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EVALUATION OF THE MRSP PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 42 SUBPROGRAMS information with users, providing timely information, and improving understanding by users of the significance and limitations of the information. An exception concerns the second objective of the component on Data Bases and Information Analysis, which is âto develop and improve GIS and other spatial analysis tools for scientific visualization and analysisâ (p. 40). The panel is unsure how a minerals program can expect to contribute in this area, which would seem to be a field of active research in the domain of information and software specialists rather than a minerals program. Subprogram Recommendations The panel recommends the following changes and modifications to the Information and Technology Transfer Subprogram: Recommendation N The Plan should place greater emphasis on internal consistency and standardization in all aspects of databases and technology transfer. Presumably the USGS devotes considerable resources to these activities and it is important that MRSP activities complement USGS databases and technology transfer. Recommendation O The Plan should be modified to include activities recently transferred from the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) to the USGS. In particular, the Plan should recognize the value as well as overlaps in the Mine Information Location System (MILS) and Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS) databases. The panel recognizes that the transfer of the USBM minerals information function to the USGS occurred after the MRSP Plan was drafted. Given that this function is logically related to the information and technology transfer subprogram of the MRSP, the Plan should be modified to include these activities. Recommendation P The Plan should not take on the task of software development for GIS technology but assign that responsibility to other departments in the USGS or obtain products from private vendors. Sources
EVALUATION OF THE MRSP PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 43 SUBPROGRAMS outside the MRSP are developing GIS technology and standards more rapidly than the USGS's MRSP.
EVALUATION OF THE MRSP PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 44 SUBPROGRAMS
