Acting Director P. Patrick Leahy Remarks at the National States
Geographic Information Council 2005 Annual Conference, Rochester, New
York, September 27, 2005. \"Taking Action: Toward Geospatial
Excellence\"

**Slide 1 Title**

**Taking Action: Toward Geospatial Excellence**

Thank you it is a pleasure to be here today.

**Slide 2**

USGS Scientists predict that for the next 11 years hurricanes will be
more frequent, more powerful ... and they are always destructive.

As we focus on our geospatial future, I would like to reflect on recent
events and the important role Geospatial Information Systems are playing
in the support of disaster planning, recovery, relief, and restoration.
Immediately following the devastating events of Hurricane Katrina.

Cooperation, collaboration and diligence among Federal, State and local
geospatial professionals saved many lives and I'm proud that USGS could
be a part of the initiative. The work done in support of Hurricane
Katrina illustrates it is time for us to become serious about developing
those processes necessary to ensure we have a geospatial framework for
the Nation, the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) provides
some assurance that Federal, State, county and local government, the
private sector and academia can share critical data, in real-time,
seamlessly, and beyond boundaries.

**Slide 3**

# National Wetlands Research Center

The National Wetlands Research Center (NWRC) in Lafayette, Louisiana,
with Louisiana Water Science Center provided more than 30 personnel, 11
boats, 13 vehicles, as part of an Interagency Team of USFWS, USDA, NOAA,
NMFS, La. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Ducks Unlimited.
Their efforts resulted in the direct rescue of 594 persons, and
indirectly 1900.

NWRC sponsored food, clothing, money collection and a blood drive. The
facility housed up to 60 evacuees, including displaced scientists

**Slide 4**

## Science for Emergency Response and Recovery

During Katrina, when victims dialed 911, rescue crews couldn't locate
them in flooded areas by their street names and addresses. The
cooperative agencies began using geographic information systems.
Researchers were able to find victims street addresses and provide
longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates to facilitate rescue.

Greg Smith, Director of the research center said ... as soon as the maps
came off the printer, helicopter pilots grabbed them and ran to their
choppers. Thousands of people, including 19 teachers trapped for days on
the roof of Chalmette High School, were rescued.

USGS scientists and technicians have produced more than 3,000 tabloid
maps and 40 poster maps. USGS assisted with thousands of calls and
e-mail messages from stranded hurricane victims.

## Slide 5

# Relevant, Ready & Responsive

USGS is moving beyond its reputation as a primary producer of
topographic maps to become a broker, facilitator, and integrator of
geographic knowledge. Katrina will provide some valuable lessons
learned, some of which may be documented in the Geospatial Bluebook, an
initiative started by the USGS National Geospatial Programs Office, but
supported by partners.

Based on the premise that the value of geospatial information expands
exponentially when shared, the USGS is working with the National
Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security
to examine successful collaborative models and make them available
through the "Bluebook."

The guide reviews best practices and highlights successful programs.

The focus of the study is successful multi-jurisdictional programs that
leverage partnership opportunities and use geospatial information to
support a wide range of government programs, including Homeland Security
and emergency preparedness.

This Katrina response may be one for the book, as they say....

## Slide 6

**The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific
information and analysis.**

The challenges facing society today require new ways of thinking about
natural science -- new approaches that integrate knowledge from many
different disciplines -- to understand changes in the Earth and to grasp
the infinite complexity of our natural world.

At USGS, we have a unique perspective on the Earth through integrating
the science of biology, geography, geology, and hydrology, and now the
technology of the National Geospatial Programs Office has taken USGS
science to another level.

Katrina has further illustrated the need for an international and
national plan for **a global disaster reduction and warning system for
hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes and
tsunamis**. Although damage cannot be completely avoided, better
coordination of observation systems and GIS can reduce losses and help
protect the public.

The key is collaboration, cooperation, and the use of common standards.
Values on which the NSDI is based.

**Slide 7**

# Historic Near-Real Time

In the aftermath of Katrina, the USGS centers began gathering data.

These are images of New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina.
Landsat 7 satellite passed directly over New Orleans the day after
Katrina hit. At USGS EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota,
technicians processed these data.

The after shot was taken at 10:30 a.m., just a couple of hours after the
17 street canal levee failed.

The image on the left is pre-Katrina showing green areas that are
subsequently covered with blue water on the right.

This data is significant. It provides responders with a historic
archive, an objective look at the area before the event. EROS acts as a
clearing house for data, a centralized location for first responders to
get information.

