Nebraska
GIS Steering Committee
1:00 PM, Thursday, January 8, 2004
Main Auditorium, Nebraska Department of Roads
Minutes
Present were (authorized to vote *):
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Jeff Arnold |
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CALMIT - UNL |
MAJOR MEETING TOPICS
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NOTICE OF MEETING: A public notice of the meeting, pursuant to Section 84-1411 R.R. S. 1943, was published in the Lincoln Journal Star on Thursday, January 1, 2004.
ROLL CALL: Vice Chairperson Duane Stott called the meeting to order at approximately 1:00 PM. There were eleven duly authorized members present therefore a quorum was present to conduct business.
APPROVAL OF 11/6/03 MINUTES: Dick Genrich moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Kim Menke seconded. The motion passed (see vote #1 on Voting Record sheet).
Because Chair Jim Brown was not yet at the meeting it was decided to defer discussion of the Land Record Modernization Study until he arrived.
STREET CENTERLINE/ADDRESS DATABASE:
a) Update on Street Centerline/Address Database
Development Efforts
Jeff Arnold, CALMIT, provided an update on the status of efforts to develop an enhanced street centerline/address database for Nebraska. CALMIT has been working with Nebraska Health & Human Services System, and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency on a range of Homeland Security and Bio-terrorism GIS applications. For many of this applications a street address database was needed. Following an interagency meeting of interested parties, arranged through GIS Str. Cmte., it was decided to attempt to enhance the public available TIGER database with existing public datasets from local governments. It was felt this would be the cheapest and least constrained by licensing problems approach. Larry Zink worked with CALMIT to secure local government datasets from 17 counties. CALMIT folks then cookie cut those local datasets into the statewide TIGER dataset. The effort receive good cooperation and support from both GeoComm and GIS Workshop. This work is now completed and Jeff indicated that he has developed metadata and put Larry Zink as the contact person. The data will be available on the CALMIT website. There was little to no extras cost for this TIGER file enhancement due to the hard work of several people who partnered together, but particularly through the support and leadership of the folks at CALMIT. This enhanced TIGER file represents one snapshot in time. The challenge now will be how we maintain this dataset. CALMIT has indicated that they do not see themselves doing this maintenance (at least not in the near term).
b) Authorizing a Transportation/Street Address
Database Advisory Committee
To address the question of how we will maintain an accurate and current statewide street centerline / address database, Larry proposed that we authorize the formation of a Transportation / Street Address Database Advisory Committee. Larry noted that whatever maintenance and updating system that is adopted must incorporate a way to facilitate regular data exchanges with local governments, as that is where most of the dynamic changes will occur. Larry also noted that the Department of Roads has committed itself to the development and maintenance of a comprehensive statewide GIS transportation database and has already done much work in this area. However, while it ultimately might make sense to base this responsibility at Roads, it is beyond Roads current commitment to develop and maintain the street address component of such a dataset. Larry again suggested the authorization of a new advisory committee along the lines of the draft resolution that was attached to the agenda and reported that Roads has offered to chair the advisory committee.
The question was asked as to whether the efforts of this committee would be focused on standards or is this to develop an implementation plan to actually produce this database? Larry indicated that the advisory committee would have both mandates. Larry indicated that one of the major challenges was that at the present time no agency has the responsibility for street addresses at the state government level.
John Miyoshi moved the adoption of the resolution to authorize the creation of the Transportation / Street Address Database Advisory Committee, Paul Yamamoto seconded the motion. The motion passed with a unanimous vote of the members present (see vote #2).
