1. 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

2. Outline • Background & Context • Records Management at USGS / EROS • Appraisal Process • Accession Experience • Access / Finding Aids • Preservation Efforts • Disposition Procedures • Advocacy • Summary

3. Background & Context • Department of the Interior • U.S. Geological Survey • National Center for Earth Resources Observation & Science • 1972 • Landsat • Mid-US • Sioux Falls, SD • Primarily Laser-Beam Recorder Film • Today • Multiple Satellites – Mainly Digital • Aerial Photography – Still Analog • GIS • Topography / Elevation

5. Background & Context • Film • 4 Film Types • 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

7. Background & Context • Digital • 1 to 2 Terabytes / Day Incoming • >2 Petabytes – 3,000,000 Images • 1972 to Present • National Satellite Land Remote Sensing Data Archive • Public Law 102-555 (1992) • Federal Advisory Committee Act • Advisory Committee • Third Re-Chartered Period

9. Records Management at EROS • Then • No “Back Door” • Seeking Additional Relevance • Meshed With Other Agency Desires • Now • Embracing Lifecycle • Creation / Acceptance • Maintenance & Use • Disposition • Tight Budgets • Records Management Scandals in Biz World

10. Records Management at EROS • Current Areas of Emphasis • Appraisal • Accession • Access • Preservation • Disposition • Advocacy

11. Appraisal Process • Evolving • Driven by • Archivist Position • 2001 • Need for Mission Alignment • Re-Organizations • Accountability • Budget Constraints

12. Appraisal Process • Collection Policy • Appraisal Flow • EROS Science Council Support • Scientific Tool Development • http://edc2.usgs.gov/government/RAT/tool.asp • USGS HQ and NARA Involved

14. Accession Experience • Requirements • Checklists • Shipping Summaries

15. Accession Experience • Experience • NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center • NASA / Ames & Houston • NOAA / National Climatic Data Center • Reciprocal Archive LOA • SPOT Image Corporation • Space Imaging Corporation • Future • NARA • 4 to 5 Semi-trucks

16. Access / Finding Aids • Organizational Commitment • Spatial & Temporal Criticality • Spatial Challenges • Contracts • New Techniques

17. Access / Finding Aids • Textual and Spatial Characterizations • Federal Geographic Data Committee • Earth Explorer • Photo Finder • GloVis • EOS Data Gateway • Seamless / The National Map • Customer Service Unit

18. Access / Finding Aids

19. Access / Finding Aids

20. Preservation Efforts • Macro • Environmental • Redundant Temperature / Relative Humidity • Security • Technology • Eyes • Micro • Molecular Sieves • AD Strips

21. Preservation Efforts • Film • Vinegar Syndrome • Copying • Freezing • Digital • Flaking • Obsolescence • Digital Transcriptions • Something changing • Digital Migrations • Just a New Media • Baking

22. Preservation Efforts • Vinegar Syndrome • 19,000 Rolls • 1950s & Older Film • Not If, But When & at What Rate • Digital Transcriptions • 22,000 Wide Band Video Tapes • 1980 – Current, Landsat HDTs to DCRSi • DCRSi to LTO2 & 9940B • Migrations • CCT to 3480 to DLT to LTO2 to …

23. Preservation Efforts • Archive Media Trade Studies • http://edc2.usgs.gov/government/records/tools.asp • Long-Term Digital Philosophy • Near-Line • Off-Line • Off-Site

24. Disposition Procedures • Formal Appraisal Process Evolving • Scientist Involvement • Documented Recommendations & Actions • Follow Through • Relevant Agencies • NARA • Transfers or Destruction

25. Advocacy • Numerous Conventions • 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 • Leading News Agencies • Internationally Known Academics • CEOs of Global Companies • Committee on Earth Observation Satellites

26. Summary • Formal Archivist Position • 4 Years in Records Management Processes • Endorsement of the Lifecycle of Records • Legislative Mandate • Organizational Commitment to Archiving