to GD&S. Archiving of historical data should occur
USACE geospatial data and systems
whenever possible, using existing business process
management: Technical aspects
storage methods.
Data creation and manipulation
The presence of a GD&S manager would increase
An amazing layering of protocols, hardware, sys-
efficiency of both the work and document flow within
tems software, and applications software must all
USACE GD&S work environments. Since no one
function together smoothly for GD&S to work. In the
organizational element is a proponent for GD&S in
following section, we summarize some of the plan-
USACE organizations, there is a strong need for an
ning, pitfalls, and success stories that we found dur-
individual to organize GD&S at the District level. A
ing the survey.
GD&S manager at each site, working with respon-
sive management and a supportive IM, would be in a
Problem: Interoperability of hardware, software,
position to optimize the workflow within each work
and networking
environment. For example, a GD&S manager could
Description
be responsible for:
Interoperability between the hardware, operating
systems, software, and network of systems of all
Creating data request forms for in-house and
GD&S participants is a requirement for GD&S suc-
public use
cess. There are no requirements within USACE at this
Planning, with IM support, storage requirements,
time to use any particular hardware or operating sys-
hardware/software/network update schedules,
tem for geospatial data work. PCs running Windows
and other GD&S infrastructure planning for the
95, 98, or NT, workstations running some form of
group
UNIX, and, to a lesser extent, Macintosh computers
Ensuring the creation of responsible security
all exist side by side. This is a logical development,
and archiving plans for USACE GD&S data and
because different uses and users need different tools.
metadata
Creating specialized individual development
Solutions
plans (IDPs) for GD&S employees, to include
Hardware interoperability between the computer
data and metadata expertise
systems of geospatial data creators and storage media
Including appropriate USACE-required GD&S
is a problem that can be attacked by using appro-
specifications in contracts for GD&S data and
priate software and networking. For the most part
metadata production
these can be networked using the appropriate software.
Ensuring the fulfillment of GD&S-related con-
For UNIX to Windows NT, 9x, or 2000 operating
tract requirements
system interactions, the networking software SAMBA
Developing GD&S capabilities in a branch that
appeared to be the most successful; it allows PC users
is often making requests from another branch to
to interact with UNIX computers as if they were
produce GD&S products for them.
another drive on the PC. The software DAVE can be
used to allow Macintosh folders to appear on NT PCs,
Responsibilities of a GD&S manager could be
and AppleTalk networking allows Macintosh users to
guided by Headquarters and determined by the Chiefs
view UNIX directories from their desktops and access
of the offices with GD&S requirements in each orga-
them as if they were folders on their own desktops.
nization, based on input from their staff and/or input
from the GD&S Technical and Oversight Commit-
Problem: Interoperability of GIS data formats
tees. A GD&S manager would be in a position to
Description
organize each of the diverse GD&S environments in
The interoperability of diverse data formats of
USACE, making best use of the sophisticated GD&S
diverse GIS and CADD systems are discussed in the
expertise of its employees, the established organiza-
administrative section of the project report. Users
tional structure, and USACE requirements to keep
want to keep using the GIS or CADD systems in
USACE GD&S on the cutting edge of service to the
which they have already developed expertise. In some
Army and other customers. Creating this position will
cases, this expertise may have been developed over
necessitate setting aside resources to fund the position
many person-hours of USACE employment. It is log-
or the portion of a position dedicated to these tasks,
ical and rational to maintain current systems rather
since GD&S personnel are already stretched to the
than to completely replace them with new systems
limit.
to force the entire Corps to run one GIS or CADD
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