Data Bank Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
Wednesday, May 2, 2001,
10:000 A.M.
Department of
Natural Resources Conference Room, 4th Floor
301 Centennial Mall South,
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
Those present
were: (Voting Members *)
Glen Engel* U. S. Geological
Survey
Laura Hardesty * HHS-Regulations & Licensure
Dan Hoffman * Governor's
Policy Research Office
Mark Kuzila * Conservation and Survey Division/UNL
Steve Scheinost * Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA
Paul Yamamoto * Department of Environmental Quality
Pat Rice Department of
Environmental Quality
Wayne Vanek Natural Resources
Conservation Service, USDA
Larry Zink GIS
Steering Committee
Mahendra Bansal Department of Natural Resources
Gayle Starr Department
of Natural Resources
Robert Gower Department
of Natural Resources
Ken Huber 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
Call to
Order
Chairperson
Mark Kuzila called the meeting to order at 10:00 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
April 25, 2001. The meeting notice and
agenda were also posted on the DNR Web site on April 15, 2001.
Public
Comment
There were no public comments.
Chairman’s
Report
Chairman
Kuzila discussed the role and function of the Advisory Committee and asked for
ideas so that the Committee can take a proactive role. According to the
Statutes, the role of the Advisory Committee is to assist the Data Bank in the
coordination and dissemination of its resources, and as well to assist and
advise the Chief Information Officer in setting information technology policy.
Currently, the Data Bank fills us in what they are doing. Bansal suggested that
the Data Bank will appreciate Committee’s guidance in program and project
priority setting, collaboration with other data coordinating entities, and
addressing individual member agency needs. Kuzila added that an agency
representative on the Committee has commented that they have very little to
contribute because of the highly technical focus of the agenda. Some discussion
ensued in getting Committee involved in agenda development.
Approval of
Minutes
Chairperson
Kuzila asked for a motion to approve the November 29, 2000 meeting minutes. He
reminded that the minutes were mailed out to all participants, and were also
posted over the web. There being no
comments, it was moved and seconded that the minutes be approved as presented.
The motion carried.
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.
Census
2000 Population Count for Nebraska
Census
2000 Race Count for Nebraska
Data
Bank Revised Goals and Objectives
Data
Storage, Backup and Restoration Policy
Configuration of DNR Computer Network
DNR Fee
Schedule
DEM
Status Map
DOQ
Status Map
SSURGO Database Production Schedule
Tagged Vector Contours Production
Schedule
Data Bank Statutes
Bansal
reported that the Data Bank is currently processing 2000 Census PL94-171
population data. This data is used by NRDs for sub-districting purposes. After
processing, the tabular data and maps will be published over the web. It was
explained that census block is the smallest unit in Census Data, and block
doesn’t always line up on NRD boundaries. The Data Bank, therefore, splits
those blocks to derive population by NRDs.
Also, the NRD bound coverage isn’t very accurate, and creates sliver
polygons in those instances. Zink asked about the legislative
redistricting. It was stated that the
Legislative Research Division is responsible for the redistricting work.
Bansal
summarized the changes in the State population profile based on 2000
Census. In Nebraska, the Hispanics are
the largest minority surpassing the African American population. The Hispanic
population grew 155 percent and is currently 5.5 percent of the State’s total
population. Whereas, the Afro-American population is steady at 4 percent
approximately. At the national level,
the Hispanic population count is 12.5 percent, and the Afro-American 12.3
percent.
Integration of Network
Domains:
Rob
Gower reported that the integration of
“dnr, “nrc” and “dwr” network
domains is nearing completion. Most of
the computers are under one Microsoft domain. Currently, the implementation of
firewall software for security of the network is in progress. The Data Bank
monitors all systems to ensure security.
Bansal briefed agency’s network configuration prior to and after the
merger. The firewall implementation will place most PCs behind the wall, and
those exposed to the Internet will be in the DMZ Zone. Internal processing will be done behind the
firewall. Ken Huber reported that in
order to save the servers and PCs from viruses, an enterprise virus protection
program is being implemented. It will
also provide automatic updates for the agency.