FUTURE NEBRASKA DOQS: Curt Sorensen – Farm Service Agency, reported that in July, FSA flew the entire State of Nebraska mapping 1-meter, leaf on, natural-color imagery, using state-of-the-art equipment. We currently have a draft data and are awaiting a second level of quality control on that imagery. Once completed, within the next couple of weeks, our sister agency will make it available, with metadata, to the public though USDA Geospatial Gateway for free download or $50.00 for each county. This imagery will be in quarter-quad format with full resolution tiles. The Nebraska Office of FSA is requesting APFO to supply all of the imagery, for Nebraska, on a hard disk in uncompressed format, which will be given to the Department of Natural Resources to compress and put on their website. This imagery should be available for display at the February meeting and will have metadata to help answer any technical questions. The total project cost is $1.2 million. FSA funded most of the cost, however, NRCS generously funded nearly 1/3 of the cost. Next year we would like to get 1-meter imagery if we can get the State of Nebraska, through partnerships, to make up the difference between the 1 and 2-meter cost, which is about $200,000.00. The plan is, if no additional partners come forward, to fly 2-meter each year in July, and every 5th year we will receive replacement for the 1-meter imagery. While the 1-meter took from July to September/October to receive imagery, Digital Source has a fast turnaround and by next year it is said that the imagery would be received back within two weeks.
UPDATE ON STATUS OF LAND RECORD MODERNIZATION STUDY AND PROPOSED LAND INFORMATION SYSTEM PROGRAM: Jim Brown and Larry Zink provided an overview of the concepts for possible legislation that the Land Record Modernization Working Group have agreed upon. Presently is looking at two sources of revenue totaling four million dollars. Two million dollars would be generated from a document stamp tax increase of $.50/$1000. Another two million dollars would come from Recording Fees, which would include a $5 increase. Another agreed upon concept involves the division of funds, with 50% going to local government/regions for land record modernization use, 25% set aside for targeted block grants, and another 25% would be available for state level administration, data integration, standards, and technical assistance. As currently conceived, the GIS Steering Committee coupled with the Chief Information Officer and the Nebraska Information Technology Commission (NITC) would be the policy lead for Nebraska Land Information Systems Program.
No draft legislative language is yet available. Initial meetings have been held with the Register of Deeds and several other interest groups to explore their thoughts and reactions to the agreed upon concepts. The Working Group will continue to work with the Governor’s Policy Research Office and other interested parties to explore possible legislation and to develop draft legislative language. Given that there is only a few days left to introduce legislation, it is possible that we may not get something introduced in this legislative session. The Steering Committee was asked for any comments or suggestions regarding the proposed concepts for possible legislation. There was general support expressed for the concepts as proposed.
A question was asked about what had developed with the County Register of Deeds regarding a possible joint effort? It was noted that while the Register of Deeds had no problem with the NLISP proposal in the abstract, they were concerned about how it might adversely impact their current bill (LB 232). It is noted that it is possible that the Legislature could combine both bills, should both bills be addressed during this session. Also, in meeting with the Realtors group, they opposed the Register of Deeds bill based on the fact that it would create more costs in the transfer real estate. The Real Estate group agreed to objectively review our bill.
A question was asked, if we actually get a bill introduced in the Legislature this year, would the legislative committee have an opportunity to discuss both bills and possibly combine the two bills. It was noted that the Register of Deeds bill has already had its hearing and has been moved to General File for Legislative debate. If a NLISP bill is introduced, it would be a new bill and due to the short Legislative session, it may not be reviewed during this session. It is also possible that there could be a motion to create an interim study to put both bills together for next year, which would be a composite of the two bills due to the similarity of the recording fee proposal.
The Working Group indicated their willingness to keep the Steering Committee informed on follow up efforts related to the findings and recommendations of the Land Record Modernization Study.
Larry Zink suggested that we take this proposal and move ahead and create some related standards. Larry suggested authorizing a committee to develop standards in a couple of different areas, such as standards for cadastral mapping and associated attributes. Larry suggested looking at two scenarios, assuming some kind of Nebraska Land Information System program passes and there are funds available as one standard and the second being what if it does not pass, then what is the minimum subset of standards that we think would have a fair chance of being adopted and integrated on their own merit. Jim Brown’s office has graciously offered to chair such a committee and John Beran will be the Chair. Larry noted that the original Advisory Committee in this effort was chaired by Erik Hubl, Lancaster County Assessor Office and had developed the Nebraska Guidebook for Local Government Multipurpose Land Information Systems. Larry noted that those recommendations were in the form of guidelines, because it was recognized that there was no funding to back up imposed standards. Larry referred to the draft resolution for such an Advisory Committee that had been linked to the agenda. Duane Stott moved and Cliff Welsh seconded that the resolution authorizing an Advisory Committee on Land Record Modernization Standards be adopted. Following discussion, the motion passed. (see #2 on the Voting Record sheet)
WATERSHED BOUNDARY DATABASE (WBD) WORKING GROUP: The National Resource Conservation Services originally approached the Steering Committee a year ago with a desire to create a standardized database with further subdivisions of watersheds. There are new standards for watershed boundaries and the previous watershed sub-division work done in Nebraska does not meet the new standards. The NRCS has now found the money to update boundaries in Nebraska and has contracted with Utah District office of USGS to do the draft lines following national standards. The work group is now in the process of developing a plan of action to ensure that all interested parties who so choose will be notified and can submit comments on draft revised boundaries. The decision was made to begin by doing watersheds that cross other state boundaries, then move to the Republican and then the Platte.