EROS' mission during this event was one of data collection and
distribution.

## Slide 8

**GIS Charting the Course**

The data was then used by the National Geospatial Technical Operations
Center in Denver, Colo., for quick turn-around. GIS was introduced to
layer critical information onto the preliminary data. Technicians
identified hospitals, transportation and evacuation routes.

USGS and NASA scientists worked together. LIDAR (radar) surveys of the
levees and water levels in the Lake Pontchartrain basin, including New
Orleans and provided essential information to the Army Corps of
Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Maps created with GIS charted pumping station locations with available
capacity, and levee breaches. Maps provided information about oil, gas,
and electric power infrastructure.

This work has put GIS in the forefront through interactions with The
White House, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Northern Command, National
Guard troops, FEMA, and the States. I doubt anyone will discount the
value of GIS anymore.

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## Slide 9

# Change and Challenges

The products and services managed by the USGS provide access to
geospatial data by leveraging the work of others.

The NGPO will provide National leadership for moving the NSDI forward.
Federal Leadership means the NSDI becomes a reality faster. But, I would
like to emphasize one thing in particular -- leadership does not mean
ownership. We want the States, Tribal, local governments to continue
being good stewards of information.

Leadership requires the USGS to ensure the active involvement of the
federal partners as co-owners and stewards.

But also, we want to work with the broadest array of users and
collaborators. This is an opportunity best facilitated by the States. We
welcome new partners and partnerships.

**Slide 10**

**Why Partnerships?**

Why?

Because partners often have the most current data! Partnerships should
leverage the resources of all involved, not just a few.

During our support of Katrina it was evident that no one agency could
provide the magnitude of data needed to help responders. USGS worked
beside many federal agencies, NASA, the Corps of Engineers and Louisiana
State partners.

The USGS role emphasizes collaboration to create and maintain data,
tools, and applications.

# Slide 11

# National Map Viewer link

This is a screen shot of the Geospatial One-Stop (GOS) version 2 --
Geodata.gov, version 2, highlights a series of maps provided by federal,
state, local and private sources for use as base-maps. For example,
during an emergency, an emailed map can be sent across the state or
region and leaders can make decisions based on that information. For GOS
to feature the most current data, partnership is vital.

GIS technology provides impact to science, by helping us document,
describe, understand, and predict what has happened and what will happen
in the future.

Many of you have contributed to the success of the portal.

I appreciate the continued support of the States, NSGIC and the other
partners because they serve crucial roles as coordinators, area
integrators, and data engines. The USGS fully supports NSGIC and its 50
States initiative. These partnerships guarantee that we all will be
successful in developing and managing the base content for the nation.
Partnership ensures that we can populate the critical information needed
for government and emergency management.

# Slide 12

### Plan for Action

As USGS looks toward the future \-- The Plan for Action set some key
priorities for the NGPO. These priorities were developed by working
teams that included the recommendations of partners and stakeholders.
The NGTOC mission will be studied based on these criteria:

***Provide the Nation with a revitalized suite of USGS products and
services** -*

*Deliver 21st Century, digital topographic map products*

**Adopt Geospatial Enterprise Architecture Principles -**

*Establish an Advisory Council and Technical Working Group**;** promote
use of Common Standards*

## Slide 13

# Plan for Action

**Provide Reliable Base Content -**

*Ensure the rapid development of seamless base content, The National
Map, by December 2006*

**Governance Structure for the 21st Century -**

*Explore Governance and develop performance models, review the Federal
Geographic Data Committee governance efforts, promote national
governance and its benefits, create a national geospatial coordinating
body*

**Incentive-Based Partnerships -**

*Promote an incentive-based partnership model, implement best practices
for incentives. Maintain partnerships with all 50 States*

**A Geospatial System of Systems -**

*Not a single data-base --- a collaborative system of distributed
organizations, promote the use of common standards, and support and
sustain stewards of component systems through incentive-based
partnerships*

**National Geospatial Investment Management -**

*Identify inter-agency investment strategies, increase efficiency of
expenditures, and begin a dialogue to encourage an efficiency model*

# Slide 14

# NSDI Liaisons Expansion

The NGPO is taking actions to expand the NSDI liaison program, and
developing incentive-based partnerships.

