U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Archiving Geospatial Data

John Faundeen, ArchivistPresentation to

Map & Geographic Information Collections in Transition ConferenceCartographic Users Advisory Council

12-13 May 2005Library of Congress

Outline

Background & Context Records Management at USGS / EROS Appraisal Process Accession Experience Access / Finding Aids Preservation Efforts Disposition Procedures Advocacy Summary

Background & Context

Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

National Center for Earth Resources Observation & Science 1972 Landsat

Mid-US Sioux Falls, SD

Primarily Laser-Beam Recorder Film Today

Multiple Satellites – Mainly Digital Aerial Photography – Still Analog GIS Topography / Elevation

Background & Context

Film 4 Film Types

Black-and-White Black-and-White Infrared Natural Color Color Infrared

Multiples Sizes 9” x 9” / 9” x 18” / 70mm / 70mm x 30”

110,000 Rolls – 13,000,000 Frames 1937 to Present Aerial & Satellite

Background & Context

Digital 1 to 2 Terabytes / Day Incoming >2 Petabytes – 3,000,000 Images 1972 to Present

National Satellite Land Remote Sensing Data Archive Public Law 102-555 (1992) Federal Advisory Committee Act

Advisory Committee Third Re-Chartered Period

Records Management at EROS

Then No “Back Door”

Seeking Additional Relevance Meshed With Other Agency Desires

Now Embracing Lifecycle

Creation / Acceptance Maintenance & Use Disposition

Tight Budgets Records Management Scandals in Biz World

Records Management at EROS

Current Areas of Emphasis Appraisal Accession Access Preservation Disposition Advocacy

Appraisal Process

Evolving Driven by

Archivist Position 2001

Need for Mission Alignment Re-Organizations Accountability

Budget Constraints

Appraisal Process

Collection Policy Appraisal Flow

EROS Science Council Support

Scientific Tool Development http://edc2.usgs.gov/government/RAT/tool.asp USGS HQ and NARA Involved

Accession Experience

Requirements Checklists Shipping Summaries

Accession Experience

Experience NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center NASA / Ames & Houston NOAA / National Climatic Data Center

Reciprocal Archive LOA

SPOT Image Corporation Space Imaging Corporation

Future NARA

4 to 5 Semi-trucks

Access / Finding Aids

Organizational Commitment Spatial & Temporal Criticality Spatial Challenges

Contracts New Techniques

Access / Finding Aids

Textual and Spatial Characterizations Federal Geographic Data Committee Earth Explorer Photo Finder GloVis EOS Data Gateway Seamless / The National Map Customer Service Unit

Access / Finding Aids

Access / Finding Aids

Preservation Efforts

Macro Environmental

Redundant Temperature / Relative Humidity

Security Technology Eyes

Micro Molecular Sieves AD Strips

Preservation Efforts

Film Vinegar Syndrome

Copying Freezing

Digital Flaking Obsolescence

Digital Transcriptions Something changing

Digital Migrations Just a New Media

Baking

Preservation Efforts

Vinegar Syndrome 19,000 Rolls 1950s & Older Film Not If, But When & at What Rate

Digital Transcriptions 22,000 Wide Band Video Tapes 1980 – Current, Landsat HDTs to DCRSi DCRSi to LTO2 & 9940B

Migrations CCT to 3480 to DLT to LTO2 to …

Preservation Efforts

Archive Media Trade Studies http://edc2.usgs.gov/government/records/tools.asp

Long-Term Digital Philosophy Near-Line Off-Line Off-Site

Disposition Procedures

Formal Appraisal Process Evolving Scientist Involvement

Documented Recommendations & Actions Follow Through

Relevant Agencies NARA Transfers or Destruction

Advocacy

Numerous Conventions American Society of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing International Society of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing

National Satellite Land Remote Sensing Data Archive Federal Advisory Committee Act

Participants Become Strong & Vocal Advocates Leading News Agencies Internationally Known Academics CEOs of Global Companies

Committee on Earth Observation Satellites

Summary

Formal Archivist Position 4 Years in Records Management Processes Endorsement of the Lifecycle of Records Legislative Mandate Organizational Commitment to Archiving