Cooperative effort with SSRA and the NSSC for the study of more effective digitizing technology for soil survey. Cooperative agreement for software development to modernize the Grazing Lands Analysis software for Web and Win95 delivery. Strong coordination and cooperation will be necessary to maintain services to NRCS in accordance with the mission of all Technology Institutes. The project slate is managed through consulting services and cooperative agreements, and several cooperating institutes fund most projects. Down considerably from 1997, the setup year.
Information technology is a rapidly evolving, moving target.
Testing of some software and hardware is required to ascertain relevant aspects of new developments. With no hiring authority anticipated before the middle of this fiscal year, ITI will use cooperative agreements and direct hires of consulting staff as needed to manage specific projects and technologies. Once staff is hired, training and orientation will be a critical portion of this plan, which will be amended at that time. Action Items Administrate the MIT agreement, secure funding and monitor deliverables. Manage CAST contract, secure funding and deliverables.