Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Mahendra Bansal at 10:00 am, Thursday, September 11, 1997. The meeting was held in the Commission Conference Room on the fourth floor of the State Office Building, Lincoln, Nebraska. Mahendra introduced himself and asked those present to introduce themselves.

Notice of the Meeting
A public notice of the meeting pursuant to section 84-1411 RRS 1943 was published in the Lincoln Journal and Star on September 4, 1997.

Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Data Bank Technical Advisory Committee meeting held on September 9, 1996 were distributed. Larry Zink moved and Paul Yamamoto seconded for approval of the minutes. The minutes were approved as distributed.

Information Material
The following informational material was provided to the attendees during the course of the meeting:

Data Bank Activities Update
Mahendra Bansal briefed the Committee about the Data Bank's major accomplishments during the past year. He stated that the staff mostly concentrated its efforts on broadening and extending the Internet access to NRC's data. The purpose is to promote information sharing and accelerate dissemination of data from the Data Bank. This objective is in keeping up with the primary mission of the Data Bank which is to provide direct access, on-line access or Internet access to NRC's information to government agencies and the general public in a user-friendly and timely manner. In early 1990's, the NRC chose to acquire and promote the Internet access. In that pursuit, the NRC developed a Home Page for the agency which is kept current as web technology advances. Bansal stated that most data that is available in the Data Bank, is processed dynamically in the form of searchable data bases, and is published over the web using Visual Basic, HTML and MS ACCESS data base management system. This enables Internet users to interactively access and query data over the web. During the past year, the Data Bank also developed a NRC Metadata Clearinghouse which is linked as a node to the National Metadata Clearinghouse. This clearinghouse is a catalog service which provides access to spatial data using metadata as an index through a distributed network of geospatial data producers, managers and users who are linked electronically. The National Metadata Clearinghouse is managed by a group of federal agencies, called the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). The term "metadata" was explained, which is data about data. Metadata describes different aspects of a data set, including its identification, geographic location, information contents, quality condition, and the restrictions on accessing or using the data. The purpose of a Metadata Clearinghouse is also to promote data sharing, minimize duplication of efforts, and coordinate data distribution and collection activities among users and various state, federal and local government agencies.

Internet Access Demonstration
Ravi Varanasi provided a demonstration of accessing metadata through the NRC Metadata Clearinghouse over the Internet. Ravi connected to the National Metadata Clearinghouse and showed links to several clearinghouse nodes. He illustrated how to search data sets, and use geographical attributes to pinpoint one's search. Steve Rathje provided a demonstration of searchable data bases. He accessed well registration data file by owner's name, township, and county. Larry Zink inquired if the data bases used by DEQ and CSD were different from the above since they use a different well identification scheme. Bansal responded that the source of the database should be the same, however it may be processed differently. All groundwater wells are registered with the State Department of Water Resources. Susan France agreed that there is a need to have one well identification scheme. Yvonne Leung suggested that all agencies should share the same data base when this is possible in this age. Larry Zink and Paul Yamamoto expressed the need to correctly define the location of wells in the data base using GPS technology. As a parallel example of automating a process, Ravi demonstrated the automation of the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation application process in which an electronic form is generated and displayed on the computer screen. In this example, the NRD cooperator enters the data on the local terminal, but the information is centrally stored as a relational data base at the NRC. This information is available on-line to all cooperators, can be dynamically processed, and reports generated at any time. Steve Chick was very appreciative of the automation of the NSWC Fund application process. His agency, the NRCS and other cooperators including FSA, NRDs, and landowners can effectively use this automation process.

