Archiving Geospatial Data

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Archiving Geospatial Data

• John Faundeen, Archivist
• Presentation to
• Map Geographic Information Collections in
  Transition Conference
• Cartographic Users Advisory Council
• 12-13 May 2005
• Library of Congress

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Outline

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

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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

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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

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Background Context

• Digital
• 1 to 2 Terabytes / Day Incoming
• gt2 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

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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

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Records Management at EROS

• Current Areas of Emphasis
• Appraisal
• Accession
• Access
• Preservation
• Disposition
• Advocacy

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Appraisal Process

• Evolving
• Driven by
• Archivist Position
• 2001
• Need for Mission Alignment
• Re-Organizations
• Accountability
• Budget Constraints

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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

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Accession Experience

• Requirements
• Checklists
• Shipping Summaries

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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

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Access / Finding Aids

• Organizational Commitment
• Spatial Temporal Criticality
• Spatial Challenges
• Contracts
• New Techniques

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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

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Access / Finding Aids
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Access / Finding Aids
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Preservation Efforts

• Macro
• Environmental
• Redundant Temperature / Relative Humidity
• Security
• Technology
• Eyes
• Micro
• Molecular Sieves
• AD Strips

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Preservation Efforts

• Film
• Vinegar Syndrome
• Copying
• Freezing
• Digital
• Flaking
• Obsolescence
• Digital Transcriptions
• Something changing
• Digital Migrations
• Just a New Media
• Baking

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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

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Preservation Efforts

• Archive Media Trade Studies
• http//edc2.usgs.gov/government/records/tools.asp
• Long-Term Digital Philosophy
• Near-Line
• Off-Line
• Off-Site

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Disposition Procedures

• Formal Appraisal Process Evolving
• Scientist Involvement
• Documented Recommendations Actions
• Follow Through
• Relevant Agencies
• NARA
• Transfers or Destruction

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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

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Summary

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