The biggest effort in Nebraska will be setting up a review process so when these subdivision draft lines come forward, we will be able to make interested people and groups aware of the draft boundaries and provide a means for them to provide feedback on the draft boundary lines. The lines are basically driven by elevation. Standards call for different subdivision levels to fit specified size ranges. Where practical, efforts will be made to follow existing subdivision lines, however in addition to area limitations another problem with the existing dataset was in some cases stream centerlines were used as a boundary. This is prohibited in the new standards.
NRCS will provide a staff to get the process moving forward which will take about 2 years to complete. Initial focus will be on the border areas of Nebraska since other states are in the process or have already completed their datasets. We want to input on those watershed areas that cross the state line. There is a link on the website if you would like to have more input on this agenda. Sonja Sebree and John Miyoshi are on the committee working with NRCS.
GEOSPATIAL DATA CLEARINGHOUSE: Kim Menke noted that Steve Rathje, DNR, gave a demonstration at the meeting two months ago regarding the clearinghouse that we have and DNR presently has all of its metadata on a DNR clearinghouse node. Kim reported that there is a working committee, including Larry Zink, Jeff Arnold, Les Howard, and people at DNR working to expand the clearinghouse to include metadata on other agencies data holding. Jeff Arnold, CALMIT, has also been working on a front end that would allow other agencies to enter their metadata into the clearinghouse. We found that ESRI has a less comprehensive metadata standard than the FGEC metadata and that it is this more limited metadata that the working group is inclined to incorporate into the enterprise clearinghouse
One of the discussions has been how much to push to get full metadata developed for available datasets. The working group has taken an approach that metadata development should be done as it is critical for indexing and searching purposes. As a result, the workgroup decided to move forward with something called metadata-lite as a means of encouraging people to at least enter the information needed to search and find data. This would not result in the production of metadata that is as detailed as full FGDC metadata. Larry asked if this would be a problem for anyone. There were no objections from the Steering Committee members present.
About a year and half ago, an advisory committee was formed to evaluate both current data sharing activities and the GIS clearinghouse. That advisory committee recommended that an enterprise Nebraska geospatial clearinghouse should be housed at DNR. The GIS Steering Committee affirmed those recommendations. DNR has subsequently completed an internal IT review and is now in the process of working with a core group from DNR and CALMIT-Conservation Survey Division about how the clearinghouse should be structured. The initial focus of their efforts has been to establish a consolidated enterprise clearinghouse, with the intent of using it also as a base for a Nebraska node of the National Map. Progress has been slow because there is no funding available.
One of the things the working group want to accomplish now is to develop an outline of specific objectives, with a rough timeline. The working group is are utilizing the short & long-term goals that were outlined 1 ½ years ago by the advisory committee. DNR is also working with Ray Fox, USGS, on a related Nebraska National Map node initiative and they are working on a memorandum agreement that will hopefully be revised and signed within a couple of weeks.
Larry note that the clearinghouse is a tool for searching and finding geospatial data and the National Map is designed to use interactive internet map capabilities to combine and display geospatial data online. It is hoped that as resources become available we can evolve the enterprise clearinghouse to provide a Nebraska National Map node for visualizing geospatial data via the Internet. Larry also noted that Steering Committee representatives need to work with Rex Gittins and others at DNR to develop a memorandum of understanding between the Steering Committee and DNR about what the services will be available, costs, source of revenue, policy guidelines, etc. It was the recommendation of the advisory committee that the GIS Steering Committee be the entity that formally owns this enterprise geospatial data center site, but that it be hosted by DNR. It was also the advisory committee’s recommendation that as part of its ‘ownership’ responsibilities, that the GIS Steering Committee take on a significant part of the responsibilities for raising the funds to support the data center.
