Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey (2002) / Chapter Skim
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3 Priorities for Maintaining and Enhancing Spatial Data Management
3 Priorities for Maintaining and Enhancing Spatial Data Management
Pages 47-64
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From page 47... ...
The following topics are primary and secondary priorities in spatial data management that coincide with the scientific mission and capabilities of the USGS: Primary · Collection and handling; · Representation; and · Integration. Secondary · Data mining; · Historical data; · Managing the security of data; and · Spatial data reserves for decision making 47
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From page 48... ...
The Survey began using aerial photographs for mapping in the 1930s (USGS, 2001a; Figure 3.11; by the 1970s satellite imagery became the primary source for capturing broad-scale geographic information (Figure 3.21.
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GEOGRAPHY AT THE USGS 49 FIGURE 2.7. A three-dimensional perspective of Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, showing a cartographic representation of digital data.
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The most important link between imagery and the final map is the Digital Elevation Model (DEM; Figure 3.3~. Through the Geography Discipline (previously National Mapping Program)
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From page 51... ...
In addition, the USGS is the lead agency for national elevation data, one of the seven framework layers of the NSDI. Finally, the Geography Discipline of the USGS produces a wide variety of digital spatial products for distribution, all using a common software platform.
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From page 52... ...
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Aquatic habitat patterns studied at the John Day Reservoir in Oregon combine a spatially explicit hydrological model with GIS data. Landscape models for the core of the Geography Discipline's urban dynamics research.
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From page 54... ...
The first phase of the project is the creation of the National Elevation Dataset (NED) , a seamless raster product for the entire nation that was assembled for the continental United States based on 7.5-minute Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
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From page 55... ...
Research on data mining can inform users about exploring and retrieving information from large data archives, but efficient and effective data mining remains an important unsolved problem (Ester et al.,1997~. Many large databases currently being constructed contain spatial and temporal attributes, offering the possibility of discovering or confirming geographic ideas relevant to natural science and the USGS mission (Miller and Han, 2001~.
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From page 56... ...
The committee urges that the USGS take a national leadership role in research on how to preserve the national geospatial data archives, how to manage access and
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From page 57... ...
and this usage will continue to grow. Historical spatial data priorities for the USGS lie in the following areas: digital conversions of hardcopy spatial data, research using historical data to assess human impacts on the natural environment, understanding slow environmental change, applications in ecosystem management and restoration, development of decision support systems, and finding solutions to methodological problems.
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From page 58... ...
For example, the USGS has historically collected data in tabular and text form on mineral production, stream flow, surface and ground water quality, water use, and other topics in the course of preparing early reports on resources and settlement potential. Other federal agencies that have been significant collectors of historical environmental data include the Bureau of Land Management (original land survey records for the central and western United States)
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From page 59... ...
Therefore, historical records are critical for identifying and estimating recurrence intervals and possible magnitudes of the events. In addition, some environmental processes do not create immediate acute hazards, such as river channel change and shoreline retreat, and they may show relatively little change within the span of instrumental record.
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From page 60... ...
Recently, historical studies have been initiated as part of regional ecosystem management planning. The Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Plan provides an instructive example: historical spatial data on forest management practices, including livestock grazing, timber harvest, mining, and road building from diverse sources provided an understanding of the causes of present forest conditions (Oliver et al., 1994~.
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From page 61... ...
However, the restriction of general geographic data, including locational data and digital elevation models, can be detrimental to the basic mission of the USGS. From an economic perspective, the publicly available geospatial data provide important support for government management and private economic activity; sequestering too much data may result in significant disruption.
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From page 62... ...
Before the advent of digital data collection and storage technologies, the USGS and other agencies had already collected a large amount of data, and these pre-digital are still extremely useful. Early topographic maps produced by the USGS include information on settlement, transportation infrastructure, river channels, and, to some extent, land cover and land use.
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From page 63... ...
SUMMERY The USGS has a primary responsibility in the creation, archiving, distributing, and management of the nation's spatial data related to natural science. The role of the Survey in maintaining and enhancing these data includes the need for basic supporting geographic research, for special attention to historical spatial data and the development of security rules for their use and distribution, and for a continuation of the USGS leadership role with respect to spatial data and its standards.
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From page 64... ...
retrieving information from large data archives, but efficient and effective data mining remains an important unsolved problem (Ester et al.,l997~. Many large databases currently being constructed contain spatial and temporal attnbutes, offering the possibility of discovenng or confirming geographic ideas relevant to natural science and the USGS mission (Miller and Han, 2001~.
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