Development of DEMs and DOQs
Bansal briefed the Committee about the NRC's workshare agreement with the US Geological Survey for the development of DEMs and DOQs statewide in a 3-year time period. As part of this workshare, the NRC agreed to carryout GPS ground controls for aerotriangulation purposes and reported that these GPS surveys have recently been completed for the entire state a year ahead of the time schedule. The development of DEMs by NRC is currently going on schedule whereas there is a 2 -3 months time lag in the production of DOQs. The lag is caused by the DEM certification process by the USGS. Steve Rathje demonstrated displaying of DEMs and DOQs by accessing the data bases on the Internet, and stated that these completed DEMs and compressed DOQs (COQs) are placed on the World-Wide-Web for on-line access to government agencies and the general public. Bansal remarked that most Spatial/GIS data bases available in the Data Bank are currently processed and stored in the form of an ArcExport format, and can be downloaded by users and exported to any GIS software for their application. He added that the Data Bank is in the process of implementing a new application of dynamic processing GIS data bases using ESRI's Map Object and Internet Map Server software. This application will allow display, pan and zoom spatial coverages on the web including DEMs, DOQs, TIGER line files and SSURGO soils coverages. Also, the Data Bank will integrate spatial information with tabular data for interactive processing and dissemination of searchable data bases on the World-Wide-Web. Leung supported the concept and encouraged the NRC's initiative.

Processing of SSURGO soils
Bansal stated that the NRC in cooperation with NRCS and CSD is digitizing county soil surveys that would meet or exceed the National Soils Survey Geographic (SSURGO) standards. The process requires recompiling the soil surveys on DOQs base map, and process data using digital scanning and Arc/Info GIS techniques. Wayne Vanek briefly described the cooperative project . The NRCS recompiles the soil lines and associated attributes on the DOQ base map. The NRC in cooperation with CSD (UNL) scans, processes and generates the SSURGO soils data base and completes the metadata. The NRCS finally checks the digitized soils for the SSURGO standards and certifies the data set. Leung inquired about the order that the county soils are being recompiled. Vanek said that they were being done in the order DOQs became available. Since a great number of DOQs were completed, Steve Chick asked if something else was slowing down the process. Vanek said that the work at the Commission was not a bottleneck, the NRC's process ordinarily takes about 3 weeks to complete a county. The bottleneck was the assembly of the amendments to correlation, soils tabular databases, final editing, metadata and other support information for each county, necessary for final certification by the NRCS. Steve Chick was however, pleased with the cooperative efforts of the agencies involved in this undertaking.

Connectivity to NRC's Network
Bansal briefed that according to the NRC's open door policy, any government agency who wish to access NRC hardware, software and data base resources, can join the NRC's network and be a part of its local area or wide area network. He stated that currently thirteen agencies are connected to its LAN, and five NRDs are linked to its WAN. Also the NRC provides technical assistance to several state agencies. Yvonne Leung inquired about connectivity options available to the county and local levels of government. There was mention of the County Automation AS 400 statewide network connected with CDP's IBM mainframe. She was told that the AS 400 has no graphics capability and unless the appropriate cards and software are connected, the AS 400 has no Internet connectivity either. Rob Gower outlined the NRC's recommendations regarding hardware and software requirements for network connectivity. He stated that NRC is encouraging NRD's to have some kind of Internet access to share the Data Bank resources. Steve Chick informed that 31 out of 80 NRCS field offices have access to the Internet and possibilities exist to have exchange of resources with NRDs. Gower also mentioned about the Internet access via satellite for remote regions in the state using dial-up modems linked to a Local Internet Provider (ISP). The Committee recommended that the Data Bank should look into various connectivity options and encouraged sharing of information with other state, federal and local government agencies. Rob suggested hosting a open house for the NRD's in Lincoln.

Data Bank Fee Schedule
Bansal stated that two new cost recovery items have been added to the Data Bank Fee Schedule. These are providing electronic data on CD ROM media at $20 each and on Zip Disk media at $30 each. Leung suggested this determination be left to the agency Director .

Suggestions and Recommendations
The floor was open for new ideas and suggestions. Bansal briefly highlighted the proposed activities. Leung asked if there were any associated costs that go with the proposed projects. It was explained that most cost was the staff time each project would need, which is paid through the state general funds. The committee members encouraged continuation of the following activities.

The committee also recommended examination of ways to correct and update the well registration data base. There were no other comments and suggestions, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 noon.