Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Dayle Williamson at 9:30 am, Wednesday, April 7, 1999. It was held in the Commission Conference Room on the fourth floor of the State Office Building, Lincoln, Nebraska. Williamson introduced himself and asked those present to introduce themselves.

Public Notice
A notice of the public meeting pursuant to section 84-1411 R.R.S. 1943 appeared in the Lincoln Journal and Star dated March 31, 1999.

Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Data Bank Technical Advisory Committee meeting held on August 4, 1998 were introduced. A formal approval of the minutes was not taken at this time because most of the members were newly appointed to the Committee. For their information, Mahendra Bansal highlighted the major items discussed at the August 14th meeting. He stated that the short and long-term goals of the Data Bank as well as the mission and objectives were reviewed and approved at that meeting. The short-term goals included completion of DEMs and DOQs by June 1999. There was some discussion about the distribution costs of these coverages. A fee schedule was later developed and approved. The long-term goals include digitization of county soil surveys that meet national SSURGO standards. The SSURGO soils statewide database, produced by NRC in cooperation with the NRCS and the Conservation and Survey Division, UNL, was targeted for completion by the year 2003. Discussion ensued about the number of counties that could be completed in a year. The goal is to complete 12 to 15 counties a year. The Committee also discussed the need to review some priority data bases identified by the GIS Steering Committee and other databases that were of statewide importance. This included revision of DEMs and DOQs, GIS processing of groundwater levels, registered wells and surface water rights databases, and development of hydrographic database to meet national standards. A data base advisory sub-committee was then created to initially review those data bases, identify action steps and report back its recommendations to the Committee.

Information Material
The following informational material were handed out during the course of the meeting:

Historical Background and Accomplishments of Data Bank
Mahendra Bansal provided an overview of the Data Bank's history. A document listing the development of databases in chronological order over the past 30 years including Data Bank's major accomplishments was handed out. Then, he made a power point presentation. The highlights of the presentation were:

• The Data Bank was established in 1969 by the Nebraska Legislature, to be administered by the Natural Resources Commission.
• The basic data and databases are acquired from state, federal and local data collecting agencies, and the processing and interpretations are carried out by the Data Bank.
• The processed data is then made available to interested agencies and the general public in a timely and user friendly manner.

The statutes also created a Technical Advisory Committee to assist in the coordination and dissemination of the resources of the Data Bank.

Initially, the Data Bank concentrated on acquiring federal databases, including streamflows, climatic, water quality, groundwater levels and other databases. In 1970s, the Data Bank digitized soil surveys of 60 some counties, and started computerizing registered well information acquired from the State Department of Water Resources. At that time, all this data was residing on the main frame computer at the University. In 1977, NRC began processing information from remote terminals located within the NRC office. In 1980, the Data Bank was designated the lead agency to determine local population estimates in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The Databank was at the cutting edge when it started developing GIS databases in late 80's and early 90's. The GIS software at that time was MIPS and GRASS running on PCs. In 1991, the Arc/Info GIS package was adopted as the leading GIS software by the agency, and was licensed for the DEC Ultrix platform. The agency started moving data from the University Mainframe to UNIX workstations. In 1994, NRC acquired SUN workstations and developed a web page to provide Internet access to NRC's information. By 1995, NRC was experienced in GIS processing, and started supporting NRDs and other state agencies through its full-service GIS network. Various GIS coverages, like TIGER line files, well registration, wetlands inventory and others were developed. In November 1995, NRC entered into a workshare agreement with USGS Mid-Continent Mapping Center to develop DEMs and DOQs for the entire State of Nebraska. The production of these statewide databases was completed in March of this year. These electronic (DEMs/DOQs) databases are extensively used by various state, federal and local agencies in their mapping applications. The NRC uses them for the production of SSURGO soils, and delineation of flood prone areas in the state.

DEM/DOQ Production
Roger Dufresne made a presentation of the DEM/DOQ project. He stated that the NRC in cooperation with the U S Geological Survey helped digitize 1567 DEMs and 5602 DOQs. Currently, all DEMs are certified, but some of the recently completed DOQs remain to be certified by the USGS. He also demonstrated how DEMs and DOQs are used in digitization of SSURGO soils.

