Water Resources Discipline ITAC Activities

District Chiefs,

Here are the summary points from the last ITAC meeting that could be of interest to District Chiefs. The detailed meeting notes can be found on the ITAC Web page: http://water.usgs.gov/usgs/itac/minutes/littlerock_0411/

Feel free to contact me (Jim Nicholas could not make the last meeting) if you'd like any clarifications.

Regards,
Jeff Stoner

Notes of potential interest to District Chiefs from the November 2004 ITAC meeting:

• The Arkansas District, a medium sized science center, has demonstrated leadership in IT issues for WRD, including expertise for ADAPS (Mark Framer appointed to NWIS team), Water-Use data base on the Web (in which the fundamental framework might be useful for other data bases, such as well sites), use of clickless technology in stream gaging, a DECODES training module for field personnel taught by Bubba Brossett and use of visualization to show 3-D results from ground-water models results.
• Waivers for wireless protocols, including for home use to connect to USGS networks, have been approved, but few have been submitted to date.
• The WRD Office of Water Information and the HIF are working on software for hand helds (pocket computers). BRD use these also and have interest in this activity. Watch for developments potential consolidation of programs, Burl Gorlee is leading for Water from Louisiana District. See http://water.usgs.gov/usgs/nwis/FCIG/fcig_index.html for any details. Venders seem to be handling the hardware side well, a competitive venture.
• Expect data-aging capability through NWIS and NWISWeb (September 2005 revision)
• Publications software—Watch for streamlining and voice-over ability for improving training modules, such as for Indesign, via cyber networks and some potential user-friendly software to provide background maps for Internet products, such as for the Annual Data Report.
• Windows 2000 and XP Mandate: Deadline for 100% compliance: December 31, 2004. Example: requires about 2 weeks from start to finish for an office like Arkansas District—about 40-50 users). Employee will see some name changes, but functions will be in same locations. Mail, user IDs, and applications will stay the same. Remote access may change a bit.
• Bureau PC Software license costs—This is heads-up news that bears repeating: 1) the GI0 has covered the cost of the Microsoft licenses for the bureau based on an estimate of 9,500 desktops. Once Active Directory is implemented, the actual numbers are likely to come in higher. Because the costs absorbed by the GIO were based on an estimated number, the cost of additional licenses ($200 for each additional license) may be passed on to cost centers in FY06. More on this will be coming from the GIO for FY06. Districts might consider minimizing the numbers of laptops and desktops to those necessary to conduct business, 2) the costs to districts for implementing MS Exchange are unknown. The per-seat license may be $300; however, how much of this cost will be cover by the GIO or would be passed on to the districts is unknown. USGS has asked to be the last bureau in Interior to implement. So more on this later.
• E-Authentication/SmartCard Deployment-- As part of its IT plan DOI will be moving toward SmartCard technology. As part of this plan, all employees will be getting new ID cards, with two computer chips on it. It’ll replace everyone’s current card for authentication in computer and software use and maybe for building entry (GSA-controlled space). Stay tuned for details about this potentially complex issue.
• Registering USGS Web sites—DOI requires this for consolidation and security purposes. Although there is some confusing about this topic, the ITAC will suggest that a District strive for needing only to register a single site, via consolidation. A Web site is defined by a single IP address.
• Webinar software (for example: RainDance, Sametime, Webex)—There is a fair chance that Webex (an Internet – not Lotus tool) will be piloted as an alternative Bureau-wide software used for cyber seminars. Based on demonstrations, ITAC will be following this favorable technology and encourage District to evaluate Webex usefulness from their perspectives.
• C&A--Certification and accreditation of the office automation general (OAG) and office automation specialized mission (OAS) enclaves are important in the eyes of OMB, fiscal sticks are the consequence. Your SAs should be aware of the requirements to have in place six documents by July 2005. Follow-up cyber seminars on the procedures are expected (see the December 6 announcement to all cost-center chiefs from Ellen Erickson, for example).
• Bureau cellular phone contract implications--An e-mail from the ITAC Data Chief representative went to all Data Chiefs requesting response for WRD cellular coverage/requirements for field operations. Brian McCallum compiled the responses and forwarded them to Skip Dutrow, WRD representative in headquarters. This is an obvious operations and safety issue for WRD, which is most broadly spread across the landscape among USGS Disciplines. The Moratorium was meant for putting a hold on “major” purchases that require a contract commitment of more than 12 months or termination fees. Individual purchases can continue as long as they stay in these particular parameters. They plan to have a contract in place by the 2nd quarter of FY 05.
• Annual Data Report Committee—Reported on short- and long-term goals that may be suggested. The Committee focused on a robust data base that more directly could “write” the ADR as a method to streamline the processing steps may be a key suggestion.
• Next ITAC meeting—Scheduled for a Southeastern Region district probably in February and will ask WRD Senior Staff for endorsement.