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Spatial Data Development and Analysis - GIS Development

Task Objectives

The other SubTasks of the Spatial Data Development and Analysis Task collectively provide much of the spatial data and information required to conduct an Updated National Mineral Resource Assessment but individually they can supply only parts of the full body of data that will be required by the assessment. This SubTask is designed to provide the integrating structure and GIS support necessary to integrate the Task 9 SubTasks into a working resource assessment framework. In addition, this SubTask will have the long term goal of helping provide the spatial analysis capabilities required by the Updated National Mineral Resource Assessment itself.

Statement of Work

2008 will constitute a year of planning, coordination, and information gathering. Issues that need to be addressed include:

1. how and at what level to integrate national and regional data into a working GIS to support the Updated National Mineral Resource Assessment,
2. defining specific requirements of assessment working groups,
3. scoping the status of our national and regional datasets,
4. defining new data requirements,
5. organizing to utilize existing data and information resources within and external to the USGS.

In particular, we will develop and maintain a reference library with web links to data and as appropriate begin to warehouse datasets of significance in a centralized location. In effect we will attempt to be a central location for knowledge about and supplier of relevant data for the Updated National Mineral Resource Assessment.

Although it's not possible to fully anticipate assessment group requirements, we can consider existing and previous assessment Projects and their requirements. Of particular significance, is the current Quantitative Global Mineral Resource Assessment Project (GMRAP) whose approach, requirements and methodologies are similar to the those anticipated for the Updated National Mineral Resource Assessment Project. For example, GMRAP is currently working on a data model, which should be largely transferable to this effort, for permissive and favorable tracts. Working from that example, we propose to start designing and building a GIS infrastructure to support the Updated National Mineral Resource Assessment. Activities for this year: create a draft standardized GIS data model, identifying the information to be stored in the spatial database(s), standardizing naming conventions (i.e., filename, tract I.D., etc.), defining attributes, testing the model in a pilot study to determine its viability/usefulness, and identifying a workflow and subdirectory structure that can be understood and used by a geographically dispersed GIS staff.

We will also attempt to coordinate spatial data requirements with the Development of Mineral Environmental Assessment Methodologies and Assessment Techniques for Concealed Mineral Resources Projects.

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