Geospatial Strategic Plan

1. Geospatial Strategic Plan 10 August 2010

2. Overview / Agenda • Brief overview of current organization of EPA National Geospatial Program • The need for change • Working more efficiently, generating cost savings • Providing better tools and data for EPA and our stakeholders • Better, more consistent communications on the web using geography • Better support for community based programs and other Administrator priorities • Creating a roadmap for change • Working with the QIC on providing leadership towards a comprehensive, Agency-wide Geospatial Program • Defining the role of the Agency GIS Workgroup and OEI in making investment recommendations to the QIC • Defining the role of the Agency GIS Workgroup and OEI in making recommendations for application / data development standards to the QIC • Defining the appropriate suite of cost and performance management tools for tracking our progress towards our goals • Proposed Next Steps

3. Current Agency GIS Program • EPA is a leader in the use of geospatial technology for achieving our mission outcomes • Our analysts have used geospatial technology since it was invented • We been at the leading edge of using place-based approaches for both analytical use inside the Agency and in communicating with the public • Our rich and successful history in this area has given us a leadership role in the federal community • Data.gov / Open Government • Supplemental Guidance for OMB Circular A-16 • OMB “Geospatial Platform” • Structure of Agency Geospatial Program • EPA GIS Workgroup • Elected leadership, Steering Committee from regions and HQ • ~300 members across the Agency • Grassroots in origins, no delegated authority • Common Support and Services • Central Support Team & WCF XB • Enterprise Geospatial Software & Data Licensing (EG) • Investment and Performance Management • Existing CPIC: Matrix organization (OEI + Regions) that includes central infrastructure (OEI) + regional “nodes” • Current Ex 300 expires at end of FY12

4. The Need for Change • Principal Drivers for Change • Data & Tools For Protecting the Environment At Your Fingertips: Increased support for Community-Based programs, Administrator and Administration priorities, Program Offices goals and objectives • Customer Service and Expectations: Use of geospatial technology has become commonplace at EPA (and everywhere else) • Cost Management: We have done an outstanding job at advancing our shared toolkits (software in particular)… but could more effectively re-use the applications we build and data we manage

5. Creating a Roadmap for Change • Geospatial Blueprint (2010 Edition) • 2003 Blueprint outlined many actions, vast majority completed • Technology and organizational changes result in need for new gameplan • OEI & GIS Workgroup Steering Committee have started the process of creating a 2010 Edition of the EPA Geospatial Blueprint • Would like to begin process of broader Agency-wide circulation and request for input on this draft • What the Blueprint Contains: • History • Strengths, Weaknesses & Opportunities • Goals (with supporting Objectives & Actions) • Soliciting input from QIC on current draft goals • Request to engage with us in finishing the work we have started

6. Proposed Blueprint Goals • Business Processes: Improve EPA decision making by incorporating place based approaches, data, tools and intelligence into a widening range of EPA business processes. • Data Architecture: Provide EPA staff, partners and stakeholders with the geospatial data they need to effectively support sound, science based decision making. • Applications Architecture: Provide EPA staff, partners and stakeholders with applications and web services needed to leverage the power of geospatial information and analysis to make better environmental decisions • Technology Architecture: Modernize and maintain an enterprise infrastructure that supports access, use, management and delivery of distributed geospatial data, applications and web services in an efficient and effective manner. • Governance Architecture: Mature and refine an effective governance structure for setting priorities for geospatial investments, coordinating geospatial efforts, and advocating for the effective use of geospatial data and technologies throughout the Agency and outside the agency on a federal task force level. Enhance outreach opportunities to clients and the public.

7. Working Together (For Discussion) • Bring the GIS Workgroup Steering Committee under the purview of the QIC • Potentially through some form of a subcommittee of the QIC focused on geospatial matters • Proposed near term actions for the new subcommittee • Policy and investment framework development • Governance of shared services • GEO investment management framework • Interaction with QIC on requirements for enterprise data acquisition • Development of standards for intranet and internet geospatial applications, supporting QTS in promulgating and maintaining these standards • Proposed structure for and staffing of Planning and Review Board function for proposed applications containing geospatial technology • Definition of EPA “GIS Lead” roles and responsibilities • Serving the local organization • Serving the national program