Meeting Logistics    Attendees
Town Meeting
Agenda and Meeting Minutes
Tuesday Notes    Wednesday Notes    Thursday Notes
Pending Action Items
Action Items from Oklahoma meeting

Constituent Reports:

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

Attendee Information

Following is a list of ITAC meeting attendees/invitees who plan on attending the meeting:

Welcome and Introductions/Agenda Review
Presented by: Jim Nicholas (Chair)

Oklahoma Water Science Center Overview
Presented by: Kim Winton, Director

• Oklahoma Water Science Center Web Site

• Building Info
• OK Informational packages given to all participants
• Presentation of Rose Rocks
• Announcement of field trip
• A PowerPoint was presented giving an overview of the OK Water Science Center.
  • 3 field office sites
  • 40-45 people
  • $4.7 million dollar budget
  • 29 cooperators

Oklahoma Water Science Center IT Overview
Presented by: Jess Griffin
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

Jess presented an IT overview of the OK Water Science Center --

• They are a distributed heterogenous network in Intel desktops, laptops, Unix servers, various printers, plotters, and local LRGS. They have had a local Active Directory for about 2 years.
• A 2-person IT Department
• The approach and direction of C&A

OK Water Science Center IT Computing Environment

Town Hall Meeting -
Presented by: ITAC/Center Staff

Bureau IT Issues (30 min.)
Presented by: Paul Exter - Acting Chief Technology Officer and Linda Leake - Acting Chief Information Officer

• Definition of the GIO’s Information Technology and Security Offices
  • http://internal.usgs.gov/gio/ito
• External Drivers for USGS IT
  • Federal IT reform
  • Enterprise Initiatives
  • DOI CIO Directives
• DOI Enterprise Initiative Project
  • 11 Integrated Projects
  • Reference Hand out #1
• FY 05/06/07
  • Annual tactical plan that describes USGS IT projects to be implemented over the next 12-18 months. Developed by the Information Technology Office, in conjunction with individual Project Managers, RGIOs and IT Managers in the Regions and Disciplines.
  • http://internal.usgs.gov/gio/ito/itplan
• Current Initiatives
  • Active Directory
  • C&A
  • Remote Access
  • Virtual Private Network
  • Smart Cards
  • Security Awareness Training
  • Separation of Credentials
  • IT Service Desk
  • ESN
  • EMS
    
  [Reference Presentation.]

Office of Water Information Update (5 min.) (Katherine Lins, Chief, OWI)

• Katherine provided the group with a brief overview of the OWI.
• David Boldt acting in Ken's previous position.

NWIS Update (5 min.) (Susan Trapanese, Chief, NWIS)

Susan presented a brief status of the FY06 NWIS Release Agreement and also summarized highlights of the FY07 NWIS Release Agreement/Plans:

• FY06 NWIS Release Agreement - http://wwwnwis.er.usgs.gov/Project_Management/Common/fy06_release_agreement.html

• FY07 NWIS Release Plan -
  http://wwwnwis.er.usgs.gov/Project_Management/Common/fy07_release_agreement.html

Q&A with District Staff (All)

Q - When can we get on schedule on SIMS? How far are we out?
A - Gary Fisher is working on it – send him a note with a time that is good for you. The DBA is the point contract on this.

Q - What does the SIMS staff come in and do? The real work is data clean up. The DBA and Data section will be affected.
A –. SIMS implementation requires more data base and document cleanup and conversion operations and fewer IT operations. SIMS staff are well practiced in both aspects particularly as they relate to SIMS, but most IT and DBA staff are not .

Q – Are there tools out there to assist us to change the passwords in multiple places?
A – Keypass software is the best solution we have right now. Terri will forward the information she received We will never have single signon.

