Data Bank
Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
Tuesday, August 13, 2002, 10:30 A.M.
Department of Natural Resources Conference Room, 4th Floor
301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, Nebraska
68509
Those present were: (Voting Members *)
Laura Hardesty * HHS-Regulations & Licensure
Mark Kuzila * Conservation and Survey Division/UNL
Philip Webb * Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA
Paul Yamamoto * Department of Environmental Quality
Craig Romary * Department of Agriculture
Steve Schafer * Department of Administrative Services
Larry Zink GIS Steering Committee
Curt Sorenson Farm Service Agency, USDA
Justin Apel Nebraska Association of Resources Districts
Wayne Vanek Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA
Thomas Doering Department of Economic Development
Mahendra Bansal Department of Natural Resources
Robert Gower Department of Natural Resources
Gayle Follmer Department of Natural Resources
Jeff Hogan Department of Natural Resources
Kim Menke Department of Natural Resources
Steve Rathje Department of Natural Resources
Gayle Starr Department of Natural Resources
Call to Order
Chairperson Mark Kuzila called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. and a roll call was taken. The quorum was present.
Public Notice
A public notice of the meeting was published in the Lincoln Journal and Star on August 6, 2002. The meeting notice and agenda were also posted on the DNR Web site on August 1, 2002.
Public Comment
None
Approval of Minutes
Chairperson Kuzila asked for a motion to approve the February 12, 2002 and August 21, 2001 meetings’ minutes. He reminded that the minutes were mailed out to all participants, and were also posted over the web. It was moved and seconded to approve the Minutes of February 12, 2002, and then that of August 21, 2001. Both motions carried. There being no corrections, the minutes were approved as presented.
Informational Material
The following informational material was handed out during the course of the meeting. A copy of each is attached to the file copy of the Minutes.
Selected Agenda Items Explanation Paper
Data Bank Activities/Projects as of August 2002
Data Bank Priority List
Water Well Registration Form
Surface Water Rights Automation -Work Plan
Network Connectivity
Computer Network Organization
Status of Data Back Ups
DEMs Status Map
DOQs Status Map
SSURGO Soils Status Map
FSA DOQs Status Map
Bansal provided an overview of the program accomplishments for the past six months. During this period, the Data Bank had updated several databases that were put on hold in the past because of other higher priority projects. The databases updated include stream flow, peakflow, hourly rainfall, daily climatological and extended weather data including rainfall, snowfall, temperature, events, soil radiation and cloud cover databases. Also updated was the canal diversion database wherein the data entry process initiated by a DNR field staff, was automated. This will accelerate updating of database in the future. The Data Bank also enhanced the map and text interfaces created to download COQs over the Internet. The users are provided more options to retrieve COQs and choose from the UTM or State Plane coordinates, and 1999 or 1993 NAPP imagery.
The Data Bank has recently developed a tool that displays location of a well on a map and converts latitude/longitude (GPS) coordinates into legal description (township, range, section, sub-section and footage measurements). Another tool was developed that converts location information (township- range-section) into latitude/longitude coordinates. Steve Rathje provided a computer demonstration of these tools, and used COQs as background image to display wells. Kim Menke added that any base map with roads could be used for well locations if COQs are not available. Kuzila asked how would one know where the tool icon was. The tool tips and detailed instructions were shown located on the Nebraska interactive map.
Bansal reported that the Data Bank, per this Committee’s suggestion in its last meeting, assisted the Farm Service Agency, USDA, in compressing and publishing their DOQs (2001 imagery) over the Internet at DNR’s website. This database is now available to public.
In its February meeting, the Committee also advised the Data Bank to develop a comprehensive list of its projects and activities, including FTE needed and whether the activity was directed by statues, administrative initiative, customer service or technology change. Bansal provided two reports, one summarizing the Data Bank activities/ projects, and the other listing them in a preferred order of priority. The personnel services requirement is estimated to be 13 FTE and the Data Bank has only 6.5 FTEs. The Data Bank, therefore, handles projects/activities on an urgency or priority basis. Other projects are temporarily put on hold. Kuzila wanted to know if the projects/activities put on hold, are not done. Bansal stated that the projects not on high priority list are handled on an intermittent basis. Currently, the agency priorities are automation of surface water rights, and on-line registration of water wells, which requires more than 2 FTEs. Most of Data Bank staff is working on these two projects, and other activities are taken as and when possible. Yamamoto asked how the Data Bank decides which project/activity to undertake. Bansal referred to the second list, and said that priority listing is a work in progress. They are reviewed weekly, and modified based on agency management decisions
Zink observed that 2 FTEs out of 6.5 FTE are essentially for PC and network support to the agency and are not involved with databases, leaving the Data Bank with 4.5 FTEs for database related activities. He asked if PC and network support has been responsibility of the Data Bank Staff or was added after reorganization. It was stated that the Data Bank has had this responsibility before reorganization as well. Gayle Starr added that some of the projects/activities are done just for continued operations of the agency. The Chair noted that 2.75 FTEs are required for statutorily required activities. Steve Schafer asked if anything is done to simplify PC support like standardize configuration. Bansal said that in addition to simplify PC support on an ongoing basis, the Data Bank uses more out of the box solutions instead of customized applications to maximize available FTE resources. Zink commented that until surface water rights and on-line registration of water wells are completed, realistically the Data Bank would not be able to do any more database or application development in the near term. Bansal said that they plan to undertake Metadata Server, ArcSDE, and Internet Map Server applications in between as time permits. The Committee agreed that the resources are not there and it must identify other potential resources and/or prioritize activities for the Data Bank.
