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
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
Outline
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Background & Context
Records Management at USGS / EROS
Appraisal Process
Accession Experience
Access / Finding Aids
Preservation Efforts
Disposition Procedures
Advocacy
Summary
Background & Context
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Department of the Interior
 U.S. Geological Survey
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National Center for Earth Resources Observation & Science
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Mid-US
 1972
 Landsat
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Sioux Falls, SD
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Primarily Laser-Beam Recorder Film
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Multiple Satellites – Mainly Digital
Aerial Photography – Still Analog
GIS
Topography / Elevation
 Today
Background & Context
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Film
 4 Film Types
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 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
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Digital
 1 to 2 Terabytes / Day Incoming
 >2 Petabytes – 3,000,000 Images
 1972 to Present
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National Satellite Land Remote Sensing Data Archive
 Public Law 102-555 (1992)
 Federal Advisory Committee Act
 Advisory Committee
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Third Re-Chartered Period
Records Management at EROS
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Then
 No “Back Door”
 Seeking Additional Relevance
 Meshed With Other Agency Desires
Now
 Embracing Lifecycle
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 Creation / Acceptance
 Maintenance & Use
 Disposition
Tight Budgets
Records Management Scandals in Biz World
Records Management at EROS
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Current Areas of Emphasis
 Appraisal
 Accession
 Access
 Preservation
 Disposition
 Advocacy
Appraisal Process
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Evolving
Driven by
 Archivist Position
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 2001
Need for Mission Alignment
 Re-Organizations
 Accountability
Budget Constraints
Appraisal Process
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Collection Policy
Appraisal Flow
 EROS Science Council Support
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Scientific Tool Development
 http://edc2.usgs.gov/government/RAT/tool.asp
 USGS HQ and NARA Involved
Accession Experience
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Requirements
Checklists
Shipping Summaries
Accession Experience
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Experience
 NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center
 NASA / Ames & Houston
 NOAA / National Climatic Data Center
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 Reciprocal Archive LOA
SPOT Image Corporation
Space Imaging Corporation
Future
 NARA
 4 to 5 Semi-trucks
Access / Finding Aids
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Organizational Commitment
Spatial & Temporal Criticality
Spatial Challenges
 Contracts
 New Techniques
Access / Finding Aids
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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
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Macro
 Environmental
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 Redundant Temperature / Relative Humidity
Security
 Technology
 Eyes
Micro
 Molecular Sieves
 AD Strips
Preservation Efforts
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Film
 Vinegar Syndrome
 Copying
 Freezing
Digital
 Flaking
 Obsolescence
 Digital Transcriptions
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Something changing
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Just a New Media
 Digital Migrations
 Baking
Preservation Efforts
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Vinegar Syndrome
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Digital Transcriptions
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Migrations
 19,000 Rolls
 1950s & Older Film
 Not If, But When & at What Rate
 22,000 Wide Band Video Tapes
 1980 – Current, Landsat HDTs to DCRSi
 DCRSi to LTO2 & 9940B
 CCT to 3480 to DLT to LTO2 to …
Preservation Efforts
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Archive Media Trade Studies
 http://edc2.usgs.gov/government/records/tools.asp
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Long-Term Digital Philosophy
 Near-Line
 Off-Line
 Off-Site
Disposition Procedures
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Formal Appraisal Process Evolving
 Scientist Involvement
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Documented Recommendations & Actions
Follow Through
 Relevant Agencies
 NARA
 Transfers or Destruction
Advocacy
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Numerous Conventions
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 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
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Leading News Agencies
Internationally Known Academics
CEOs of Global Companies
Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
Summary
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Formal Archivist Position
4 Years in Records Management Processes
Endorsement of the Lifecycle of Records
Legislative Mandate
Organizational Commitment to Archiving