Transcript Answers to discussion exercise on Middle America

SCERP Nodes on a Network –
Starting Point for “La Red
Integrada de los Bancos de Datos”
Dr. Christopher Brown
New Mexico State University
Dr. Fabian Lozano
Tec de Monterrey - Monterrey
2006 SCERP Technical Meeting
Tucson, Arizona – 12-13 December 2006
Some Background
• United States - Mexico Border Governors
invitation to SCERP in 2003 to explore binational
GIS capability
– Recognition of the experience SCERP had in the area
– Potential to capitalize on the existing network of
SCERP institutions
• Development of early proposal to tap experience
of SCERP researchers
• More recent efforts that lead to USGS/SCERP
Binational GIS Summit
Background to the GIS Summit
• NMSU, SDSU, UTEP, and ASU submitted linked
GIS projects to SCERP
• NMSU, SDSU, ASU, and UTEP funded for
specific projects and to advance overall effort
– Each asks specific questions in area of interest.
– Each generates specific regional data
• Goal of the overall SCERP funding is to link a set
of projects to advance a border-wide GIS effort
• NMSU was funded to develop a “work plan” to
advance a sustained and coordinated effort
Research Plan
• Development of Advisory Committee to drive
project and our “happy accident” with USGS
– Recent efforts by USGS and others to develop
geo-spatial datasets along the border
– Supporting efforts for USGS/SCERP MOU
• Project partners and Advisory Committee
collaborated on 2006 Binational GIS Summit
• User Needs Assessment of major border
GIS users has inventoried efforts to date
• Binational GIS Summit broadened
discussion beyond USGS and SCERP
Major focii of the Summit
• Review of successful past projects, with
special interest in compiling lessons learned
• Identification of major research questions
concerning binational water resource
management and data needed to advance
• Supporting development of a workplan by
which comprehensive GIS capability can be
advanced
• Working towards a commitment by
attendees to help advance coordinated effort
Concept of SCERP/USGS Nodes
• Extensive work of SCERP institutions provides
useful framework
– Specific projects yield applied research and detailed
data sets at local/regional scale
– Also yields technically capable network on which to
build
• Collaboration with USGS broadens range of
participation greatly
• SCERP/USGS sponsoring of the Summit and
MOU advance a broader discussion
USGS Binational GIS Initiative
The project proposes to encompass the entire U.S.-Mexico border
region as indicated by the DOI U.S.-Mexico Border Field
Coordinating Committee’s (FCC) Water Resources Issue Team
U.S.-Mexico border region as delineated by the FCC using
watersheds and protected lands (Woodward and Durall 1996).
SCERP/USGS Commitments to Date
• SCERP and USGS co-hosted the Summit
and signed MOU on further cooperation
• SCERP universities have agreed to build the
prototype network with existing projects/data
– ASU land use/cover assessment
– NMSU and SDSU water resource vulnerability
work
– ITESM & UACJ contributing regional project data
– UTEP working in Paso del Norte urban area
• Continued USGS involvement in border GIS
work
Concept of SCERP/USGS Nodes
• NMSU took the lead on developing the
structure of the SCERP GIS Network
• Goal is to provide a portal to access other
nodes on the network
• Initial participants are the SCERP
institutions funded in the linked projects
• Testbed is available on the web at
– Mapper.nmsu.edu/SCERP_gis_node
Project Outcomes
• User Needs Assessment provides outline on
needs, assets, and gaps
• Structure of a border-wide network and portal
on which to build
• Web-presence shares results with larger
audience
• SCERP/USGS MOU is foundation for future
collaborative work – current 2007 RFP =
example
• Final project report will be provide detailed work
plan for future project development
Acknowlegements
• Thanks to SCERP management for funding and
support
• Contributions of SCERP partners – Jana
Hutchins, Richard Wright, Harry Johnson,
Alberto Barud, and Fabian Lozano
• Hard work of graduate students at NMSU – Nori
Koehler, Zach Edwards, and Mark Heil
• Partners at USGS – Jean Parcher, Jim Stefanov,
Robin Geary, Zac Wilson
• Summit attendees for attending and providing
such important input