Summary

The General Accounting Office has completed a review of the automatic data-processing (ADP) installation of the Geological Survey, Department of the Interior. This review was made pursuant to a request in a letter dated March 13, 1959, from the Chairman of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, House of Representatives. Pursuant to the request of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, our examination of Geological Survey's automatic data-processing installation included a review of (1) the study and planning that preceded the Survey's adoption of the Datatron 205 and the Datatron 220, (2) the impact that ADP had on the Survey's operating cost, (3) the benefits the Survey derived from the ADP installation, and (4) the Survey's utilization of ADP and EAM equipment.

We found that the feasibility study preceding the Survey's decision to lease the Datatron Z05 was adequate. We found also that the Survey has not received any direct dollar savings from the use of automatic data-processing equipment. The Survey derives benefit from the automatic data-processing equipment primarily because it computes scientific data which previously could not be done in a practicable manner because of the extended length of time required and it processes administrative and certain technical data more accurately and faster.