Larry Zink commented that from the GIS Steering Committee's standpoint, the development of DEM/and DOQ databases was a real service to the State.

Data Bank Technical Advisory Committee - Operating Procedures
Jim Cook suggested that this committee should first adopt its operating procedures. He stated that the statutes provide committee three main responsibilities or purposes. The first purpose hasn’t changed since it was first established in 1969, in that the Technical Advisory Committee shall assist in the coordination and dissemination of the resources of the Data Bank. The next two purposes were added by Legislative Bill 924 in 1998, that the Committee shall report to, assist, and advise the Chief Information Officer in setting information technology policy, and that the committee shall provide assistance as requested by the Nebraska Information Technology Commission to support the technical panel created by Sec. 86-1511, R.R. Supp. 1998.

Cook also explained the basic requirements of the Nebraska Public Meeting Laws, sections 84-1408 to 84-1414, and handed out a listing of those requirements. Cook said that this committee is a public body and must conduct its meetings in accordance with the public meeting law. Cook suggested that the operating procedure should include:

1. The Committee selects one member to serve as chair.
2. The Committee meetings may be called upon the request of either the chair, the Natural Resources Commission, the Chief Information Officer, the NITC or its technical review panel.
3. A majority of the appointed members shall constitute a quorum.
4. Action of the committee shall be taken by a majority vote of the members present and voting.
5. Sub-committees may be established, and non-members can participate.

At this time, a roll call was taken and it was determined that a quorum was present.

Present: Klenke, Hill, Kuzila, Lamberson, Peters, Slifer, and McClurg
Not Present: Amack, Carlson, and Nelson

Lori McClurg explained how often the NITC meets, its responsibilities and including those of the Chief Information Officer.

Larry Zink asked if the member of the Technical Advisory Committee were appointed by agency or person. It was said to be by person. Tom Lamberson asked how the members were selected. Williamson stated that the members are appointed by the Governor and they are statutorily representatives of the state and federal agencies concerned with the collection, interpretation and use of basic data. Motion was made by Lori McClurg to approve the Data Bank Technical Advisory Committee Operating Procedures and seconded by Mike Slifer. The Motion carried by acclamation.

Williamson asked for volunteers to chair the Committee. After some pause, Mark Kuzila volunteered. Immediately, a Motion was made by Lori McClurg to elect Mark Kuzila as Committee Chair. Tom Lamberson seconded. The Motion carried.

Aye: Klenke, Hill, Kuzila, Lamberson, Peters, Slifer, McClurg
Nay: None
Not Present: Amack, Carlson, Nelson

Kuzila consented to work with NRC, Bansal, and all other committee members.

Computer Demonstration
Steve Rathje provided a computer demonstration of relational and GIS databases accessed over the web. He demonstrated how Interactive Mapping could be used to select, query and display multiple layers of information over the Internet. The groundwater level database layer was chosen for demo purpose. He showed how one could zoom in and out to obtain additional data about the groundwater levels, observation sites etc. Also, how other layers such as cities, township and range, registered wells and county boundaries could be added with relative ease. Mark Kuzila queried about the accuracy of location of registered wells. Bansal stated that the database advisory sub-committee is addressing the proper identification of wells, and the interface of groundwater levels database with the well registration database issues. Some discussion ensued about multiple agencies' interest in proper identification of registered wells and to locate those wells using GPS surveys.

Database Advisory Subcommittee reports
Mahendra Bansal reported that this Technical Advisory Committee at its previous meeting on August 4, 1998 formed a Database Advisory Subcommittee to review several of the priority databases identified by the GIS Steering Committee, and other databases of statewide importance as identified by this Committee. The databases identified were: Revision of DEM and DOQs; GIS processing of Groundwater levels, surface water rights, and registered wells databases; Acceleration of SSURGO Soils; Delineation of Flood Plain area; Development of National Hydrographic database; and Revision of DRGs. The Database Subcommittee at its meeting on October 26, 1988 agreed that the well registration, water rights, and hydrographic databases should be referred to the Hydrology Database Subcommittee, newly created by the GIS Steering Committee under the leadership of DWR. These databases would, however, be revised and updated in the Data Bank as that committee would recommend them to be. A need was also expressed to seek more participation of local government agencies, and invite representatives of Lincoln- Lancaster county in future meetings.

