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Alaska Geographic Data Committee (AGDC) Introductions Mark Shasby welcomed the meeting attendees and introduced Kathryn Lizik, State of Alaska Department of Labor and Kerry Kirkpatrick, State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, who were participating via teleconference from Juneau, and Milt Wiltze, Acting Director, State of Alaska Department of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, who was participating via teleconference from Fairbanks. Subcommittee Reports Hydrography In the absence of Subcommittee chairperson Dennis Tol, BLM, Sue Huse, National Park Service, provided a brief overview of the Hydrography Subcommittee's last meeting. The Subcommittee is reviewing the issue of attribute coding schemes for hydrographic features. Options being considered include the EPA River Reach System, which has been adopted by the FGDC as the standard for the National Hydrographic Framework. Clearinghouse Emily Binnian, USGS, reported on the last AGDC Clearinghouse Working Group meeting. This meeting was held Thursday, October 17 at the NPS office with 18 participants from Federal and State government and private industry. The key presentation was a video conference with Doug Nebert, Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Clearinghouse Working Group Coordinator. Nebert reviewed the recent developments and activities of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure Clearinghouse Working Group. Nebert toured the group through step-by-step tutorials on what is a Clearinghouse, how to prepare FGDC metadata, how to set up the Isite Z39.50 indexer and server package, and how to link servers with the Clearinghouse. Many of the key points highlighted in his presentation are available from the new FGDC Clearinghouse Home Page. Other items of business included; a round-table presentation of where agencies and organizations are at presently in terms of participating in a Clearinghouse environment; and the transition of chairing the Clearinghouse Working Group from Shasby to Binnian. The Clearinghouse Working Group also announced that Nebert will participate in the 32nd Annual Alaska Surveying and Mapping Conference and will address the general AGDC meeting on Thursday, February 13, and to also present the "Geospatial Data Resources and the Internet" short course on Friday, February 14. If individuals are interested in meeting with Nebert during his brief visit to Alaska to discuss NSDI, the FGDC, or particularly in creating a Clearinghouse Node, please contact Emily Binnian at 786-7033 or <binnian@usgs.gov>. Land Cover Activities of the AGDC Land Cover Working Group reported on include; an AGDC evaluation of the FGDC Vegetation Classification Standard and its relevance to work in Alaska presented in a letter drafted by Jerry Minick, USFWS. The letter was sent to the FGDC Vegetation Subcommittee; and the election of John Payne, BLM, as the Working Group chairperson to replace Shasby. Geology A Geology Subcommittee is in the process of forming to link the various Federal and State agencies interested in the development of a framework of digital geologic maps for the State and in sharing mineral assessment information. A recommendation on a chairperson and membership will take place at the next AGDC general meeting. PLSS Rich McMahon, AKDNR, provided a brief review on the status of the CCAP funded project to develop a comprehensive Protracted Public Land Survey System coverage for the AGDC. The project will be completed by September 30, 1997. Classified Data Sources There was no report. DOI High-Priority Digital Data Program-Status Report Lee Aggers, Rocky Mountain Mapping Center, Denver, reported that data is being produced under the DOI Digital Data Program for fiscal years 1996 and 1997. A transfer mechanism to populate the Alaska Geospatial Data Clearinghouse node is currently being developed as well as status graphics for the data layers. The solicitation for the DOI High-Priority Digital Data Program for FY98 will be coming out in January. Aggers also briefed the attendees on the innovative partnership being developed with BP Exploration Alaska to exchange data on the North Slope and along the TransAlaska Pipeline. AGDC Issues Members of the AGDC agreed that in order to revise the transportation layer, the best source available needs to be identified. The issue of funding digital data over the Pribilof Islands was discussed. Senior staff at RMMC will investigate the possibility of utilizing DOI High-Priority Digital Data Program funds to have this data produced. NMD Framework Initiative and Data Management Tom DiNardo, RMMC, discussed the Framework initiative as it related to Executive Order 12906 signed by President Clinton in April, 1994. DiNardo distributed hard copies to illustrate his presentation of the National Mapping Division's role in developing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). 1997 Competitive Cooperative Agreements Program Mark Shasby, USGS, discussed the 1997 Competitive Cooperative Agreements Program (CCAP) announcement has been released as of November 29 and the deadline for submitting applications is March 7. Shasby also noted that the call for Project Summaries deadline for Framework initiatives is January 17. AGDC Future Goals and Visions Shasby discussed the past successes of the AGDC and its subcommittees, and solicited interest in the formation of additional subcommittees. Themes for the development of new subcommittees/working groups include; Ground Transportation, Soils, Data Management, Subsistence, Biology, and Geodesy. The AGDC meeting attendees decided to think about these ideas and should be prepared to discuss at the next meeting. Shasby noted that the Geology subcommittee group is slowly coming on line. Rich McMahon, AKDNR, suggested that the AGDC shouldn't spread itself too thin at the present time. Shasby agreed and said that the AGDC membership should just consider nominating a contact person for each new discipline at this time. The idea of forming an Executive Steering Committee was also brought up during the round table discussions. The AGDC membership was asked to consider the relevance of such a committee and be prepared to discuss this topic further at the next meeting. The idea of adding a Co-Chair was discussed. Bob Pawlowski, NOAA, noted that the Department of the Interior has the lead in developing the NSDI and that it makes sense for the Chair of the AGDC be a DOI representative. McMahon suggested that everyone examine the current AGDC charter and present new ideas at the next meeting. The group will also examine the AGDC structure and compare and contrast it to the FGDC structure. Other priorities for the future of the AGDC were discussed including increasing participation among private industry, municipalities, boroughs, and the Native community. Several attendees representing private industry noted that they plan on increasing their participation in the AGDC in the future in becoming official members. Other Business None. Next Meeting The next meeting of the AGDC will take place Thursday afternoon, February 13, in conjunction with the annual Alaska Surveying and Mapping Conference. |
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