OverviewOverviewStrategic Inventory, Monitoring, Strategic Inventory, Monitoring,

Assessment, and PlanningAssessment, and PlanningImprovementsImprovements

OverviewOverviewStrategic Inventory, Monitoring, Strategic Inventory, Monitoring,

Assessment, and PlanningAssessment, and PlanningImprovementsImprovements

Improving critical agency business processes

Process Improvement Efforts• Core GIS (1997)• Corporate Databases - NRIS, ALP/NILS, INFRA• Inventory and Monitoring Issue Team• Sustainable Development Issue Team• Forest Planning Procedures

• NFIM/NFPN Budget Formulation and Presentation• Forest Planning Regulations• Roads/Transportation and Roadless Policy• Cohesive Fire Strategy and Recreation Strategy• Eco-Regional Planning Requirements• External Sources (T&E Monitoring, TMDL, etc.)

New Processes (Opportunities?)

1999 2000 2001 2002

Requirements

Improvements

• Process Improvements are being completed

• Improvements must be implemented faster

• Must “keep our eye on the ball”

Implementation of Process ImprovementsIs not Keeping Pace with Requirements

Do We Have A Choice?

• 50-80% of FS budget is information management.

• Increasing analysis complexity and processes.

• Limited skills, tighter budgets, shorter time frames.

• Organizational survival requires new business methods.

Technical challenge is to develop new approaches.

Leadership challenge is to overcome cultural barriers and provide support to implement new business processes!

Aligning Improvement EffortsAligning Improvement Efforts

Setting an appropriate pace and priorities

Focus on High Payoff Investments

• Core GIS Implementation• Corporate Database Implementation• Inventory & Monitoring Process Improvements• Resource Information Program Management• Sustainable Development (LUCID)• Decision and Analysis Support Tools • Improved Functionality/Integration of Databases

Aligning Improvement Efforts

Core GIS Regional ResourceCorporate Databases Information Plans

I&M Protocols IM Framework &Program Mgmt IMIT Action PlanSustainability SDIT Action Plan

Support Tools ITIPS Documents forDatabase Upgrades NRIS, INFRA, ALP

Setting an Appropriate Pace

Core GISCorporate DBs

I&M ProtocolsProgram MgmtSustainability

Support Tools DB Upgrades

Bus. Req.

7 Regions2 Regions

V2.0

OrganizeProgramsReviews

Protocols

2001 2002 2003 2004

V2.X

Document

Critical ActionsCritical Actions

Leadership role and intervention

CSDS Enterprise-wide Review Findings

“Executive Leadership does not understand its role, nor the importance of consistent, senior level involvement in strategic information management.”

“…failure to be involved beyond project sponsorship and funding.”

“…professes support for information management principles but falls short of “walking the talk…”

Focus on Principles

Improvement efforts have enormous payoffs

Enable exchange of data, talent, and knowledge

Focus on basic data using a systems approach

Automate and build-in expertise/efficiency

There will be transition costs; field effects

Information foundation critical to decision making

Critical Leadership Actions

Take an Active Role in RIM

Accelerate NRIS Implementation

Implement Core GIS

Improve I&M Activities

Focus Budget Direction/Funding

Formalize RIM Organizations

Accelerated NRIS ImplementationAccelerated NRIS Implementation

Minimizing Transition Cost

Legacy Data – Largest Single Barrier

Agreements - Experience

November 1998 and 1999 Joint ESCT/IREMCG Meetings-Regions responsible for data cleanup and migration-NRIS personnel will assist

Regional Resource Information Plans-Regional data stewardship roles defined-Legacy data cleanup and migration emphasized

Installations on Individual NFs/NGs-Migration of legacy data limits rate of installations-Legacy data critical to ownership and use

Region 2 NRIS Implementation Pilot-Migration of legacy data largest impact-Critical GIS layers missing (watersheds/streams)

R2 Implementation Pilot

Refinement Test in Another Region

Legacy Data Evaluation in allother Regions [$1M/Region]

STEP 1.May-Sept. 2000

STEP 2.Oct.1 2000 –Feb. 2001

STEP 3.Oct.2000 –Sept. 2001

STEP 4.Oct.1, 2001 –May, 2002

Complete legacy data migration to NRIS [$1M/Region]

