Geoinformatics at the USGS: Data to Knowledge to Application! Linda C. Gundersen Chief Scientist for Geology U.S. Geological Survey May 2006 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

Geoinformatics Discovery, integration, management and visualization of geoscience data to improve our understanding of the processes that have shaped the earth and planets over time. Discovery, integration, management and visualization of geoscience data to improve our understanding of the processes that have shaped the earth and planets over time. But it is something more!

Application! Not just the quest for knowledge and discovery in the process of developing the Geoinformatics framework – but the ability to guide, predict, and forecast the events, policy, and decisions that shape and enhance our lives! USGS is a “mission” agency – science for decision making

USGS Mission The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to: Describe and understand the Earth Describe and understand the Earth Minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters Minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters Manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources Manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources Enhance and protect our quality of life. Enhance and protect our quality of life. through scientific monitoring, research, and assessment!

USGS Role in Geoinformatics Fundamental: develop, maintain, make accessible: Long-term national and regional geologic, hydrologic, biologic, and geographic databases Long-term national and regional geologic, hydrologic, biologic, and geographic databases Earth and planetary imagery Earth and planetary imagery Open-source models of the complex natural systems and human interaction with that system Open-source models of the complex natural systems and human interaction with that system Physical collections of earth materials, biologic materials, reference standards, geophysical recordings, paper records. Physical collections of earth materials, biologic materials, reference standards, geophysical recordings, paper records. National geologic, biologic, hydrologic, and geographic monitoring systems National geologic, biologic, hydrologic, and geographic monitoring systems Standards of practice for the geologic, hydrologic, biologic, and geographic sciences Standards of practice for the geologic, hydrologic, biologic, and geographic sciences

USGS Role in Geoinfomatics All activities: Data creation, modeling, monitoring, collections, standards etc. Must be done in cooperation and collaboration with the public and governmental, academic, and private sector partners and stakeholders. All activities: Data creation, modeling, monitoring, collections, standards etc. Must be done in cooperation and collaboration with the public and governmental, academic, and private sector partners and stakeholders. A critical USGS role: A critical USGS role: facilitate bringing communities together!

Data Collections versus Communities of Practice Geoinformatics must evolve beyond the accumulation of data, models, and standards to become the framework for a community of practice in the natural sciences. Geoinformatics must evolve beyond the accumulation of data, models, and standards to become the framework for a community of practice in the natural sciences. Etienne Wegner and Jean Lave coined the term and developed the learning theory of communities of practice – that we learn not only as individuals but as communities. By engaging in communities of practice we increase our capacity and innovation as well as leverage our support for areas of interest. Etienne Wegner and Jean Lave coined the term and developed the learning theory of communities of practice – that we learn not only as individuals but as communities. By engaging in communities of practice we increase our capacity and innovation as well as leverage our support for areas of interest.

Creativity, Learning, and Innovation A community of practice is not merely a community with a common interest. But are practitioners who share experiences and learn from each other. They develop a shared repertoire of resources: experiences, stories, tools, vocabularies, ways of addressing recurring problems. This takes time and sustained interaction. Standards of practice and reference materials will grow out of this. But the critical benefits include: creating and sustaining knowledge, leveraging of resources, and rapid learning and innovation.

USGS can only do what it does because of its partners--and the communities of practice that have evolved over the past 100 years What follows are examples of databases, models, and informatics, all collaborative efforts that are contributing to Geoinfomatics as well as Bioinformatics and other similar efforts. What follows are examples of databases, models, and informatics, all collaborative efforts that are contributing to Geoinfomatics as well as Bioinformatics and other similar efforts.