Oklahoma Water Science Center presentations related to IT

Separation of credentials and laptop policy
Presented by: Kim Winton/Jess Griffin/Phillip Carpenter/Timothy Raines/Robert Blazs/David Adams/Dale Boyle
Expected Outcome: Information exchange

How it affects their jobs --

Carpenter/Griffin – an overview of how they handle admin right and laptops. User Education is needed, for example if you have admin rights; you download a file and then scan for viruses

David (Hydro Tech) – As a Tech there are some cases where admin rights are needed to be able to load software and to interface with the rest of the equipment.

Dale (Lead Field Tech) – His usage is to look for events and they way that it is works pretty good for him. A challenge comes from when he travels and at hotels. He requires VPN access. He has to operate new equipment, but needs admin right to do this. He has also working on getting a PDA to work, but to do this you must have admin rights. (Example: Flow Tracker was installed with admin rights and was not able to use as a regular user)

Scott Christenson (Ground Water Specialist) – Gave an example of a GPS incident. To install the GPS program per the configuration he needed admin rights. The equipment was on load from another source.

Comments:

Paul Exter relayed that the MS release next version in July – separation of credentials will be built into the release.

Jim N – Transmission of this information to all SA’s and Science Center directors are needed.

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
LUNCH and Field Trip - Communications with Various Data Platforms

Approach to C&A
Presented by: Kim Winton/Jess Griffin/Phillip Carpenter
Expected Outcome: Information exchange

Kim Winton reviewed what was needed with Jess. This is a visual of how their office approached C&A -- Reference Handout 1.

Jess presented an overview of their approach to C&A.

Information Management for Tar Creek
Presented by: Jess Griffin/Phillip Carpenter
Expected Outcome: Information exchange

Kim - Provided an overview and explanation of Tar Creek. Records Management for the Tar Creek is taken very seriously. There was a specific process to capture all related records as well as e-mail.

2:30 pm ----- BREAK

Digital Atlas of Ft. Cobb Watershed
Presented by: Timothy Raines/Morris
Expected Outcome: Information exchange

Cheryl – Presented us with information on Cross Platform Geospatial Resource Indexing Method. Highlighting the Digital Atlas and Corporate assets. Is working with various organizations and propose working through this process and develop a tool for building and maintaining GOS resources. It is also proposed to hold a workshop with data owners.

ITAC Discussion of Town Hall Meeting and Issues
Presented by: ITAC Members
Expected Outcome: Ensure OK Water Science Center interests are covered during the meeting.

• Field trip the issues with the hardware and software
• C&A Process and Streamlining
• Laptop Policy

Give Jim an update on the status of the Laptop Admin rights issue 3/28/06.

Finalize ITAC Goals for 2006
Presented by: ITAC Members

2006 Goals

Goal 1—Identify and address emerging IT issues to promote technology exchange.

• Keep abreast of GIS technology/issues with the goal of promoting technology exchange among WSCs
• Establish communication with other Water IT interest groups (ICOM, SUNTAC, FCIG, NWIS user groups). ITAC recognizes that there may be issues examined by ITAC that are of common interest to other WRD committees. To avoid duplication of efforts and optimize committee resources, ITAC will explore options for communication with these other WRD committees. This may require assigning certain ITAC members to 'liaison' positions with these other committees, or developing some other mechanism for maintaining channels of communication.
• Google Earth

Goal 2—Assist WRD in standardizing IT technologies and prioritizing expenditures

Separation of credentials – WSCs are taking various approaches to implementing field laptop security: some are too restrictive and others not restrictive enough. Communication to WSCs is needed to clarify the issue and standardize the approach.

• Mobile Computing - Mobile Computing has proven invaluable to the hydrologic data collection community in WRD. It is enabling data collectors to acquire data--be it from instrumentation or via field forms--in the field and upload it efficiently into NWIS in less time and with greater accuracy than past, manual methods. ITAC supports mobile computing, will continue to monitor the progress of the Field Computer Interest Group (FCIG), and will continue a sponsorship role.
• DRGS - The NESDIS facility at Wallops Island is a single point of failure in the data flow between USGS stage/streamflow gages transmitting satellite telemetry and NWIS. A backup facility is required and being planned at EROS. Ernest Dreyer represents the USGS on the Satellite Telemetry Interagency Working Group, a multi-bureau/agency team addressing this problem. ITAC should continue to communicate the high priority of USGS participating/funding a solution to this problem. Ref: http://water.usgs.gov/datarelay/stiwg/workgroups/bup/index.html
• Cold Fusion - Promote a dynamic web page strategy to be included in Natweb using Cold Fusion and ARC IMS as the basis for such.