**Liaisons are playing a critical role and there are plans to ensure
there is at least one per state, covering every partner.** For example,
Julia Giller, USGS Geospatial Liaison to FL, AL, MS, GA, PR and VI, has
been working with many state and federal contacts helping to assure
access to geospatial data for both before and after conditions in MS and
AL. In this effort, she has coordinated closely with the Disaster Data
Team, which includes USGS employees. An immediate need was expressed in
both states for capturing the high water mark (estimated at 15-23 feet
over the area), which is of critical need to assess ground water and
surface water impacts. Teams from Water Science Offices in MS and AL
captured field data, sent it on to the USGS Center for Coastal and
Watershed Studies in St. Petersburg, FL, where it was combined with base
data and graphics, then sent back to the field to depict where, among
other things, it can help determine where fresh water supplies had been
compromised and to assess the magnitude of the storm surge.

USGS is looking at ways to be more flexible, this is an example of that
flexibility. The continued dialogue between USGS and its partners is the
only way to ensure that we provide the products and services needed.
Liaisons play an important role in facilitating that dialogue.

**Slide 15**

**Forecasting and Control**

This map is an example of some of the products created in support of
Katrina efforts. It shows the flood water depth in New Orleans on Sept.
15 as the water levels recede...

High resolution elevation data was used in combination with USGS water
level gages to monitor the depth of the water and the coverage of
inundated areas within the city. The resulting water depth polygons are
overlaid on high resolution imagery to make the map. These maps are
produced daily (by NOAA) and show the areas effected, and those
available for operations as the water levels recede from pumping out the
city.

As a result of Hurricane Katrina, the USGS lost operation of 23
streamgages in LA and 12 streamgages in MS. Fortunately, no streamgages
in AL were lost.

The gages used to make this map were temporary gages that were installed
within New Orleans and the surrounding flood-affected parishes to
provide information to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) so they
could monitor the progress of their pumping operations.

# Slide 16

**The Challenges Ahead**

One thing we've learned from listening sessions is that "no one agency
can do it alone." The development of the NSDI requires commitment and
assistance from all partners. The USGS is unifying its programs and
simplifying the processes used to add value and to better service our
customers.

For example lessons learned from the pilot Product Generation work for
\"print-on-demand\" performed in partnership with the NC Geological
Survey was useful during Katrina and resulted in the delivery of 140
quads over the affected areas.

## Slide 17

**Road Map to the NSDI**

We've often used the analogy of the interstate highway system to explain
how we plan to accomplish this NSDI.

Nationally consistent standards represents -- signage, road grade, on
and off ramps. In geospatial technology it is the common use of
metadata, interoperable systems and partnership.

There is also a need for coordination across boundaries. This means
there is a need to not only share information, but to also share cost
and resources to accomplish the goal.

We have embarked on a path to build a network, a highway system to our
specifications. Built for us, by all of us, Federal, State, local,
academia and the private sector, working together. Because we work with
this information everyday, we know what we need and in some cases how to
fill the data gaps through established partnerships.

**Slide 18**

# Science for Recovery and Restoration

This is only the beginning. Science and geospatial information systems
have a part to play in the recovery and restoration of the Gulf Coast.

During this and in the future, we must be bold and shoulder challenges
that prove the importance of the geosciences to society. Katrina has
demonstrated to decision makers, that Science and GIS combined add
valuable capabilities and processes that help communities.

Partnership is the means to fulfill our responsibilities as citizen
scientists, researchers and technicians to protect public health,
promote public safety, and enhance public prosperity. Soon efforts will
turn to:

•**Building new Landscapes on the Gulf Coast**

•**The human landscape: pollution, disease, new development**

•**Conservation landscape: fish and wildlife and their habitats**

> •**Coastal Landscape: science to inform recovery, restoration,
> intelligent coastal planning**

It will be a collaborative effort between government and partners;
science and technology.

**Slide 19**

# Where, What, and ...When

Understanding earth processes is the goal of science, and today we must
take full advantage of new and evolving technologies for the dynamic
observation of the earth.

Katrina has reminded us not only how fragile we are in the midst of
Mother Nature, however, it has validated the necessity for expeditious
work toward the NSDI, and reliable, current, and seamless data.

Through collaboration, coordination and partnership the geospatial
community maximizes the many uses of science with its fantastic
capabilities -- allowing scientists, technicians and the public more
precise assessments, better models, and more accurate forecasts.

Let's not make a horrific event like Katrina be the only indication of
partnership. Let's continue to move forward toward geospatial excellence
and a geospatial infrastructure for the Nation.