Enterprise
Backup System:
Bansal reported that the Data Bank is developing a comprehensive backup system for the agency and provided a draft of the Data Storage, Backup and Restoration Policy to the Committee. The objective is to store all key and critical data securely and successively, and insure regular and timely backups of departmental data. Zink inquired if there is a centralized backup system in the state government. The question of a centralized vis-à-vis an in-house backup system was discussed. It was stated that a backup system for an entire state government does not exist. It would be rather unworkable and too slow with T-1 line communications. The Committee preferred to keep the backup system in-house.
It
was reported that the Data Bank is revising DEMs from thirty- to ten-meter
intervals, and DOQs from 1993 NAPP to 1999 aerial photography. It is also producing DOQs in two coordinate
systems, UTM and the State Plane. The revision of DEMs and DOQs is now expected
to complete in three years due to staff limitations at the USGS Mapping Center
in Rolla, Missouri. The USGS has taken
up the aero-triangulation (AT). Yamamato inquired if the Data Bank knew which
blocks would be finished next for the DEMs and DOQs. The DEM/DOQ work is progressing in one-degree blocks from
Nebraska southeast corner toward west, and then it will wrap around back from
west to eastward.
Kuzila
asked if work could flow from northwest to east because the people in the
panhandle feel that they always get their data last. The SSURGO soils are done the same way. It was agreed that the
workflow should be arranged from panhandle to eastward next time around.
Yamamato
asked for the availability of certified DEM/DOQs. Bansal said that the compressed DOQs (COQs) would soon be
published over the Internet, and the full regular DOQs will be available on
request basis because of its voluminous size and transmission speed
limitations.
SSURGO
Soils
Bansal
informed that digital soil surveys of 63 counties have been completed, 57
counties are SSURGO certified, and other six are in certification review. The processing of three other counties is in
progress. It was also brought that the
Arthur County was certified today, and the digitization of Garden County has
started.
Kuzila
stated that the Conservation and Survey Division is looking into hiring
additional students to accelerate soil compilation work, and asked if there was
a jam anywhere else in the process. Scheinost indicated that the funding for
this project comes from NRCS. Kuzila
said that CSD could find some funds for speeding up the soil compilation work,
but not enough to support two additional staff needed. Zink asked where the soil review and
certification was taking place. Vanek told that he had gotten three or four
counties certified from St. Paul, which include Dakota, Burt and Thurston. Kuzila inquired about certification of
counties that go to Bismark and that if they were actually contracted to
Montana.
The TVCs are a by-product of 30-Meter DEMs, and the
DNR is tiling and edge-matching each quadrangle to make sure that the contours
flow continuously. Also, they are used
to generate 10-meter DEMs. The cleaning
and editing of TVCs is a tedious job. Currently, about two-third of the State
is completed, and it is expected that the process for rest of the State will
move faster. It is also noticed that the demand for TVCs is more than that of
DEMs, as they form a base layer used in multiple GIS applications.
The
database files that are updated annually, include climatic, extended weather,
streamflow, peakflow, water quality, agricultural crops, and groundwater
levels. Most of them have been updated, and the updating of hourly rainfall
data is in progress. The processed
information is available over the Internet both in GIS and tabular form. Rathje informed that the groundwater level
database that is on-line has about 2,500 fewer stations than last year, and
wouldn’t be added until the well location information is corrected.
Kuzila
asked if there is any coordination between agencies (and many programs) that
relates to identification of well locations.