Goal 3—Represent WRD IT needs and interests to other parts of USGS

• Relay to Bureau needs of WRD users (issues of IT security, network capacity, MS Exchange, cell phones, EWeb, C&A, AD, wireless, separation of credentials)
• Assist communications regarding National Geospatial Program Office
• SA priorities – Assist WSC directors and GIO in prioritizing various demands on WSC IT staff

Central Region IT and IM
Presented by: Cheryl Morris
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

Cheryl gave a brief overview of the Central Region GIO.

Highlights:

• IT CR Investment Board
• Supporting the delivery of Science
• Key Personnel – CRGIO Leadership Team
• Publishing Network (New Add this Year)
  • Funding established
  • SLA’s
  • Improved Communication
  • Beyond “Business as usual”
• National Advertisement for Liaison’s and offering to NGTOC first
• National Spatial Data Infrastructure
• Information Technology Key Issues

Science Advisory Board
Presented by: Paul Exter
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

• An overview was given on what the board’s role is and how it can help.
• Review of the scope
• The membership of SABIT is intended to principally represent the IT customers in the disciplines.
• The charter is in the handout and Paul has asked for comments/Feedback, to be taken forward in April.

AD Update
Presented by: Paul Exter
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

Move of NatWeb from GIO
Presented by: Karen Klima
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

• Karen Klima and Lorna Schmid Presented
• Karen was asked to put together a study team for NatWeb and migrate to the field
• She provided an overview of her team and findings.
• The process is broken down into two main tasks with numerous sub-tasks.
• Will be seeking ITAC peer review in reference to the SLA’s
• The preliminary draft for the SLA’s most likely will be in at the end of April.
• They had a contract with Gardner to serve as a consultant. The findings are posted on a web-site.
• Cold Fusion – Lorna’s technical working group will be researching on getting additional funding. They are looking longer term – in two ways both internal and external new investment proposals cross DOI with the DOI web council.
• There is no institutionalized funding for web with the GIO.

Integration of Field Computing/Communications Devices
Presented by: Chris Leeth and Burl Goree
Expected Outcome: ITAC assistance in prioritizing projects

How do we take the data from the field and get it back into NWIS.

Past:

• Would only let you connect to 70% of the equipment
• The Palm could not run legacy applications. Funded via the WICAS budget
• Created the MONKES1 Prototype

Present:

• About 6 different applications that can work on the pocket PC
• Targeted a single Platform (windows mobile (pocket pc)). The Team wants to standardize on one system.
• We need to come up with a common communication protocol or logger format
• We now have a dedicated funding in the WICAS budget
• Additional support from the HIF and the FC Users Group
• The RECON is purchased via the HIF

Future:

• eVB is no longer supported by Microsoft
• Development of continuous water quality monitor servicing form
• Latest version of Windows Mobile 5.0
• Serial Port Issues
• As we move forward, we have to ensure we don’t provide mixed signals.

Comments:

• There needs to be guidance for what to use. Include spec’s and FAQ’s
• The field does not want to invest because we don’t know what direction the Bureau is going in.
• If we want to put dollars into it we need to use something that everyone can utilize.
• Kirby had a suggestion for training that needs to be done and is being written, he will contract Burl to advise on the appropriate content.
• Discuss ITAC’s role - it needs to be more involved to push out the information/communication up to Bob Hirsh.
• OSW need to promote what needs to be done for Surface Water Hand- held technology.
• Jim N is going to contact Steve Blanchard for mobile information/communication

Discussion: is there a role for GIO would be to fund the development of this?