ANNUAL REPORT AND I-TEAM STRATEGIC PLAN: Larry provided the Steering Committee with an overview of what was included in the draft 2003 Annual Report and I-Team Strategic Plan that was available for the Steering Committee members review as an attachment to the agenda. The mission statement remained the same as last years, as did the strategic goals: priority database development, land records modernization, homeland security, data sharing and distribution, technical assistance, education and coordination, strengthen coordination.
Larry reviewed the highlights of each section, specifically noting the status of various priority database development efforts and any recommendations on behalf of the Steering Committee. Jeff Arnold suggested that instead of using the subheading of “GIS and Homeland Security”, that we should change it to “Emergency Management and Homeland Security” to show that there are two things going on with that initiative since GIS is implied. He also thought that Public Health should be added that changing the wording of the goal might take more discussion. Jeff also suggested that an emphasis should be given to all the partnerships that are going on now with various agencies indicated he felt it important to note that the Critical Structure Inventory has been completed. Larry asked if anyone have any concerns about changing the subheading to “Emergency Management and Homeland Security”? No concerns were raised. Larry invited Jeff to provide any further wording suggestions for this section during the next week.
In the discussion of the Data Sharing goal, Ray Fox, USGS noted that State Clearinghouse and National Map nodes will be for all states so everything done by a state agency would be available through this one node. As far as large municipalities like Omaha and Lincoln/Lancaster County and there are two ways this can happen, they would be brought in with their own server and node, which would be very fast and simple. However, Ray noted that the disadvantage to that approach would be that he would like to do everything possible to strengthen the state Clearinghouse. Ray also spoke about a USGS Mapping Projects office for Nebraska. He indicated that Nebraska is a very high priority for USGS. He noted that USGS has just undergone a major buy-out of existing staff and a reorganization to free up funds.
Larry: asked Ray if there was any update in terms of possible available money for a Nebraska pilot on the National Map? Ray indicated that to determine the effects of the buy-out USGS National Mapping Center assets are presently frozen. They hope to determine what funds are available by spring. Ray also noted that Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas have undertaken a cooperative effort so that all their the roads and towns look the same on the National Map node as part of a cooperative pilot effort through MAGIC. Ray said it would be nice to have Nebraska’s data look like that, also and he said that would be his suggestion for using any USGS grant money. Larry asked if there anything the Steering Committee needs to doing to enhance grant possibilities? Ray indicated that we should just continue our data development.
While some other editorial suggestions were made, no substantive concerns were raised and the Steering Committee noted its support for the Annual Report as drafted. Larry invited anyone to provide additional comments during the next week and noted that otherwise he would finalize the report and make copies available as required by statute.
NEBRASKA GIS/LIS ASSOCIATION: Jim Langtry noted that there has been some turnover in the board. Chris Stanton resigned to take a position out of Nebraska and he was replaced by Andy Bishop of US Fish and Wildlife Service. Mark Bohrer, Omaha has also left the Board and has been replaced by Bonnie Schultz, NE Community College.
The February 18 meeting will be held in Grand Island. The annual meeting will be Monday, May 18 at the Central Community College in Hastings. Elections will be held at this meeting and awards will be given. Information regarding nomination deadlines will be coming out later should be available on the website along with nomination forms. Chris Stanton will be leaving the board and taking a job in Rhode Island. His replacement will be appointed soon.
REPORT ON GIS ACTIVITIES
FROM MEMBER AGENCIES:
Paul Yamamoto noted that DEQ is looking to getting our agency’s GIS on-line. Recently they were contacted by NEMA and will be meeting with both CALMIT and NEMA to see how the agencies can share data more efficiently.
Kim Menke noted that DNR is continuing to work on the NHD and that the Blue Basin has already been submitted to USGS. Josh is now working on the Republican Basin NHD. SURGO has three counties left to complete statewide.