Larry Zink informed that an interagency working group of the GIS Water
Resources Database Committee had worked on the issue, and that committee has
recommended tagging each well with a unique identification number and
cross-reference them in the DNR’s registered-well database for multi-agency
use. Yamamoto said that several NRDs are conducting GPS surveys of water wells
in their districts, and the well drillers are also considering GPS
surveys. There is a need to set aside
some resource to collect all the GPS location of wells collected by NRDs and
other sources in one database. Hardesty
stated that the clearinghouse maintained by UNL Water Center, has
cross-referenced water wells that are visited by different agencies. The HHS
has also undertaken GPS surveys of public water supply wells in the western
half of the State. However, these wells
remain to be registered and use DNR registration number for their
identification purposes. Kuzila asked if the clearinghouse included all wells.
Zink said that this could be a good starting point for DNR to cross-reference
wells in its database. Bansal said that beginning 2002, the groundwater wells
would also be registered through the Internet
Bansal
stated that a draft of the Data Bank’s revised goals and objectives was
provided to the members at the last meeting.
He reviewed the goal setting process. When the Nebraska Legislature
created Data Bank in 1968, there were no Personal Computers, no Internet, and
no GIS technology. The objective at
that time was to acquire, store and process (historical) base data at a
centralized location and make it available to government agencies and general
public upon request. The technological advances of the last decade have
necessitated a fresh look at the goals and objectives of the Data Bank. The
demands have shifted from static to dynamic data, from historic to real time
data, and from tabular to geo-spatial data. We are in an era of e-government,
e-transactions and e-business which call for on-line availability of processed,
analytic and interpretative data 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The vision
of the Program is to empower the decision-makers (and users) with real-time
reliable information relating to natural resources data with proper displaying
and processing tools for efficient planning and management of the State’s land
and water resources. And the mission is
to provide an integrated natural resources information system and an easy
online access to real-time information and services in a user-friendly format.
Kuzila
stated the short-term goals are mostly infrastructure issues and the long-term
goals deal with Data Bank activities.
Zink suggested that some of the long-term goals like production of
second generation of DEMs/DOQs could use broader collaboration and be even
addressed to the GIS Steering Committee.
There seems to be a huge commitment of resources and a group dialogue
between the Committee, the Data Bank, NITC and the GIS Steering Committee
should be initiated. Kuzila suggested
that Zink work with Bansal and add another objective of entering into a
dialogue with NITC, CIO, and the GIS Steering Committee to look at future
structures for the common Geo-Spatial Data needs.
It
was moved and seconded to approve Data Bank’s revised goals and objectives with
proposed amendment. The motion passed
unanimously.
Revisions
to Data Bank Fee Schedule
Bansal
reviewed the changes proposed in the Data Bank Fee Schedule. A price break for
dissemination of 30 coverages and over has been added for larger data requests.
Also, a category for plotting of maps from 48 to 72 inches long has been
added. The Data Bank charges only
processing and material costs. Yamamoto
inquired about charges from cooperating agencies and what was the best method
for requesting information. It was
stated that the charges are assessed as agreed upon between the agency heads
for a project. The information can be
requested through email, letter or a telephone call. Kuzila made a motion to
approve the revised fee schedule. The
motion passed.
Registration
of Wells over the Internet
Bansal
reported that LB 667, currently before the Legislature, requires water well
registration over the Internet beginning January 1, 2002. The Data Bank is working with NOL and HHS to
accomplish this work. The Data Bank
uses HHS well contractor’s license table for this purpose. If contractors are
not registered with HHS, they have to first get themselves registered, and the
NOL will have to contact the HHS before the well is registered. At this time,
well drillers are the only ones who would be able to register wells on
line. Hardesty asked how well owners
and others would register their wells. It was stated that they would contact
DNR and register wells by mail as they are doing now.
Internet
Map Server Applications
Rathje
briefed the Committee that the Data Bank had created interactive maps over the
Internet for the past three to four years using Visual Basic and Map Objects
technology. However, the methodology
used for them now is obsolete. The plan
is to set up and implement the Internet Map Server software acquired from ESRI
in the next few months that would customize the Internet Map Server applications. The new software would display DOQs in the
background, which is something unavailable now.
