ADVANCING

STRATEGIC SCIENCE

A Spatial Data Infrastructure Roadmap
for the U.S. Geological Survey

Committee on Spatial Data Enabling USGS
Strategic Science in the 21st Century

Mapping Science Committee

Board on Earth Sciences and Resources

Division on Earth and Life Studies

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
                        OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS

Washington, D.C.

www.nap.edu

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NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by Award No. 08HQ4G0145 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Geological Survey. The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. government.

International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-26457-0

International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-26457-X

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2010921862

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Copyright 2012 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

www.national-academies.org

COMMITTEE ON SPATIAL DATA ENABLING USGS STRATEGIC SCIENCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

ROBERT DENARO (Chair), Nokia Corporation, Chicago, Illinois

GEORGE BRIMHALL, University of California, Berkeley, California

ROBERT CHEN, Columbia University, Palisades, New York

ANDREA DONNELLAN, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

MICHAEL EMCH, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina

IAN JACKSON, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham

JOHN KELMELIS, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

XAVIER LOPEZ, Oracle Corporation, Nashua, New Hampshire

DENNIS OJIMA, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

BRIDGET SCANLON, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas

National Research Council Staff

MARK D. LANGE, Study Director

PEGGY TSAI, Program Officer

NICHOLAS D. ROGERS, Financial and Research Associate

JASON R. ORTEGO, Research Associate (until June 2012)

ERIC J. EDKIN, Senior Program Assistant (from September, 2010)

TONYA FONG YEE, Senior Program Assistant (until September, 2010)

NORMAN GROSSBLATT, Senior Editor

MAPPING SCIENCE COMMITTEE

DAVID R. MAIDMENT (Chair),The University of Texas, Austin, Texas

LUC E. ANSELIN, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

CECILIA R. ARAGON, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California

BUDHENDRA L. BHADURI, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

SUSAN CARSON LAMBERT, EarthWorks, LLC, Frankfort, Kentucky

LEWIS A. LAPINE, South Carolina Geodetic Survey, Columbia, South Carolina

CAROLYN J. MERRY, Ohio State University, Columbus

JAYANT SHARMA, Oracle Spatial, Nashua, New Hampshire

DANIEL Z. SUI, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

MICHAEL F. WORBOYS, University of Maine, Orono, Maine

MAY YUAN, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

National Research Council Staff

ANNE M. LINN, Senior Program Officer

ERIC J. EDKIN, Senior Program Assistant

BOARD ON EARTH SCIENCES AND RESOURCES

CORALE BRIERLEY (Chair), Brierley Consultancy, LLC, Denver, Colorado

WILLIAM E. DIETRICH, University of California, Berkeley

WILLIAM L. GRAF, University of South Carolina, Calcott

RUSSELL J. HEMLEY, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC

MURRAY W. HITZMAN, Colorado School of Mines, Golden

EDWARD KAVAZANJIAN, JR., Arizona State University, Tempe

DAVID R. MAIDMENT,The University of Texas, Austin, Texas

ROBERT McMASTER, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

M. MEGHAN MILLER, UNAVCO, Inc., Boulder, Colorado

ISABEL P. MONTAÑEZ, University of California, Davis

CLAUDIA INÉS MORA, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico

BRIJ M. MOUDGIL, University of Florida, Gainesville

CLAYTON R. NICHOLS, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (retired), Sandpoint

HENRY N. POLLACK, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

DAVID T. SANDWELL, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California

PETER M. SHEARER, University of California, San Diego

REGINAL SPILLER, Allied Energy, Houston, Texas

TERRY C. WALLACE, JR., Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico

National Research Council Staff

ANTHONY R. DE SOUZA, Director (until April 2012)

ELIZABETH A. EIDE, Director (from April 2012)

ANNE M. LINN, Senior Program Officer

SAMMANTHA L. MAGSINO, Senior Program Officer

MARK D. LANGE, Program Officer

NICHOLAS D. ROGERS, Financial and Research Associate

COURTNEY GIBBS, Program Associate

ERIC J. EDKIN, Senior Program Assistant

CHANDA IJAMES, Program Assistant

Preface

This report summarizes the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Spatial Data Enabling USGS Strategic Science in the 21st Century. The National Research Council (NRC) has published several reports that have helped to guide the development of the spatial data infrastructure (SDI) both in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and nationally (1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2007). Those reports envisioned an SDI for the USGS and the nation and suggested the research needed to achieve that vision. Over the last decade, the USGS has conducted breakthrough research that has overcome some of the challenges associated with implementing a large SDI. This report is intended to ground those efforts by providing a practical roadmap to full implementation of an SDI to enable the USGS to conduct strategic science.

