Data Bank Technical Advisory Committee Meeting

Tuesday, February 12, 2002, 10:000 A.M.

Department of Natural Resources Conference Room, 4th Floor

301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509

Minutes

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Those in attendance were: (Voting Members *)

Anne Pamperl * HHS-Regulations & Licensure

Mark Kuzila * Conservation and Survey Division/UNL

Steve Scheinost * Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA

Paul Yamamoto * Department of Environmental Quality

Curt Sorenson Farm Service Agency, USDA

Anna Hughes Lower Platte South NRD

Gabe Robertson Nebraska Association of Resources Districts

Wayne Vanek Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA

Larry K. Zink GIS Steering Committee

Mahendra Bansal Department of Natural Resources

Robert Gower Department of Natural Resources

Gayle Follmer Department of Natural Resources

Jeff Hogan Department of Natural Resources

Mike Thompson 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

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 A.M. by Chairperson Mark Kuzila. A roll call was taken and there was no quorum.

Public Notice

Notice of the meeting appeared in the Lincoln Journal and Star on February 1, 2002 notifying the public of the meeting. A copy of the meeting agenda was also posted at the agency’s web site.

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.

Computer Network Organization

Network Connectivity

Status of Data Back Ups

Online Registration of Water Wells – Summary Listing

Data Bank Fee Schedule –Proposed Revisions

Data Bank Goals and Objectives (Adopted May 2, 2001)

Listing of Readily Available GIS databases

Internet Mapping Advisory Committee recommendations

Resource Page for the Nebraska Advisory Committee on Facilitating Geospatial Data Sharing

Summary listing of Census 2000 Population by Legislative Districts

Listing of DNR Projects

Listing of Data Bases Disseminated over the Web

Summary Listing of Data Bank Operations

DEMs Status Map

DOQs Status Map

SSURGO Soils Status Map

Data Bank Activities – Discussions

In continuation of discussion at the last meeting, the chair suggested that the Committee focus on Data Bank operations this time, instead of databases, with a view to assist the Data Bank in prioritizing its activities. Bansal provided an overview of the Data Bank activities and distributed a summary listing of its operations. He said that the Data Bank has a total of 6.5 FTEs (or seven staff members) authorized for the past several years. The primary functions of the Data Bank program from the NRC days are:

· Revisions of DEMs and DOQs (in work-share agreement with USGS) with a targeted completion date of June 30, 2003. This activity requires approximately 2 staff persons working full time to meet the deadline.

· Data base updates, processing and publishing of databases over the Internet – 1 to 1.5 FTE

· Handling user requests in a timely manner, plot interpretative maps, and retrieve requested information - 1 staff person. This person also assists in processing Census 2000 population and county population estimates data as part of the FSCPE program.

· Web developments and GIS applications – 1 to 1.5 FTE

· Provide PC and network support to agency, assist NRDs and other state agencies connected to DNR network - 1 to 2 staff persons.

· Data acquisition, coordination, user assistance, and QA/QC operations – 1 staff person

Since the merger of DWR and NRC, the Data Bank has assumed following additional responsibilities.

· Restructure agency website and integrate network domains.

· Provide enterprise PC support and implement enterprise PC virus protection.

· Set up a reliable back up system for agency workstations and servers.

· Install a firewall and implement Internet/network security measures.

· Automate electronic databases. Develop surface water rights database management system and migrate data from the Statehouse mainframe.

· Implement on-line water well registration system through the Internet.

Bansal stated that as priorities shift, staff must be reassigned to higher priority projects (at the cost of ongoing activities). For example, the on-line registration of water wells has a statutory operational date of January 1, 2002. Therefore, the two staff working on DEMs and DOQs were assigned to this activity and the DEMs/DOQs project was put on hold for about four months. Similarly, annual updating of databases has to wait because staff worked on revisions and enhancements of agency website. A year ago, processing of Census 2000 population data was a priority since this information was urgently needed by NRDs for their sub-districting purposes. About six months ago, implementation of firewall was a necessity and a priority. Similarly, development and automation of surface water rights data system is another agency priority which will require shifting of staff resources. Gayle Starr reiterated that this is DNR’s next priority in terms of a big project. There was a question raised why the Data Bank is processing Census data.

There was considerable discussion about various activities, unmet needs, possibility of getting additional resources, and the Committee’s role in advising DNR in budget and policy development process for the Data Bank program. There was general agreement that under the current budgetary environment, the prospects of getting additional staff are bleak, and therefore the committee should assist the Data Bank in prioritizing its activities, and identify resources from other participating agencies.

