Nebraska Department of Natural Resources

DATA BANK

 

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The Natural Resources Data Bank was statutorily created in 1969 (R.R.S. 2-1568 through 2-1570) and is administered by the Department of Natural Resources.  The purpose of the Data Bank is to develop, store, process and manage natural resources data relating to soil and water resources of the State, and make the information available to government agencies, academia, the private sector and the general public in a user-friendly and timely manner.

 

VISION

Empower the decision-makers/users with real-time reliable information relating to natural resources data with proper displaying and processing tools for efficient planning and effective management of Nebraska's land and water resources.

 

MISSION

Provide an integrated natural resources information system for the State of Nebraska and an easy online access to real-time information and services to decision-makers, data users and to the citizens using e-government portal and innovative technologies in a most responsive, efficient and cost-effective manner.

 

OBJECTIVES

Develop, produce and manage relational and GIS databases in standard reference formats that meet or exceed national standards. Coordinate and manage natural resource projects and applications.

 

Provide GIS support, products and services that address user needs and adjust to changing user requirements. Implement and promote GIS technical standards.

 

Provide a decentralized and integrated approach to real-time database development, interactive processing and direct access to natural resources data over the Internet. Provide and promote distributed processing and data sharing among agencies and political sub-divisions of government.

 

Create databases using latest digital processing techniques.  Develop methodologies and procedures that facilitate collaborative database development, interactive access, portability, integration, usability and varied applications of natural resources data.

 

Provide a single point of contact/entry for natural resources related data and for information queries both at the intra-agency, inter-agency, and at inter-governmental levels. Promote Internet access.

 

Integrate information and services. Provide e-government services to enhance information sharing, service delivery and citizen participation interactively online over the Internet..

 

Provide effective and efficient IT (including PC and network) support and services, IT solutions, and expertise. Provide technical support to NRDs and other agencies connected to its network.

 

Serve as a liaison and coordinate Data Bank activities with NITC, SGC, CIO, NIDCAC, GIS Steering Committee, and state, federal and local data collecting agencies.

 

Short Term Goals (6 - 12 months)

 

Implement enterprise PC Virus protection. Integrate agency's "dnr", "dwr" and "nrc" network domains.

Install a firewall, and implement Internet security plans.

 

Set up a reliable back up system for PCs and Servers (NT, LINUX and UNIX systems).

 

Migrate mainframe databases from statehouse computer system.

 

Implement e-government transactions and provide interactive registration of groundwater wells over the Internet in collaboration with Nebraska-Online.

 

Provide technical and network support to NRDs. Promote direct access and data sharing among agencies and political sub-divisions of government.

 

 

Long Term Goals (12 months or longer)

 

Develop statewide 10-Meter interval (Level-2, 1:24,000 scale) Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) using Tagged Vector Contours (TVCs) data.

 

Revise statewide Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles (1-Meter resolution, 1:12,000, grayscale DOQs) based on 1999 NAPP photography. 

 

Complete digitization of county soil surveys for the State that meet or exceed national SSURGO standards.

 

Produce second generation of digital elevation contours (DEMs) using digital photogrammetric techniques and aerial photography. Conduct pilot project studies, as needed, to develop methodologies, procedures and standards.

 

Produce second generation of (high resolution and color) DOQs using enhanced DEMs and GPS controlled aerial photography. Develop a DOQ browser using MIT Ortho-server and MS Terra-server applications.

 

Integrate surface water and groundwater databases. Assist in digitization of irrigated field boundaries and water rights maps.

 

Integrate canal diversions, reservoir storage and miscellaneous discharge observations with USGS stream records.  Reclassify station IDs that conform to USGS numbering scheme and NHD standards.

 

Develop high resolution, 1:24,000 scale, National Hydrography Database (NHD) for the State. Conduct pilot project studies, as needed, to develop methodologies, procedures and standards.

 

Enhance Map Object and Internet Map server applications to interactively process, display and retrieve GIS databases. Implement SQL Server and ArcSDE database management operations.

 

Automate agency's business forms, and provide interactive access online over the Internet.

 

Enter into a dialogue with the Nebraska GIS Steering Committee, the Nebraska Chief Information Officer, the Nebraska Information Technology Commission, and the State Records Board to explore and develop proposed organizational models and roles to support the evolving needs for collaborative geo-spatial data development, maintenance and distribution.

 

Adopted May 2001