Prioritization of Activities
The Committee reviewed the Data Bank priority list. Bansal said that besides two agency priorities, well registration enhancements and water rights automation, it will be working on development of a Metadata Server, which in turn requires upgrading of ArcIMS and ArcSDE software, and SUN SOLARIS operating system. Kuzila suggested that the list could be separated into hardware/IT activities and database activities, and asked how updating of hardware wouldn’t be a high priority. Both hardware/software and database development are important. Starr remarked that what he is looking for from the Committee is their ideas on priority of database related activities. Kuzila suggested that Bansal email this Priority List to all Committee members for their input and recommendations.
Bansal briefly explained the projects included in the priority list. He said that enhancement of PLSS (section corner) database should also be a priority project. This database is widely used for display of well locations on COQs or topo maps. He showed an example where a well was displayed in the wrong section using the current database. The resolution needs enhancements. Yamamoto commented that this kind of problem occurs when one mixes datasets with different resolutions. Zink suggested coordinating this project with State Surveyor’s office that is working with local governments.
At the last meeting, the Committee recommended that the Data Bank work with FSA to host their DOQs at DNR web site so that all sets and series of DOQs are available at one site. Bansal reported that it is completed and is in use. Kuzila asked if these DOQs would be updated annually. Curt Sorenson indicated that the plan stipulates updates after all 93 counties are processed. The methodology adopted would be different and faster, and not meet the USGS standards. A similar group of 25 counties will be processed this year, with Custer and Butler counties included, and Nemaha and Dodge Counties excluded. For lack of ground controls and proper image rectification, the Committee decided that these coverages be called “Rectified Images” rather than “Ortho-rectified Images or DOQs”. The FSA agreed to this change and will confirm it in writing to the Data Bank along with metadata to be published over the web.
Revision of DEMs and DOQs
Bansal reported that
the development of 10-meter DEMs statewide, targeted for completion in June
2002, is done and is submitted to USGS for review. The production of DOQs, which had a target date of June 2003,
is in progress. Approximately, half of
the State is completed. It may, however, be difficult to meet the target date
if USGS resources are not available in a timely manner.
Automation of Surface Water Rights
Rathje explained the work plan that he has put together for automation of surface water rights database into phases. The first phase is essentially getting the data off the mainframe into a PC-based SQLServer, and create text and map interfaces to process input records and to generate output reports. The second phase combines mainframe data with other existing PC-based surface water databases for enhanced agency capabilities, and to create a GIS coverage using diversion points. The third phase is to link and interface surface water maps that the Planning Division is processing. Once everything is structured and linked, the users would have better search capabilities. Zink asked if this project was statutorily mandated, and if FSA (field boundary) data was in the plans to be interfaced with this database. It was reported that it is an agency priority, and a lot of work needs to be done before the surface water data can be interfaced with any other data.
Proposed Spatial Data Access and Service Center
Zink informed the group about the GIS advisory committee that is addressing the issue of sharing geo-spatial data that the state has, and provide a broader range of data access and support services for the enterprise-wide GIS user community. There is a proposal to merge the two existing, Nebraska-Online and the DNR’s, geospatial data Clearinghouses for the short-term. For the long-term, it is anticipated, the committee would recommend creating a geo-spatial data Access Center that has a wide range of responsibilities and not just hosting data. Zink updated that the USGS is recommending replacing its current paper topography maps with on-line digital maps (called the National Map), and the committee would like to integrate with that geospatial data. Also, America View is trying to make quick retrieval of state-by-state remote sensing data. He said that no one has a lot of money, but the committee is hoping to work with a lot of small amounts. Kuzila stated that the Technical Advisory Committee could discuss how the Data Bank would get resources to house this Clearinghouse. Zink said that the Data Bank would need revision of its statutes in terms of a statewide Clearinghouse. The Data Bank is now natural resource oriented. Since 9-11, that Homeland Security has increased the desire to pull GIS data together quickly. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency has pulled a lot of data together for short-term crisis.
Bansal reported that DNR has recognized one database in response to homeland security, and it is the “Registration of public water supply wells”. It is available upon request basis only. Public access to this data is restricted. Other databases of concern could be the DOQs, dams inventory, and reservoir storage data. Although, it has been discussed, no decision has yet been made.
Wayne Vanek reported
that the soil surveys of 75 counties have been SSURGO certified, and the
statewide surveys are expected to be done by this time next year.
Kuzila suggested that the next meeting should address the matter of
housing the data Clearinghouse in the Data Bank program. Other agenda items should include election
of Chair. Kuzila urged the committee
members to respond to the prioritization of the Data Bank Activity List that
will be mailed to them by Bansal along with a brief description of each activity/project.
The next meeting
will be held in about 6 months. The
Data Bank will schedule the meeting.
The proposed agenda items for the next meeting should be sent to Bansal.
The meeting adjourned at 11:50 A.M.