International Metadata Workshop
Special Projects staff participated in a one-day workshop on the transition from the Federal Geographic Data Committee's Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata to the upcoming International Organization for Standards (ISO) North American Profile of ISO 19115:2003, which represents the U.S. profile of the internationally developed and approved metadata standard ISO 19115. The United States is in the final stages of implementing this new geospatial metadata standard in compliance with the ISO. Workshop discussions focused on practical measures to prepare and implement ISO migration. This information will be used as a foundation as Special Projects begins to provide support to the NOS Chief Information Officer’s office in developing an ISO metadata transition plan for NOS. (Sarah O’Connor)
NOS Data Explorer GIS Production Environment Upgrade
Staff from Special Projects worked with the NOS Data Explorer Technical Team to upgrade the enterprise GIS development and production environment and Web-mapping servers from ESRI‘s ArcIMS 9.1 to 9.2 environment. Several operating system patches and GIS application utilities were updated and synchronized onto the two-tier GIS development and production environment that hosts the NOS Data Explorer site. The software updates fixed a recurring problem with NOS Data Explorer which prevented end-users from previewing and downloading geo-spatial data. This upgrade also allowed Special Projects and the NOS Data Explorer team to publish an additional 1,000+ metadata records. (Nipa Parikh)
NOS Activities Database
Working with the Communications and Education Division and the Policy, Planning and Analysis Division, Special Projects developed a database to track events, conferences, meetings, reports, and other activities across NOS. The database is a tool to assist program offices with identifying opportunities for cross-program collaboration and provide information about events that are of particular interest to NOS leadership. The database provides information in a calendar format as well as lists by specific fields like program office activities, Congressional participation, and media involvement. The database may be viewed at: https://www9.nos.noaa.gov/nosevents/Login.aspx, using the same login information used for e-mail. (Carol Kavanagh and Jerry Lau)
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User Interface Components for Web-based Systems Testing
Special Projects staff are using the Apex mockup code they developed for the NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations Fleet Allocation System to test Telerik controls. Telerik is a leading vendor of user interface components for ASP.NET, Windows Forms, and .NET reporting solutions. This test will help increase understanding of how Telerik controls work in the .NET environment, thereby benefiting the future development of all Web-based database systems, including the Fleet Allocation System. (Fay Tang)
NOAA GIS Committee Meeting Planning and Facilitation
Special Projects worked with the Coastal Services Center to design a workshop held August 28-29 in Silver Spring, Maryland, for the NOAA GIS Committee to get consensus on a response to proposals for agency-wide software license agreements with Google and ESRI. Special Projects provided the facilitation that kept the committee focused on meeting topics, guided discussion on options for resolving issues related to specific requirements of the agreements, and led the group to make decisions. The outcomes of this meeting will become part of the formal recommendations submitted to NOAA's Office of the Chief Information Officer. (Davida Remer and John Hayes)
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors’ Summit
On August 25, 2007, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour hosted executive level representation from the five Gulf States and the Interagency Committee on Ocean Science and Resource Management Integration federal agencies, as well as several members of Congress and their staffs, for a dialogue on the future of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. Special Projects was an integral contributor in developing and coordinating the event. Key NOAA attendees included NOAA Administrator VADM Conrad Lautenbacher, NOS Assistant Administrator Jack Dunnigan, Office of Program Planning and Integration Acting Assistant Administrator Paul Doremus, NOAA Coastal Services Center Director Margaret Davidson, and NOAA Gulf of Mexico Regional Collaboration Team lead Buck Sutter. Under the theme of “Building Upon a Successful State-Federal Partnership,” the five Gulf States reviewed successes to date in achieving the Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts and outlined a vision for the next phase of the Alliance. This vision includes the development of a new five-year action plan and an associated legislative strategy. Federal, nonprofit, and industry representatives agreed to support the Alliance and collaboratively address regional priorities identified by the five Gulf States. (Brent Ache)
NOAA Leadership Seminar Support
Special Projects staff provided technical support for the NOAA Leadership Seminar (NLS), held August 27-30 in Warrenton, Virginia. This an annual event for NOAA employees with an interest in gaining knowledge of current NOAA initiatives, networking with NOAA senior leaders and other participants, and enhancing leadership skills. A Special Projects staff member coordinated audio-visual support with the conference center, loaded and advanced PowerPoint presentations, and took photos to record NLS events. (Jerry Lau)
NOAA 200th Anniversary Web Site Feature Stories
The NOAA 200th Anniversary Web site, developed by Special Projects in collaboration with all NOAA offices, presents a range of content commemorating NOAA's 200 years of science, service, and stewardship. Each month, an eclectic mix of five new articles are added to the Feature Stories section of the site, adding flavor to the broader NOAA story and increasing visitor understanding and appreciation of the value of NOAA's contributions. August Feature Stories present details on the evolution of the Agro buoy program, information on applications of Coastal Oceanographic Applications and Services of Tides And Lakes (COASTAL) products, a Weather Service review of the great 1900 Galveston Hurricane, the history of the Transcontinental Traverse, and an overview of cooperative efforts to restore coastal areas following oil and chemical spills. To read 200th Feature Stories, visit http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/stories.html (Emily Crum)
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