DMT - Data Management Working Group

DMT WG Pages: Documents - Other Links

1. PURPOSE and BACKGROUND:

The current methods of data management and collection on an individual site or planning unit basis has left the California desert region with data that are inconsistent from place to place and difficult to use for addressing natural and cultural resources issues. There are few common data standards among and within the DMG agencies, and only a rudimentary understanding of the information available or required to deal with issues on a local, landscape, interagency or ecosystem basis. The Data Management Interagency Working Group (DMIWG) is formed to assist managers in improving data management and GIS capabilities for addressing local and regional issues. The group serves as a focal point for discussing multi-agency data issues and needs related to resource management. The group will address the availability, strengths, and weaknesses of existing data as a basis for building integrated local and regional data sets that will provide a context on which to build data bases and conduct GIS related analyses of the California Deserts.

2. MISSION:

Improve the use and sharing of information and data management systems and promote cost effective data management in the California Deserts.

3. DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

• >Brief the DMG on the working group's activities
• Facilitate coordination among and/or provide support on data and geographic information systems to work groups.
• Develop annual work plan and budget for work group activities. Submission to DMG not later than July 1 for upcoming FY. Assist in developing annual work plans and associated budgets by reviewing proposals to implement DMG initiatives.
• As requested by the DMG, provide technical review of activities, projects, work plans, final reports and major products. Evaluate the effectiveness of these activities and report results to the DMG. Annually review and recommend for approval to the DMG updates to the DMG five year goal.
• Develop recommendations to enhance joint interests in the collection, management, and use of resource information and data including data standards, technical standards, inventories, analysis methodologies, and applications. Define common data requirements that can be standardized and cooperatively supported. Formulate standards, establish data management priorities, applications and data maintenance protocols, and make recommendations on stewardship of regional data.
• Identify key data sets/spatial information requirements. Develop, evaluate, and recommend resolution of consistency and implementation issues relating to these data sets and requirements.
• Develop a seamless, current, and accessible information network.