Functions of the GIS Steering Committee

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Geographic Information Systems Steering Committee is composed of representatives from each of our geographic regions, plus representatives from each Assistant Directorship from the Washington Office. This group is intended to act as a liaison between the Washington Office and the Regions, and to provide guidance regarding:

• Data Acquisition - much inexpensive information is available through commercial sources and our partners. The Service can take advantage of this opportunity if we cooperate and share information among ourselves.
• Data Standards - the Service is in the process of establishing data standards for a number of basic GIS data layers, to facilitate the process of documenting and sharing data.  Standardized data will also make it easier to implement basic on-line data queries and mapping applications.  The Steering Committee provides the technical input to draft and review standards, making sure the final standards will benefit Service users.
• Data Documentation and Sharing - the GIS Steering Committee is working towards developing a formal catalog of the Service's spatial data holdings, encouraging informal coordination within the Service and with our partners and making the data accessible through national and regional Internet sites..
• Training Requirements and Opportunities -  the National Conservation Training Center has been operational for over a year now, and offers a variety of GIS classes as well as GIS modules in other conservation classes.  The Steering Committee provides input on what types of classes are needed as well as helping design the yearly GIS Workshop, which is often used to test prototype classes.
• Budget and Resource Program Priorities - as limited funds are available for the Service GIS program, the Steering Committee must set priorities for Service GIS initiatives to maximize benefits.  The wide range of backgrounds and viewpoints brought to the table by Steering Committee members makes it easier to fulfill that goal.
• Software and Hardware Information - the Steering Committee does not choose a single GIS software or hardware system to meet everyone's needs; the Service relies on a variety of commercial, off-the-shelf systems. Model configurations are defined and updated periodically by the Steering Committee and then circulated by various means to help offices select the right combination of hardware and software to meet their needs and budget.