Alaska Mapping Executive Committee

On June 28, 2012, the Department of the Interior and the State of Alaska co-hosted the Alaska Mapping Roundtable, a meeting of senior Federal and State executives that addressed the current status of topographic mapping in Alaska. Consensus was quickly reached that topographic mapping for Alaska must be prioritized and accelerated. The participants in this event concluded that an interagency Executive Committee should be convened to implement, coordinate, and oversee the Federal role in mapping the State of Alaska. The State of Alaska, under the leadership of the Governor's Office, would also participate. As called for by the Roundtable participants, the Executive Committee was convened by the Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Anne Castle, who will also Chair the Committee. Quarterly meetings were established, with the first meeting scheduled for August 14, 2012.

The purpose of the Committee is to secure the resources necessary to complete the topographic mapping of Alaska by FY2018. The roles and responsibilities of the Committee will include:

• Inventory all sources of existing data and data intended to be acquired in the near future to validate and characterize the mapping gap and refine required funding estimates and maintain such inventory.

• Provide a coordination point for integrating the modern mapping requirements of Federal agencies with mission responsibilities in Alaska.

• Formulate a budget strategy to address the mapping needs of the Federal and State agencies on the committee.

• Oversee the development and execution of annual program plans for mapping Alaska until such time as the task is complete.

• Coordinate the acquisition of modern mapping data to ensure completeness of coverage in accordance with standards for openness, quality, interoperability, and resolution.

• Identify a lead agency and engage in an enterprise approach to data acquisition that leverages agency funding and resources.