--- Begin Forwarded Message --- Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 17:38:27 -0800 (PST) From: Lily Wai <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Distribution of USGS digital spatial data Sender: Lily Wai <[log in to unmask]> Hi, all: below are the history of my correspondences with people who have control of the digital spatial data. I thought I would share this information with you all. I was not aware that digital data is no longer included in the USGS FDLP distribution program. Some states got lucky just because the data were produced pre 1998. I was told the National Mapping Division of USGS has a policy specified only free distribution of topographic paper editions to FDLP, but did not include any of the digital spatial data. See the messages below for details. Sorry about the long messages. I just wonder how many of us are aware that digital data is no longer being distributed to FDLP automatically by agencies. Lily Lily Wai Phone: 208-885-6344 Head of Government Documents Fax: 208-885-6817 University of Idaho Library (0135) E-Mail:[log in to unmask] Moscow, ID 83844-2353 http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/govdoc __________________________________________________________________________ Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 14:23:27 -0800 (PST) From: Lily Wai <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Cc: [log in to unmask] Subject: Acquiring USGS digital spatial data Hi, Robin: I just had a phone conversation with Bill Smith at USGS, Denver. We are trying to get the DEM data for Idaho for our INSIDE Idaho project (supported by the congressional appropriated grant that I told you about last Fall.) We run into a legal question whether digital data is part of the depository distribution. USGS' NMD (National Mapping Division) policy, 99-NMD-1 only included "Free automatic distribution of new or revised USGS topographic maps...." but mentioned nothing about the digital spatial data distribution. Bill needs to clear this up with you to make sure that he can distribute this data to us. There are 6 CD-ROMs for Idaho. We really need to have this data ASAP. Our project is being held up without this data. Will you please give him a call to clear this up? His phone number is: 303-202-4493, and his email is: [log in to unmask] Bill is very helpful in trying to get this data to us, but is right now hung up with the legal distribution process. I hope you can help us to speed up this process without having to go through the entire GPOacquisition procedures. All we need is the 6 CD-ROMs that cover the Idaho NED level 2 spatial data. Thanks. Lily ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 11:39:18 -0500 From: "Haun-mohamed, Robin L." <[log in to unmask]> To: 'Lily Wai' <[log in to unmask]> Subject: RE: Distribution of NED (fwd) Lily, Rea called to explain that they could not provide the data you are requesting at no charge. You will have to pay the posted prices if you need the information. At this time the NED is not ready for release. She thought that down the road you may be able to download the data for free from an FTP, but this is not a promise and it is definately not there yet. For the DOQ's, as I explained this morning, they were doing them through the Program and then stopped producing them on CD-ROM. At this time no one is able to obtain the data at no charge--even the stage agencies and cooperative partners have to pay for this information. At this point there is nothing more that I am able to do for you on this. I am wondering if you have spoken with Donna Koep at the Univ. of Kansas, also a regional, about the project that she was working for maps, along similar lines to what you are doing? Thanks, rhm Robin L. Haun-Mohamed Chief, Depository Administration Branch Library Programs Service (SLLA) U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, DC 20401 Telephone: 202.512.1071 Fax: 202.512-1636 E-Mail: [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Lily Wai [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 7:44 PM To: Haun-mohamed, Robin L. Subject: Distribution of NED (fwd) Robin: have you heard further from USGS about the spatial data I need for our project? Here is Bill Smith's message to me. If you can contact Rea Mueller in Reston HQ, may be we can speed things up?! I also ran into snags with our Boise office for the DOQ data. Apparently there are about 150 CDs of DOQs (Digital Orthophoto Quad) available for coverage of the southern Idaho counties at the Bureau of Land Management Office. John Cortright in the BLM office originally agreed to let my team member to borrow these CDs for us to copy at the Library, but now he claims that he can't let them leave Boise. We have to copy them in Boise with a commercial company and pay $5.25 a piece for the collection. I am very frustrated with their unawareness of their legal obligation to provide the digital spatial data to the FDLP. I am willing to go extra miles in order to obtain the data in a timely manner. But it seems like pulling teeth and our project is on hold because their reluctence in providing us the data. Will you also contact USGS about Idaho's DOQ CDs? Apparently the 150 CD data of DOQs were data created by both USGS and BLM for the counties in southern Idaho. I was able to obtain some DOQQs for the northern Idaho counties from our local NRCS office. I personally copied them all for our library collection. Some how, Idaho is left out of the FDLP distribution as far as digital spatial data is concerned. If you can convince USGS to provide us these spatial data I would appreciate it very much. Thanks. Lily Wai Phone: 208-885-6344 Head of Government Documents Fax: 208-885-6817 University of Idaho Library (0135) E-Mail:[log in to unmask] Moscow, ID 83844-2353 http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/govdoc ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 14:26:58 -0700 From: William Smith <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Distribution of NED Lily: Just wanted to take a minute and let you know what I have done concerning your request for distribution of USGS digital data products, in particular the National Elevation Dataset (NED). I emailed Robin Haun-Mohamed yesterday evening (Thursday, 9 Dec 99) requesting information about automatic free distribution of USGS products and whether digital products are included. I gave her my email address and telephone number. I asked about her shipping other digital data to you. I contacted John Davis (IS-RMMC) and asked John. John is under the same impression as I am (digital data is not included in the program), but he gave me the name of a person in Reston that would know. This morning (Friday, 10 Dec 99), I emailed Rea Mueller at our Reston HQ. She is the person who would know the definitive answer to this question. As soon as I hear back from Rea, I shall contact you and let you know what Rea indicates. Talk with you soon. BJ Smith --- End Forwarded Message ---