Starr concurred that the activities of the Data Bank have increased over the last several years without a corresponding increase in staff. He said that the DNR would welcome Committee’s suggestions in prioritizing Data Bank projects and activities. We value advice of the Committee regarding other database development such as NHD.

It was suggested that the Data Bank should develop a comprehensive list of its projects/activities, estimate of FTE requirements for each, and whether those functions are directed by statutes, administrative initiative, customer service, or ever-changing technology.

IT Support

As part of its responsibility, the Data Bank provides IT support to agency including enterprise PC and network support. Also, there are few other state agencies connected to DNR’s network and are, therefore, supported by the Data Bank staff. Its IT staff also provides limited email and network connectivity support to few other NRDs. Currently, this support to outside agencies is waning with time.

Rob Gower informed that the implementation of a firewall is now operational within the agency. The Data Bank staff is currently in the process of transitioning enterprise PCs and Servers behind the firewall. There was some discussion about using the state firewall instead of the agency firewall. Starr said that the state firewall is currently not fully functional, and this issue would have to be discussed sometime in the near future. The state firewall has the potential of system delays (application and management) and could seriously affect agency’s GIS and web development because its servers may not be physically located within the department. It is important that servers are easily accessible so that programming changes could be made quickly and effectively. Also, GIS applications are essential for DNR functions and Data Bank operations, and the Information Management Services agency (DAS) does not have GIS capabilities at this time.

Geospatial Data Access and Service Center

Larry Zink said that the GIS Steering Committee, for the past two years, noted the need to enhance the Nebraska geospatial data sharing/clearinghouse capabilities and that one of its Advisory Committees has recommended that development of a Spatial Database Access and Service Center in Nebraska. The DNR could be a key player in this effort. This DBTAC Committee could also be very well involved. Starr asked what needs to be done and how Zink envisions this happening. Zink said that many agencies need geospatial (GIS) data, and it is not just the natural resources-related data currently served through the Data Bank. The question is what is the most efficient way of sharing this data. The issues currently are not so much technical but more of policy as to how and where we do it and how we fund it. Starr asked if this agency would be a development agency or just someone to host the data. Zink said there are a legitimate range of services needed, the minimum is a fairly comprehensive statewide clearinghouse of Nebraska-related geospatial data and then there is a range of other services that could be included depending upon available resources and policy decisions ultimately made. Zink noted that the GIS Steering Committee has authorized the formation a new Advisory Committee to facilitate geospatial data sharing, and to examine these policy issues and make recommendations. Zink noted that many of agencies represented on the DBTAC would also be represented on this new Advisory Committee. Some states started small and later expanded. Bansal asked if this Committee would recommend creation of this Spatial Database Access and Service Center. Zink hoped that not only this committee but DNR too would support it. Starr asked what the time frame was for the data center. Zink said that there is really no specific time frame but there is a growing need and the policy decisions need to be made so that we can support implementation as resources allow.

Farm Service Agency-DOQs

Bansal brought to the notice of the Committee that the U. S. Farm Service Agency (FSA) has recently developed natural color Digital Orthophotos (DOQs) based on (July-August) 2001 aerial photography for part of the State, and wants DNR to place them on its website for public dissemination over the Internet. Steve Rathje and Jeff Hogan showed examples of 1999 DNR DOQs and 2000 FSA DOQs. Sorenson explained that this was a pilot project and FSA photographed 25 counties in Nebraska and 25 counties in Kansas. The DOQs have two-meter resolution that are geo-rectified. Bansal said that the Data Bank could only publish compressed DOQs over the Internet if it is okay with this Committee. However, it would require additional resources. Yamamato commented that there is a big advantage in having current data. Starr asked if there is a need. Sorenson said that currently DOQs are distributed through CD media, and the Data Bank could help them with dissemination over the web and later in processing better resolution DOQs. Zink said that FSA is a potential partner in this process and he supported DNR’s effort to work with FSA to put their DOQs over the web. Chairperson Kuzila recommended that the Data Bank work with FSA to host this data, at least on a trial basis initially.

Next Meeting Date

Kuzila suggested having the next meeting in about 6 months. The Data Bank will schedule the meeting. The proposed agenda items for the next meeting should be sent to Bansal.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 11:45 A.M.