were not a lot of IT related things going on, the only two were from Surface Water. They were interested using developing cheaper methods of communication from ADCPs to laptops or PDAs Wi-Fi or Blue Tooth. Kevin Oberg was the Project Liaison from OSW, and Mike Rehmel was the project Chief on this. Using GPS testing using VPG, to see if you could use this in cheap/or consumer grade GPS systems.

James presented a spreadsheet of 17 projects that they had ranked for FY08 funding, prior to learning of ICOM being sunsetted. He will send ITAC a copy keeping in mind that it is subject to change.

Cell phone text messaging [SMS] and blackberry PIN to PIN communication during disaster events
Presented by: Sandy WIlliamson

Cell Text Messaging for Emergency Communications when it could be useful:

• When land lines AND cell lines are full due to hazard induced overfill public traffic – i.e.. Seattle area earthquake example To communicate between employees’ cell phones
• To communicate from management or administration email to an office’s and or employee's personal [optional] cell phones

Initial analysis of web-serving resources in WRD
Presented by: Jess Griffin/Brian Reece

Jess registered to get access to the web registration server database. The registration database, while required to be populated at one time, now appears to be somewhat out of date and doesn't appear to be a high priority for SAs to update. Brian and Jess queried the database for WRD resources. Almost everyone's primary public web presence is in NatWeb. There are about 30 registered WRD IIS servers. It is likely there are several more unregistered internal IIS servers. Of the 30 IIS servers about 10 of those are in place to meet primary needs for specific WSC’s, remaining servers are in place to serve specilaized discipline needs including streamstats, SIMS, RMS, ADR, Active Water Levels Network, etc.. There are possibly 19 Arc-IMS servers in Water. There are at least 6 - 10 public web servers outside of NatWeb. The list is expected to grow as WSCs such as CA, TX, and NV begin to move even more public web operations away from natweb and onto more flexible IIS Servers that will facilitate rapid application development of database-driven dynamic web pages.

The future of NatWeb?
What could the Bureau provide in support of Natweb?    
Status of e-web team proposal for the Web redesign including MyScience Space, and
Hirsch’s proposal regarding Water's web page redesign.
Presented by: David Boldt

David Boldt's "NatWeb Status" presentation gave a summary of FTE resources available over time (level), A graphic showing web page deliveries and web sites over time (leveling off), Recent activities and near-term plans. The MyScience project and MySQL support plans within NatWeb were touched on, as well as a request by Nelson Williams for NatWeb to take over support for the pure FTP service.

Tools & efficiency analyses used in the TX-WSC to improve efficiencies among administration, management, and project staff
Presented by: Brian Reece

Brian is assisting the Administrative staff in TX to improve their efficiencies utilizing advanced database tools and examining various admin processes.  Examples include optimizing Quicktime (payroll) process for WSC, creating a multi-purpose master database of local organizational information that is combined with Basis+ output to provide highly useful information to managers.  One reporting example includes a quick to generate report on the over-under status of employees, combined with the budgeted hours per employee, and the project names. Here's an example: http://tx.cr.usgs.gov/admin_misc/access_sal_by_emp_pp0803.pdf

This report can be generated in a matter of minutes, quickly customized to fit "on-the-fly" needs and viewed live during project reviews.

Planned additional reports include cost center reports that can quickly sort out and subtotal default accounts, actual cost accounts, fixed cost accounts, etc. to quickly assess the overall health of a cost center.

Site: http://tx.cr.usgs.gov/admin_misc/access_sal_by_emp_pp0803.pdf

Update on UNIX training
Presented by: Jess Griffin/Terri Moore

There are 3 classes scheduled this year. One has been held. There has been some interest in doing more classes next year due to scheduling issues from this year. There has been positive feedback. Jess would like to do a lessons learned on how to set up training. Katherine will fully supports continuing the class. There is a lot of support at the Senior Support Level. The only feedback Katherine would like to know before it continues would be how do the participants feel the instructors did. She will commit Steve to do the training.

ADJOURN

9:30 am

Action Items