Data Administration

Data Overview

Data is used daily in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)for a variety of purposes. Outlining refuge management priorities, tracking the populations of migratory birds and endangered species to see if management practices are enhancing the populations, maintaining facilities, and a host of other actions require good data to make informed decisions. To effectively manage data, there needs to be a knowledge of what data exists, that knowledge needs to be shared, and the data needs to be set up and documented in a standard manner.

Data Standards

FWS is just starting down the road of defining data standards. We have defined a process to identify and implement these standards. The data include individual data elements, classification systems, data development procedures, and spatial data layers among others. Information shared here will help on the journey. Please come visit our Data Standards pages for information on how we are doing this in the FWS.

GIS- Spatial Data Overview

Geographic Information Systems form one of the largest data sources/uses in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The combination of mapped information and tabular (database) information is very powerful and useful, but also very expensive to create and maintain. Federal agencies have been mandated to avoid duplication in the area of spatial data, and to make a concerted effort to share the data they have and are creating. In addition, FWS staff have a need to share information on how to effectively use GIS to enhance management activities in the Service. The FWS GIS homepage is designed to assist in those needs.

Some of the many uses of data

For additional information regarding this Web page, contact Deb Green, in the Division of Information Resources and Technology Management, at Deb_Green@fws.gov

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Keywords=GIS, data
Last Modified July 29, 2002