Elizabeth Lile, USGS Rocky Mountain Geographic Science Center

1. Elizabeth Lile, USGS Rocky Mountain Geographic Science Center

2. What is the GTG? • Interagency group created in October 1999 • Reports to the Information Resource Management Working Team (IRMWT) under the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)

3. NWCG Membership USDA Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Fire Administration National Association of State Foresters Bureau of Indian Affairs Bureau of Land Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Park Service Fire Systems Research, U.S. Forest Service Intertribal Timber Council Source: National Wildfire Coordinating Group

4. Working Teams

5. Goals and Objectives of GTG • Provide a coordinated interagency point of contact for the NWCG IRMWT regarding the use of geospatial technology • Recommend and review interagency standards and processes • Encourage and recommend the development of geospatial data and applications to support interagency fire management

6. Who are the Members ?

7. Web Site: gis.nwcg.gov

8. GTG Direction • 2001 • IRMWT gave clear direction to GTG stating that the group was not operational, but a standards organization

9. Standards • Facilitate data sharing • Increase interoperability among geospatial technologies • Standards contribute to making life simpler • Increase the reliability and effectiveness of the GIS products produced.

10. Data Standards • Data layer standards • Fire Perimeter • Fire history (polygon) • Data item standards • NWCG Data Administration Working Group http://www.nwcg.gov/teams/pmo/dawg.htm

11. GTG Accomplishments • 2002 • Presented two issue papers to IRMWT • Developing an Interagency Standard for the Transfer and Documentation of GIS Fire Perimeters • A Recommended Approach for Simplifying Wildland Fire Occurrence Reporting and Creating GIS Layers from Wildland Fire Occurrence Data

12. GTG Accomplishments • The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Data Administration Working Group approved in 2006: • Daily Fire Perimeter Data Layer Standard • Fire History Data Layer Standard • These standards were developed by the NWCG’s Geospatial Task Group (GTG) and are an agreed upon minimum interagency national standard.

13. GTG Accomplishments • The NWCG Geographic Information System (GIS) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Incidents Project (GSTOP) • Details in another presentation

14. GIS Technical Specialist: • 4 Types of Positions • ICS positions • Wildfire Skill positions • Technical Specialist Positions • Wildfire Skill Positions • GTG proposed that the GIST be transferred from a Technical Specialist position to an ICS position with a position task book and required/recommended training

15. Geographic Information System Specialist (GISS) • Position was included in the 2006 release of the Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide, PMS 310-1. • The PMS 310-1 is available on the NWCG Publication Management System web page • Information about the GISS position can be found on page 105 of the PMS 310-1 document.

16. GISS • The GISS position has replaced the GIS Technical Specialist (GIST) position • The GIST position title and code will be made inactive in IQCS. • The GIST position title and code will no longer be used on incident qualification cards or in the Resource Ordering and Status System (ROSS).

17. GISS • A transition guidance letter has been released from NWCG specifying grandfathering procedures for the GIST to GISS conversion, and is available on the NWCG website. • Links to Task Book & information are on the GTG website: gis.nwcg.gov

18. Geospatial Training Advisory Group (GTAG) • Mission: • Enable the efficient transfer of geospatial training and technology skills to professionals that support ICS. • Maintain and raise the quality of geospatial intelligence tools and products used to support all-risk incidents.

19. GTAG- Members • Karl Brown, NPS, CO, Rocky Mountain • Kathie Hansen, NPS, MI, Eastern • Kerri Mich, USFS, NM, Southwest • Emmor Nile, ODF, OR, Northwest • Sean Triplett, BLM, AK, Alaska • Eric Schmeckpeper, USFS, GA, Southern • Open, Northern Rockies • Open, Great Basin (East or West) • Open, California (North or South) • Don Washco (Course Coordinator), BLM, AZ

20. GAO Report on Geospatial Technologies and Wildland Fire

21. GAO Report on Geospatial Technologies and Wildland Fire • Recommendations • Develop an interagency geospatial strategy for effectively using geospatial information technologies in all phases of wildland fire management • Develop an interagency IRM strategy for wildland fire management • Develop an interagency enterprise architecture for wildland fire management

22. NWCG Geospatial Task Group’s Geospatial Strategic Plan • The GTG vision is that geospatial technologies are pervasive and transparent in wildland fire management and that the resulting products and services are integral to and enhance decision making in all phases of wildland fire management.

23. Strategic Plan Goals • DATA: Quality geospatial data is easily accessible and used appropriately. • SYSTEMS: Stable, trusted, effective, and dependable systems that have a geospatial component are available to meet wildland fire needs. • INFRASTRUCTURE: A common interagency infrastructure is in place to meet the business needs of the wildland fire community.

24. Strategic Plan Goals… • STAFFING: Personnel are willing and able to support, maintain, and utilize geospatial technologies as appropriate. • USE OF NEW PRODUCTS: The wildland fire community is using the most appropriate geospatial technology. • COMMUNICATION: Effectively communicate wildland fire interagency geospatial issues, policies and standards.

25. Be part of the team • You can recommend issues by contacting a GTG member or your IRMWT representative • http://gis.nwcg.gov

26. Final thoughts

27. Final Thoughts GTG