American Samoa GIS User Group meeting
November 6, 2002

Agenda

1. Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) overview presentation (Mark Hayward)

Mark summarized the components of the draft SDI document that was compiled by the “data working group” for the greater GIS community. Included in the document is an MOU which will formalize the ASGIS; documented standards in terms of map projections, datums, file naming conventions and directory structure; off island and on island data repositories, GPS Base station resources, an image inventory, data dictionary, etc.) A digital copy of the draft SDI document will be posted to the ASGIS List Serve early next week. The greater GIS community is encouraged to submit comments to Mark for inclusion in the document. Once the GIS community has finished submitting comments, a formal presentation will be made to on island agency management. It is anticipated that over 14 local and federal agencies will sign the MOU. Several attorneys are currently reviewing the document.

2. Territorial standards (Data Working Group)

The root level folders in the proposed interagency data structure were explained. The directory structure is intended to accommodate legacy data, newly developed framework data, imagery, tools, final maps and project data sets that are under development. A data dictionary is being compiled by the data working group to list the framework files contained in the structure along with standardized naming conventions. It is recommended that FGDC compliant metadata be required to include framework data in the “DataBank.” Cultural Resource data will be available upon request to the appropriate agencies. This information will not be published on the online archive: http://dusk.geo.orst.edu/djl/samoa/

3. Update on imagery acquisition efforts and IKONOS license uplift

Richard Davis is scheduled to arrive on Monday, November 11th in order to conduct the 1:8000 True Color air photo survey of Tutuila and the Manu’a Islands.

The USFWS contract to capture 1:24000 Color Infrared Imagery will not take place this year due to problems with the contractor. The contract may be extended into the next fiscal year.

The IKONOS satellite image licensing has been uplifted from 5 seats to 10 seats.

The USFS will be conducting a pilot study to review which imagery is most appropriate for vegetation mapping. A sample of the high resolution Quickbird imagery, the IKONOS imagery and air photo sources will be considered in this cost benefit analysis.

4. Upcoming training at ASCC Institute of Technology

An image processing course is tentatively scheduled for the Spring semester at ASCC.

5. Geography Awareness Week / GIS Day

ASGIS is tentatively planning a GIS Day in February or March. This will probably be an open house forum for each agency to bring a laptop or workstation to demo a selected project. This may take place in the convention center adjacent to the Sanctuary office. It is proposed that this would be an ideal forum to present the SDI to local agency management. The ASGIS day may coincide with visits by leading software companies including ESRI and Trimble.

6. Multibeam bathymetry / benthic habitat mapping (visiting researchers: David Naar, Brian Donahue, Emily Lundblad)

Dr. Naar presented the results of the first two phases of the multibeam surveys which have generated bathymetry data around Tutuila. This team of researchers will begin the third phase of this bathymetry mapping in Fagatele Bay and in the offshore areas of the National Park unit on Tutuila.

7. The next meeting will be hosted by DMWR in early December or early January.

Will White of the ASG Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources will host the next GIS meeting on Friday, January 10th. Mark your calendars!

This meeting was attended by the following agency representatives:

1. Kevin Cronk, ASG Department of Commerce
2. Matthew Allen, ASG Department of Commerce
3. Pete Tuaoro, ASG Department of Public Works
4. Julie Taomia, ASG Historic Preservation Office
5. JR Sauni, ASG Department of Commerce
6. Evan Pfaff, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
7. Petelo Ioane, ASG Department of Public Works
8. B.J. Bukata, ASG Department of Commerce
9. Allison Graves, National Park of American Samoa
10. Eddie Vaouli, National Park of American Samoa
11. Eric Hanson, American Samoa Community College Land Grant
12. David Kolberg, American Samoa Community College
13. Emily Lundland, Oregon State University
14. Will White, ASG Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources
15. David Naar, University of South Florida
16. Brian Donahue, University of South Florida
17. Mark Hayward, American Samoa Power Authority
18. Nancy Daschbach, NOAA Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Teleconference attendees:

19. Carol Ostergren, US Geological Survey
20. Ron Salz, US Fish and Wildlife Service