The committee was charged by the USGS to examine progress made in establishing spatial data infrastructures and the challenges faced by them in the context of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. The committee examined the role that the USGS can play in continuing to ensure access to high-quality geospatial data and in supporting their use in scientific analyses and decision-making through an SDI construct. The committee was charged with three main tasks: identify existing knowledge and document lessons learned during previous efforts to develop SDIs and their support of scientific endeavors; develop a vision for optimizing an SDI to organize, integrate, access, and use scientific data; and create a roadmap to guide the USGS in accomplishing the vision within the scope of the USGS Science Strategy.

To address its charge, the committee examined SDI development in local, state, national, and international contexts and solicited advice from a variety of sources. Program managers and scientists in federal agencies, state organizations,

and academe provided programmatic information and user perspectives on future research directions. The committee also requested written feedback from leaders and data users in the geospatial community who generously provided guidance regarding what has and has not worked in SDI development; the major technical, organizational, cultural, policy, financial challenges still facing SDI development; and their own vision of an effective SDI at the USGS.

The committee was struck by the similarity of challenges faced by other organizations in developing their SDIs; the experiences cited in Chapter 3 on lessons learned are rich with examples of approaches that may be particularly valuable to the USGS. But a recurrent theme in nearly all the case studies was the crucial role of leadership in implementing an SDI. A strong, energetic, and inspirational leader with senior-level authority who stays with the program for the long term is the cornerstone of a successful program. The leader will be instrumental in executing the outside partnerships that are essential to the mission of the USGS and establishment of its SDI.

The names of respondents and other persons consulted by the committee are listed in Appendix B. Many of the conclusions and recommendations reached by the committee reflect ideas articulated in their thoughtful contributions; however, any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the committee, not of the external contributors. Finally, the committee expresses its gratitude to the NRC study director, Mark Lange, for his efforts in managing the committee and editing its report and to NRC staff Peggy Tsai, Jason Ortego, Eric Edkin, and Tonya Fong Yee, who assisted the committee extensively with Web site development, document tracking and assembly, and logistics.

Robert Denaro
Chair

References

NRC (National Research Council). 1993. Toward a Coordinated Spatial Data Infrastructure for the Nation. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

NRC 1994. Promoting the National Spatial Data Infrastructure Through Partnerships. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

NRC. 1995. A Data Foundation For The National Spatial Data Infrastructure. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

NRC. 2001. National Spatial Data Infrastructure Partnership Programs: Rethinking the Focus. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

NRC. 2003. Weaving a National Map: Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of The National Map. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

NRC. 2007. A Research Agenda for Geographic Information Science at the United States Geological Survey Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Acknowledgments

This report has been reviewed in draft form by persons chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of the independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards of objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the process. We thank the following for their review of this report:

Paul Birkel, The MITRE Corporation

Virginia H. Dale, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Ruth Duerr, National Snow and Ice Data Center

John Moeller, JJ Moeller & Associates LLC

Jay B. Parrish, Pennsylvania State University

Cyrus Shahabi, University of Southern California

David G. Tarboton, Utah State University

Bastiaan van Loenen, Delft Technical University

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by William E. Easterling, Pennsylvania State University. Appointed by the National Research Council, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out

in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests with the author committee and the institution.

Contents

SUMMARY

1  INTRODUCTION

Study Scope

Organization of the Report

2  BACKGROUND

Defining a Spatial Data Infrastructure

Current Status of the USGS SDI: The National Map

The USGS Science Strategy

The Challenge of an SDI for Science and Decision-making

3  KEY CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED

Organizations and Types of SDIs Examined

U.S. Geological Survey’s Spatial Data Infrastructure Initiatives

Findings

4  A VISION FOR OPTIMIZING THE USGS SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE

Discover and Share for the Long Term

Standards

Enterprise Data Management for an SDI

Application Services to Engage and Support Scientific Questions

Institutional Leadership and Culture

External Service Integration, Partnerships, and Governance

5  A ROADMAP FOR SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE IMPLEMENTATION

A Roadmap

Organizational Considerations for Successful SDI Implementation

Technical Considerations

Closing Remarks

APPENDIXES

A  Committee and Staff Biographies

B  Presentations to the Committee

C  On-line Questionnaire

D  Questionnaire Responses

Abbreviations

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