Not now. In order to put together an enterprise agreement, you would have to go through the Bureau Investment board and other steps. When you do this you are at a entirely different management level.

There is a need to design a communication/feedback system to be led by Burl. Communication to the field techs and to the WSCs is important. An easy solution is to frequently update FCIG web page

It was suggested that there be a link on the web page to faq’s that can answer some of the questions on the field laptops. Such as what is reasonable for your staff to know to do data collections .

Perhaps a periodic email or Newsletter interested parties could request and be on mailing list. Burl will consider options.

ITAC as Sounding Board for OWI Priorities
Presented by: Katherine Lins
Expected Outcome: Clarification of Goal 2

Katherine provided an brief explanation of how Bob’s budget is disbursed. There are very little discretionary funding available to Bob or other programs now.

Highlights:

• How do we bring things up and help prioritize the items to bring up to Bob if there are funding opportunities.
• On some issues we can advise the importance/priority
• ITAC in the past would make a list of priority items. This would provide some impact/information to Bob and his budget.
• Possibility to come up with a list to identify some priorities
• As things come up we should make a decision if we – ITAC- need to acquire more information.
• David provided the option to draw up a option to Cold Fusion using NatWeb

Known Hot Topics:

• The ADR and standing up the server support
• NWIS Mapper (all in the same picture)
• Information Publishing System

Water Science Center Web Site Redundancy - Katrina Lessons
Presented by: David Boldt
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

David gave an overview of the data available during hurricane Katrina.

Highlights:

• All NWIS processes worked
• However there are numerous lessons learned and discussion/decision points

Lessons Learned

Suggested goals:

• All main state web pages should not have a single point of failure.
• Decide on how sites are linked to NatWeb

Comments:

It was discussed that the WSCs should move the main district page and any other pages that can be moved to NatWeb.

We should encourage WSC to do it if it is practical to do so.

If your providing real time data you need to have it redundantly avalaible

Contact the center directors of the 7 centers – Jim will discuss with David Boldt in reference to this. The RGIO’s could possible also assist.

Outstanding Action Items Related to Goal 2
Presented by: Owners of AIs
Expected Outcome: Continue, complete, or cancel action

Separation of Credentials -- Terri Moore

Terri has presented to the group draft #4. Paul will take another look at it. The memo will be sent out by Terri on behalf of ITAC.

C&A Streamlining
Presented by: Agreement with GIO on how to move forward and assignment of actions
Expected Outcome: Jim Steverson

The GIO accepted our recommendation on how to streamline the C&A procedures. OK – The draft charter is with the CTO’s in all the regions at this time. Jim will be the Team lead and work with Gary Neverdon. Recommendations and support will be brought back to ITAC. Once the Charter has gone through its review it will be sent out to ITAC. No additional communication is needed at this time.

SQL
Presented by: Sandy Williamson
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

Sandy posed the issued raised by Bill Cunningham below:

Highlights:

• There are a number of Science Centers that start with an Access database, then it gets too large, so they go down the path of the MS SQL server.

• GIO’s tasks for MS SQLl Servers are to set it up and secure it and nothing else.

• The better we can make the information about use and support of SQL servers available, the better we can be. What ever the answer Quick place, SharePoint, etc…

• Although there is a real and valuable need for better internal support of SQL server, It is not an item we have resources and effort to tackle at this time.

Question for ITAC from Bill Cunningham:

“I'd like to reiterate an OGW concern (originally reported by Linda Geiger) related to Goal #1.  Our Climate Response Network uses Microsoft SQL Server and other Microsoft products instead of the UNIX environment.  There is little to no support here in Reston (and perhaps Bureau wide?) regarding maintenance and security within that environment.  We'd like to see that change.”

There are several sources for support BWTST and the Lab. Sandy will reply back to Linda and Bill with this information.