Alan Beierman, NPPD, noted that NPPD’s Work Management, Knowledge Management and GIS system is now 75% populated and running successfully. They are going to investigate working with more communities on aerial imagery. NPPD is now going to be looking at GIS for our transmission lines. Larry Zink asked if NPPD was working with Lash Chaffin and the League in terms of exploring communities interests in aerial imagery. Alan indicated that they have several Account executives that go out and talk with customers and communities.
Dick Genrich noted that Roads had some desire from some of the district people to access from home our Internet mapping project that we call NECTAR. They have made the process available for DOR through the firewall with passwords, which seems to be working well. There are five county highway superintendent meetings this spring and they are going to see what desire is out there for sharing data. State Patrol is interesting in clicking on a road to see whom they have to call if they need barricades, where to re-route traffic until assistance would arrive, etc. But so far everything has been done via password. Those are security issues that we have to address. We are going to give a pilot demonstration to CJIS at their February meeting. They want to do some analysis of accident scenes.
Steve Frederick indicated that he wanted to publicly say that CALMIT has helped HHSS a lot in our efforts, in particular Jeff, Chris and Jay. Chris is going to be with the Public Health Dept next week installing our GIS and doing some training. There are instances that come up where the power of GIS has been demonstrated, such as if there are any cancers, etc. related with the water problem in Grand Island and we have been able to do that with GIS. There is a lot of internal interest in GIS at the local and state level.
Jeff Arnold, CALMIT, indicated that they just finished the inventory with NEMA. They finished working with the State and USDA interest group locating their feedlots and veterinarians, etc. CALMIT is working on the next phase of American view, which means that we can purchase and distribute USGS satellite imagery at a reduced rate.
Jim Langtry indicated that they had done some survey work for Game and Parks over the last year and I was able to receive that funding and get a PC Platform to put our GIS and network with the UNIX platform. That opened the door that allowed me to join the database that Terrascan creates for the Assessors office. They also have a large format scanner for scanning survey records for the web. They are posting the GPS data that used to be on Jim’s website to our website.
Scott McIntyre, Omaha, said the most interesting thing going on in Omaha and Douglas County is the 2004 flight. We hope to have a contract in place with Horizons by the end of February. We have started creating a GIS Coordinator position in Douglas County. Sarpy County, Potawatomie County, Iowa has a coordinator. Omaha and Douglas County has no single point of contact to assist and give guidance when needed. We are in the discussion phase and response to this has been good. By the middle of 2004 we hope to have a GIS Coordinator.
Ray Fox, USGS, noted that April 18-22nd is MAGIC Symposium and USGS State Mapping Workshop in Kansas City. He said he hoped to have good representation from Nebraska.
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Vote Tallies for 1/8/04 GIS Str. Cmte.
Meeting |
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. |
Roll |
Min |
Str Add. |
LRM |
#4
|
#5 |
#6 |
#7 |
#8 |
|
DAS - Steve
Schafer |
A |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
DEQ - Tom
Lamberson, |
P |
+ |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
CSD - Mark Kuzila
|
P |
+ |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
NGPC - Bruce
Sackett |
A |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
NRC - Kim
Menke, |
P |
+ |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
PTD - Cathy
Lang |
A |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
PRO - Lauren Hill
|
A |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
DOR - Dick
Genrich |
P |
+ |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
St.Surv - Jim
Brown |
A/P |
. |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
Clk of Leg. -
Patrick O'Donnell |
A |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
Sonia Sebree |
P |
+ |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
John Miyoshi, |
P |
+ |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
Alan J. Beierman |
P |
+ |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
Cliff
Welsh |
P |
+ |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
Larry Worrell |
P |
+ |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
Lash
Chaffin |
A |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
Duane Stott |
P |
+ |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
Scott McIntyre
|
A/P |
. |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
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Dick Nelson |
P |
+ |
+ |
+ |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
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TOTALS |
11/13 – P |
11 + |
13 + |
13 + |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
"P"=present, "A"=absent,
"+"=voting for, "-"=voting against, "NV"=not
voting