Enhancements
of DEMs
Bansal
said that the plans are to produce Digital Terrain Models using latest aerial
photography, and to produce DOQs as well from the same aerial photography. It
will help in automating the process to generate stream network and produce
National Hydrographic database simultaneously.
Currently, the DEMs are produced from USGS topographic maps of 1950’s,
and DOQs from 1993/1999 NAPP photography.
The streams and hydrographic features do not match among the two
coverages, as streams shift over the period.
This requires manual digitization of stream network from DOQs in
producing NHDs. The creation of DTMs
from aerial photography and satellite images using digital photogrammetric
techniques is an evolving technology.
In few years, this methodology may be common. Bansal said that he is
seeking an endorsement of the Committee for this activity. Zink indicated what Data Bank desires, is
for the Committee to say this is a priority. Yamamoto said that what Bansal
wants was the approval to purse this methodology. Bansal agreed. Yamamoto
recommended that he thought the Data Bank should investigate this
methodology. Zink stated that the role
of this Committee should be to start a dialogue on this with different
agencies, but the question is, are there enough resources. Kuzila stated that maybe we should have
another meeting in three months to discuss this issue and meanwhile get some
input from the GIS Steering Committee.
Zink stated that maybe we could reconstitute the DEM/DOQ Advisory
Committee. The Committee probably
wouldn’t get any comment from the Steering Committee. Yamamoto reiterated that the situation was the same when the Data
Bank went from 30-meter to 10-meter DEMs.
The Data Bank indicated the advantage of doing it. Essentially it is an education process
besides the funding issue. Bansal asked for Committee’s endorsement of this
technology and support to allow the Data Bank to proceed with this
methodology. After some discussion,
Kuzila stated that the Data Bank should move forward, and the Committee should
help and assist Data Bank in this area.
Bansal
informed that as part of the state’s e-government goal, the Chief Information
Officer has asked each agency to automate its business forms and made them
available over the Internet. The Data Bank is working on this project. Hardesty asked where she could get a copy of
the directive. A copy is available at
the NITC website under “Inventory of Business Forms”.
2001
Nebraska GIS Symposium
Bansal
reported that the DNR will participate in the 2001 Nebraska GIS Symposium and
will conduct a short course on DEM/DOQ applications. Several staff persons from DNR will also participate in the
BreakOut sessions, including three persons from the Data Bank. Steve Rathje
will make a presentation on Internet Map Server Applications, Kim Menke on
Over-Night Batch Processing, and Jeff Hogan on Production and Revision of DOQs.
Other
Business
Kuzila
discussed the significance of map projections for statewide coverages, and
handed out a comment sheet. He said
that the Data Bank distributes statewide coverages in UTM projections. Since there are three UTM zones (13,14 and
15) in Nebraska. The maps produced in
one zone do not tie with the maps drawn in the other zone. A professional
mapping practice does not suggest to project outside a given UTM zone. Bansal
stated that the State Plane Coordinate System was the recommended projection in
such situations. Since most federal
agencies use UTM coordinate system, and Nebraska works with USGS in the
production of these coverages such as DEMs, DOQS and SSURGO soils, therefore,
they are produced in the UTM coordinate system. The Data Bank has recently
started storing databases in the State Plane coordinate system as well, which
provides a seamless projection across the State. Menke told that anyone could go to the DNR website and get a
coverage in any projection they want.
Currently, the Internet requests are set up for five projections, but we
could add more. Yamamoto reiterated that with the sophistication of the GIS
software, most programs could project coverages on the fly. Kuzila suggested putting this item on the
agenda for the next meeting.
Next
Meeting Date
Kuzila
suggested having a short meeting in August.
After checking some possible dates, the Data Bank will schedule a
meeting in August after the ESRI Conference in July. The Committee members may
send proposed agenda items for the meeting to Bansal. There being no other
discussion, the meeting adjourned at 12:10 P.M.