1000’s of National and Regional Databases The National Map – topographic, elevation, orthoimagery, transportation hydrography etc. The National Map – topographic, elevation, orthoimagery, transportation hydrography etc. Geospatial One Stop-portal Geospatial One Stop-portal MRDATA – Mineral Resources and Related Data MRDATA – Mineral Resources and Related Data The National Geologic Map Database stnadardized community collection of geologic mapping The National Geologic Map Database stnadardized community collection of geologic mapping National Water Information System - NWISWeb National Water Information System - NWISWeb National Geochemical Survey Database (PLUTO, NURE) National Geochemical Survey Database (PLUTO, NURE) National Geophysical Database (aeromag, gravity, aerorad) National Geophysical Database (aeromag, gravity, aerorad) Earthquake Catalogs Earthquake Catalogs North American Breeding Bird Survey North American Breeding Bird Survey National Vegetation/speciation maps National Vegetation/speciation maps National Oil and Gas Assessment National Oil and Gas Assessment National Coal Quality Inventory National Coal Quality Inventory

Global and National Monitoring Systems National Stream Flow Information Program National Stream Flow Information Program Advanced National Seismic System Advanced National Seismic System National Volcano Early Warning System National Volcano Early Warning System Debris Flow Warning System Debris Flow Warning System Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost Landsat 5 and 7 Landsat 5 and 7 Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends National Bird Banding Program National Bird Banding Program Land Cover/Land Change Monitoring Land Cover/Land Change Monitoring Famine Early Warning System Famine Early Warning System National Water Quality Assessment Program National Water Quality Assessment Program All heavily partnered and leveraged!

USGS Water Monitoring Stream flow percentile – warm colors are below normal, dark colors above normal – stations with at least 30 years of data Real-time discharge data for specific gages Floods, drought, use, quality, availability, conservation

Over 100 open source hydrologic models offered free on-line for download MODFLOW, MODFLOW-2005 and related programs 3D flow, transport, particle tracking, water budget, user- interfaces, surface-water interactions, and parameter estimation MODFLOW, MODFLOW-2005 and related programs 3D flow, transport, particle tracking, water budget, user- interfaces, surface-water interactions, and parameter estimation MODFLOW, MODFLOW-2005 and related programs MODFLOW, MODFLOW-2005 and related programs PHREEQC Version 2.7, PHREEQCI, NETPATH and related models Speciation, Batch-Reaction, One- Dimensional Transport, and Inverse Geochemical Calculations. Net geochemical reactions along a flow path PHREEQC Version 2.7, PHREEQCI, NETPATH and related models SUTRA and related programs 2D, 3D, variable-density, variably-saturated flow, solute or energy transportUTRA and related programs WATEQ4F Version 2.46, (Oct. 23, 2002) Calculating speciation of major, trace, and redox elements in natural waters WATEQ4F

Unique data - Astrogeology Research Program Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Access to the official International Astronmical Union approved names for planetary features Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Access to the official International Astronmical Union approved names for planetary features Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature Database of Impact Craters on Venus: Searchable listing of impact craters on Venus and information about ongoing work Database of Impact Craters on Venus: Searchable listing of impact craters on Venus and information about ongoing work Database of Impact Craters on Venus Database of Impact Craters on Venus Historical Lunar Data Archive: Download images and data from products derived from Apollo, Lunar Orbiter, Galileo, Zond 8, and Earth- based observations. Historical Lunar Data Archive: Download images and data from products derived from Apollo, Lunar Orbiter, Galileo, Zond 8, and Earth- based observations.Historical Lunar Data ArchiveHistorical Lunar Data Archive Geologic Mapping: Download digital planetary geologic maps, learn about mapping efforts, and access mapping resources from the Planetary Geologic Mapping Program Geologic Mapping: Download digital planetary geologic maps, learn about mapping efforts, and access mapping resources from the Planetary Geologic Mapping Program Geologic Mapping Geologic Mapping Geographic Information Systems (GIS)Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - GIS data, maps, tools, and discussion board on the PIGWAD Planetary Geographic Information Systems web site Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS)Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS): Using the World's Glaciers to Monitor Climate Change

Geography and Imagery Landsat Continuity - USGS operates with NASA the Landsat 5 and 7 missions – three decades of imagery! - NASA will acquire a single continuity mission in - a free-flyer spacecraft to collect and provide data to the the USGS, who will be responsible for the operations of the mission, along with collecting, archiving, processing and distributing the data to users. Geographic Analysis and Monitoring Program looks at the dynamics (rates, scale, processes) of landscape change over time

Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis Applications of remote sensing to a wide array of problem solving and monitoring – from volcanoes to coastal vulnerability. Applications of remote sensing to a wide array of problem solving and monitoring – from volcanoes to coastal vulnerability. Lidar showing the impacts of hurricanes.