The Data Base Advisory Committee at its meeting on November 18, 1998, reached a consensus about the development of second generation of DEMs and DOQs as new series of NAPP imagery becomes available in 1999. The first generation consisted of 30-meter interval Level-2 DEMs and 3.75-minute 1-meter resolution DOQs. It was agreed that the second generation of DEMs be developed at 10-meter interval using Tagged Vector Contour data created during the first generation of DEMs. The DOQ resolution will remain the same. However, the DOQs should be produced in both UTM and state plane coordinate systems. A need was also expressed to identify the cost-basis and breakdown of individual processes involved in the development of DEMs and DOQs so that other stakeholders in the program could share the cost. Bansal stated that USGS agreed to provide that information after their study is completed.

Well Registration Database Update
Kim Menke demonstrated various ways and options that a person can obtain Registered Wells data through the Web over the Internet under both the Spatial and Tabular database categories. The Registered Wells data is updated quarterly, and the information can be retrieved by well owner's name, county, NRD, and well identification number. The data listings and summary reports are available to the public over the Internet. Menke stated that at the request of DWR, well drillers and well log information has been added to the data dissemination process. Tony Peters said that the computerization of well log information is being done using the Technology Collaboration Fund which runs out in June 1999.

Interaction with Chief Information Officer and the NITC Technical Panel
Jim Cook suggested that the Advisory Committee have an interaction plan to work with the Chief Information Officer and the Technical Panel to NITC. He provided the members copies of the related Interaction statutes, and job responsibilities relating to the Chief Information Officer, the Technical Panel reporting to the NITC. Cook suggested that the members consider how they would like to advise and assist the Chief Information Officer and the Technical Panel. The NRC Data Bank will provide the necessary staff support.

Cost Recovery of DEM/DOQs
Williamson said that at the Appropriation's Committee meeting, some senators were concerned about recovering costs for the production of DEM/DOQs and in general for the development of databases by the State. Larry Zink briefed the committee about formation of a cooperative approach that the New York had tried to promote data sharing among agencies. Anyone not in the Cooperative would have to pay for the data. Zink said that we need to come up with a policy to promote data sharing. Lori McClurg inquired about the type of users and if these users were in fact making money off these DOQ coverages. Tom Lamberson commented that he didn’t think charging to download information from the Web was economically feasible. Kelly Klenke indicated that from the federal standpoint, the agencies could not charge. Mike Slifer said that the U.S. Geological Survey charges very nominally to recover costs associated with processing and shipping of orders. Bansal reiterated that the Data Bank's objective is to make NRC information available to all government agencies and the general public in a cost effective and user-friendly manner. The goal is to provide state's available natural resources data in an electronic format as much as possible to allow users to process data in a form that meet their needs. Towards that goal, Data Bank puts all its data over the web for public and users to access information 24 hours a day. Williamson expressed that he would like to look into various options to determine the simplest and most effective way to collect fees from data users when necessary. He welcomes this Committee's advice and recommendations on this issue. Meanwhile, he would want that NRC continue to charge for DOQs as per existing Data Bank Fee schedule. Currently, there is no charge for downloading information from the NRC website over the Internet, and only a nominal cost is charged for copying data onto CD-ROMs, as recommended by this Committee earlier. Williamson reminded that he must report back to the Appropriations Committee by next session about this cost recovery system.

National Hydrographic Database
Zink stated that they had established an Advisory Committee to study the need for a National Hydrographic Database. The Committee thought that the hydrographic database at a scale of 1:24,000 would serve the needs of many state and local agencies, and the GIS Steering Committee is studying the feasibility of establishing a pilot project. The next stage is finding the funds for this pilot project. Williamson stated that NRC would assist as best it can.

SSURGO Soils
Kelly Klenke briefed about the SSURGO Soils Project. There was a brief discussion about the fire damages in western Nebraska and how well the NRCS performed to map those damages. Bansal briefly explained how NRCS is utilizing the DEMs and DOQ coverages for compilation and digitization of county soil surveys to meet the national SSURGO standards.

Next Meeting
Mark Kuzila suggested that the Advisory Committee meet in the Fall, unless otherwise the members or agencies as per our operating procedures make a request for an earlier meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 A.M.