STEP 5.Oct. 1, 2002

All Legacy Systems Converted to NRIS

Accelerated NRIS Implementation

Core GIS ImplementationCore GIS Implementation

Getting our Maps Together

FS Geospatial Policy and Programs

1997 ESCT/IREMCG Approval-Core GIS Layers Approved-Implementation Plan – Regional Approach

Geospatial Executive Board-WO Directors (NFS/R&D/S&PF/IRM)-Policy – Direction, Coordination-Funding/Budget Direction

Geospatial Advisory Committee-Field and National program representation-Development of policy, direction, funding proposals-Sponsors Technical Working Groups

Interim Actions, Standards, and Policy

Interim Direction-GIS Data Dictionary-Cartographic Publishing Tools

Core GIS Program-Core GIS Pilot Test-Core GIS Development Program-National GIS Contracting Services (GSTC)

Coordinated IRM System Transition-GIS Software Upgrade (IMS, Version 8.0+)-Workstation Standards (3 Levels)

Core GIS Budget Direction-Allocation Criteria-Emphasis “Critical” Layers to support Corporate DBs

Long-term Framework

•Core GIS Report (1997)

•Geospatial Executive Board formed to address:

-FS Policy - Manual and Handbook Direction-Integration of FS Standards with FGDC-Complete Core GIS Coverage for All NFS Lands-Role of National Technical Centers in Field Support-Integration with National Applications

Standardizing I&M ActivitiesStandardizing I&M Activities

Minimizing Future Data Management Costs

FSH:• Common Stand Exam• TEUI• Aquatic Inventory

Corporate Protocols, Standards, Data Bases

Interim Actions, Standards, and Policy

Data Migration Templates-Legacy Data Evaluation Guidebook-Standard Templates for Legacy Data

Integrated Inventory Direction-Common Stand Exam FSH-Terrestrial Ecological Unit Inventory FSH-Aquatic Ecological Unit Inventory FSH-Field Data Recorder Programs to support

Monitoring and Evaluation Direction-LUCID Field Tests – Sustainability Monitoring-Forest Plan Monitoring Chapter Content-Monitoring Program MAR Items

Long-term Strategy

• Inventory and Monitoring Framework- IMIT Action Plan

• Sustainable Development Issue Team Action Plan

Program Budget DirectionProgram Budget Direction

Focused Funding for Interim Actions

Show Me the Money!

Discretionary Funding Approaches Not Working-Local priorities take precedence-Direction ineffective without program accountability

Congressional Confidence and Interest Increasing-Budget Staff interest and expectations increasing-FY2001 Funding increased by $47M to $235M

Must Demonstrate Results!-Clear relationship of results to program direction-Activity Reviews (Regional/National)

Program Dictates a Formal Approach-Information foundation critical-Managing with Ad Hoc organizations

FY 2001 Budget and DirectionAllocation Criteria

-Link to Annual Performance Measures/Activities-Link to GPRA Strategic Plan

Geospatial Programs-Earmark for Core GIS Layers-Pilot Testing/GIS Training/Cartographic Tools

Resource Information Management-Earmark for Data Stewardship/Implementation-Earmark for Data Migration Capture

Inventory and Monitoring-Earmark for I&M protocol testing (LUCID, R1/4, etc.)-NFS Targets Benchmarked/Negotiated

Program Formulation and Strategy

Program Formulation and “Script”-Information Foundation Critical to Decision Making -Corporate Solutions Most Efficient -Rapid Transition to Corporate Systems-Continuously Monitor and Amend Forest Plans

Program Accountability-Align with GPRA Strategic Plan Outcome Measures-Annual Performance Measures/MAR Linkages-Program Reviews/Document Results

Organizing to ManageResource InformationOrganizing to ManageResource Information

Form Follows Function

RIM Organizations

• Formal RIM Organizations Key to Progress-Pick your study or report

• Level of Expertise Needed Increasing• Program Complexity Increasing• The RIM Job Won’t Go Away

Interim Actions

• Designate Region/Station Director Level Contact• Designate Regional Coordinators for:

- Resource Information Coordinator- INFRA Coordinator- ALP Contact- TIM Coordinator- GIS Program

• Collateral Duties for:- Data Administrators- Data Stewards- ???

Long-term Solutions

• Regional Resource Information Plans define:- Regional Information Officer- Data Administrator- Data Stewards- GIS Coordinator

• Formal Regional Organizations Needed?