GIS in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - 1997 Update

GIS is a powerful tool for analyzing spatial patterns, helping to organize large data bases, and presenting results in a manner not otherwise possible. Because such spatial analyses are an integral part of the USFWS's mission, GIS can greatly assist managers in the decision-making process regarding the disposition of natural resources.

Within the Service the aim is to get GIS tools and information into the hands of the users. There is a strong push to incorporate the technology into ecosystem management and to modernize our approach to problem solving. We do not have a separate GIS program; development of GIS applications has been basically a "bottom up" procedure as field offices perceived the utility of the tool to their management and analysis needs. National and regional activities ("top down") center on coordination and clearinghouse functions.

Points the Service is currently emphasizing in GIS:

1. Data sharing; testing and making available tools to share data (particularly via the Internet), having the data created to share where appropriate (NWI, FWS Land ownership).
2. Data standards; particularly data documentation. If data is not documented in a standard fashion that is widely understood, it cannot be readily shared. This documentation, or metadata, is mandated by Executive Order #12906.
3. Incorporation of GIS technology in ongoing management activities; GIS is not an end unto itself, but a powerful tool to accomplish other tasks.
4. Partnerships; Starting with ecosystem management and moving into other areas such as GIS the Service is emphasizing the sharing of resources through partnerships with other federal agencies, state and local agencies, and private groups. Shared resources may include funding, equipment, staff time, and information.

Some of the major benefits of these items are:

• cost reduction by improving mapping and/or database management
• effectiveness gains by applying state-of-the-art spatial analytical methods to existing operational activities
• improved credibility by providing accurate spatial data to validate management actions and proposals
• improved habitat and land based information
• improved communication with public and private organizations
• improved internal communication resulting in less duplication of effort in data creation and increased efficiency in analysis of management activities

Managing GIS in the Service requires consideration of the following:

* GIS should be implemented only at those offices that have a demonstrated need, and at a scale appropriate for their needs.
* Local or regional management has a great deal of flexibility to allocate additional staff and dollars to any project they feel is important.
* The applications and tools need to be in the hands of the users, who best understand the management and analysis tasks they need to accomplish with GIS.
* Preventing duplication of effort requires extra attention due to the difficulty of coordination between offices; sharing information still requires a determined effort. One national clearinghouse point of contact, now in existence, does help but is minimal for an agency with over 400 offices.
* There is rarely any "seed money" to cost share a number of types of efforts. These include coordinated data creation efforts with partners, metadata training and metadata creation efforts, and pilot projects for new or more effective technologies (e.g. using NT workstations or GPS units to create data). Innovative methods for doing things can be cost effective, but they are not free.
* There is also very limited funding for "train the trainer" type trips to regional and field offices.

Possibilities to improve national GIS coordination and keep overhead/management low include:

• Dedicating some funding for:
  • Cost share "seed money" for partnerships in data creation or metadata creation
  • Additional training efforts in the area of metadata, coordination, or standards review
  • Funding details/temps/shared FTE with other agencies for specific data related tasks or technical functions

For additional information regarding this Web page, contact Deb Southworth Green, in the Division of Information Resources and Technology Management, at Deb_Green@fws.gov

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Keywords=GIS, data, metadata, funding, coordination
Last Modified January 02, 2001 11:50 AM