System Administrator Priorities
Presented by: Jessie Alvarez (by phone)
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

Jessie provided a draft memo on the Impact of GIO Projects on local IT staff.

Highlights:

• The draft was run through the ITSO (Local IT Senior Staff) and received their approval
• She asked our opinion if this memo should go out as written, do we feel that it will help prioritize the tasks
• This memo would assist in raising the awareness with the Center Directors on how much their IT staff does.
• It was decided that Jessie would complete the memo and run it back through the ITSO, then Jim N. and Tim M. They would, in turn, route it out to the ITAC team for review.
• It will then be distributed out to the Water Science Centers via ITAC .

Communicating with other Water IT Interest Groups
Presented by: Donna Schiffer
Expected Outcome: Determine if needed and how best to do it.

• Donna provided us with a spreadsheet of IT interest groups.
• She is going to update the spreadsheet taking out the second column
• She will add the Field Computer Interest Group
• It will be posted on a ITAC webpage
• She will come up with a draft email to the groups, to let them know we will be sending them emails about ITAC.
• It was suggested that before our next face to face meeting we look at the interest groups last meeting minutes – or have the liaison review
• It was suggested that we ask for a 15 minute session at the group’s next meeting

Identification of Possible New Action Items
Presented by: ITAC Members
Expected Outcome: Quickly capture from the day's discussion for follow-up on Thursday.

[Referererence Action Items.]

[Outstanding Action Items.]

Review Potential New Action Items and Assign
Presented by: ITAC Members
Expected Outcome: Decide on actions, ownership, and communication path.

BREAK
Expected Outcome: Coffee

ITAC Membership Changes
Presented by: ITAC Members
Expected Outcome: Decide if GIS, Web, AO or other position needs to be filled.

Membership changes – Sonja position needs to be replaced. The main contact will be David Boldt and field will be Chris and Brian.

Bring a skill set of GIS to the team. If suggestions of personnel bring them to Jim N.

Brian can fill at this point, until other representation is found.

• Brian gave an overview of GIS and the field. GIS did you mean GA is in a good position because they have the licenses and ( knowledge of) applications needed to complete the job. With the GIS being GIO it is now more disorganized. The ARCHGIS cannot add an extension cannot install it, due to rights. The SA’s wants everything on an SAN , however Cat5 cable is not able to handle the load they need a gigabit, with new buildings this needs to be a consideration. Google Maps needs to be addressed and may be the solution.
• The GEO database can be a personal database in Access and not SA involved (other then backups). There is also an enterprise version where you need to have an SA involved.
• There are two learning aspects the first is the GIS tool and the other is a SA issue that has to be educated on.
• What type of representation do we need?
• What do we need to train people?

Membership position to be replaced is the AO -- Is this a position that needs to be replaced?

Highlights:

• AO’s could use some technology injection.
• Most of the working budgeting is done external
• The value of ITAC is cross discipline – look for a replacement so there is representation.
• The AO’s seem not to take back as much as should be. Maybe because of the work they do.
• This needs to be a water specific role.
• Basis + is a bureau architecture
• Would a local AO be an asset?
• The AO’s should be a little more organized in close out’s and able to work hand n hand with a IT person
• Possible no AO on the group, but send a rep to their meeting to present IT issues.
• The #1 priority of DOI is to migrate into one central system.

Jim N. can ask the Regional Mangers on their opinion.

Jim S will talk to his AO to get her opinion

Regional Manager and AO in for about ½ hour at the next meeting

Next Meeting Dates and Possible Locations
Presented by: ITAC Members

• 1^st Choice Late June
• 2^nd Choice After July 4^th.

Location:

• Do the NE in the summer and SE in the fall.
• Bob Homes in IL has shown an interest about having it there.
• Never been to WI, KY, MI, MA, WV and VA,
• Suggestion is to go to Cathy and give her the options.

Kim presented the pictures to us from our field trip.

Brian presented a Georgia-specific NWIS GEO database demo.