The USGS Center for Biological Informatics serves as the operating agent for the National Biological Information Infrastructure, hosting pages, managing the search engine, and developing and providing standards, and procedures for acquiring, managing, and sharing biological data and information. CBI also develops, identifies, and provides access to tools that facilitate collection and use of biological information and data,

The National Biological Information Infrastructure The NBII through diverse partners and information nodes links a broad spectrum of high-quality biological databases, information products, and analytical tools maintained by NBII partners and other contributors in government agencies, academic institutions, non- government organizations, and private industry. NBII partners and collaborators work together on new standards, tools, and technologies that make it easier to find, integrate, and apply biological resources information. Resource managers, scientists, educators, and the general public use the NBII to answer a wide range of questions related to the management, use, or conservation of this nation's biological resources.

NBII Offers a wide array of services Metadata Support Tools Tools for creating and managing metadata. Metadata Support Tools Tools for creating and managing metadata. Metadata Support Tools Metadata Support Tools Tools for Environmental and Ecological Analysis Discussion and links to various online and offline tools for environmental and ecological analysis. Tools for Environmental and Ecological Analysis Discussion and links to various online and offline tools for environmental and ecological analysis. Tools for Environmental and Ecological Analysis Tools for Environmental and Ecological Analysis Vegetation Mapping "Plots" Database Tool Downloadable tool for collecting field data from vegetation mapping. Vegetation Mapping "Plots" Database Tool Downloadable tool for collecting field data from vegetation mapping. Vegetation Mapping "Plots" Database Tool Vegetation Mapping "Plots" Database Tool Integrated Taxonomic Information System An authoritative source for biological names for the biota of North America. Integrated Taxonomic Information System An authoritative source for biological names for the biota of North America. Integrated Taxonomic Information System Integrated Taxonomic Information System

Earthquake Monitoring, Research and Assessment Broadly reaching community of practice with a globally and nationally distributed seismic network system– Established community data standards, monitoring standards, shared tools, have governing bodies, have large coordinated research projects that are community driven like EarthScope, and supported by major groups – SSA, USGS, NSF, FEMA, NIST, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, Southern California Earthquake Center, emergency managers, governments, industry, citizens.

Global and National Earthquake Monitoring PAGER - Global Predictive Shake Maps are combined with population exposure. PAGER - Global Predictive Shake Maps are combined with population exposure. Alerts provide population as function of shaking intensity. Alerts provide population as function of shaking intensity. Alerts are automatically sent to sponsoring agencies, including USAID, USGS, others. Alerts are automatically sent to sponsoring agencies, including USAID, USGS, others.

Incorporating complex data into applied models. ShakeMap for the M6.0 Parkfield earthquake Sep. 28, 2004 FEMA-generated loss estimation results based on ShakeMap data the hand – off!

Building a National Volcano Early Warning System Monitoring comes from disparate sources

A New Opportunity – National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program Act of 2005 Directs the USGS to establish the Program, authorized at $30M per year for 5 years to: Directs the USGS to establish the Program, authorized at $30M per year for 5 years to: Archive geologic, geophysical, and engineering data, maps, well logs, and samples Archive geologic, geophysical, and engineering data, maps, well logs, and samples Provide a National Catalog of archived material Provide a National Catalog of archived material Provide technical and financial assistance related to research and preservation of archived material Provide technical and financial assistance related to research and preservation of archived material Includes land management agencies and the state geological surveys, (many of which are associated with universities) Includes land management agencies and the state geological surveys, (many of which are associated with universities)

In Summary: Bring it Together Through Communities of Practice Develop a shared repertoire of resources: experiences, stories, tools, vocabularies, ways of addressing recurring problems. This takes time and sustained interaction. Standards of practice and reference materials will grow out of this. But the critical benefits include: creating and sustaining knowledge, leveraging of resources, and rapid learning and innovation.