National Geophysical Data Center Peter Kraft Florin Alexandrescu Brett Gottdener A Case Study

Purpose of Study Examine ROI methodology for a Gov org. –Costs and Benefits –ROI applicability Review a proposal Learn about NGDC Explore Gov funding

Outline Purpose of Study Overview of NOAA 5-Year Outlook Social Benefits Budget Requests Performance Standards Org. Chart and Table Products National Weather Service Solar Imaging Geodetic Survey Satellite Imagery Digested material Ted Habermann Sample Proposal Funding How Projects are Funded Federal Funding Funding after Gov. Fund Acquisition Interpretation and Examination ROI vs. Ted – 10 Steps Conclusive Thoughts Class Discussion

NOAA - 5 Year Strategic Outlook ( ) Protect, restore and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to management. Understand climate variability and change to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond. Serve society’s needs for weather and water information. Support the Nation’s commerce with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation.

Societal Benefits Values U.S. Ocean economy valued at $115 billion per year 1/3 of the economy ($3 Trillion is weather sensitive Coastal and Marine Waters provide over 28 million jobs Fisheries provide at least $60 billion to U.S. GDP Costs: Severe Weather causes $11 Billion in damages annually Weather related air traffic delays cost $4 billion annually

FY 2007 Budget Request Priorities Annual Budget: $3.684 billion Mission Support/People Infrastructure +$148.1M -$7.5M Marine Operations -$13.8M Modernize fleets -$4M Training -$133.7M Satellite programs -$12M Improving US Tsunami Warning Network Ecosystem Management +$107.6M -$19.7M Gulf of Mexico fisheries -$6M Open Rivers Initiative (Dam Removal) -Remaining funds to support Ocean Action Plan which oversees numerous science based conservation and management programs Climate Services +24.1M -$4M NIDIS (National Integrated Drought Information System -$2M New climate analysis data sets -$6.8M Archive and provide access to the world’s largest collection of data -$6.5M High performance computing and communication Weather & Water Information +$46.1M -$12.4M to operate the U.S. Tsunami Warning System -$3.5M Upgrade Wind Profiler Network -$1.4M Operate and maintain hurricane data buoys Commerce & Transportation -$2M Build and maintain navigational Charts -$1.8M Fund (2) new Navigational Response Teams in U.S. Waterways -$2M Implementing the National Vertical Datum Transformation Tool -$1.2M Improving aviation safety and economic efficiencies Additional Requests:

NOAA Performance Standards

Organization Chart U.S. Department of Commerce NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator Legislative Affairs Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere International AffairsDep. Assistant SecGeneral CounselProgram CoordinationDecision Coordination Chief Admin OfficerCFOHuman ResourcesAcquisition & Grants National Marine Fisheries Service National Ocean Service Oceanic & Atmospheric Research National Weather Service National Environmental Satellite, Data & Information Service Program Planning & Integration Public Constituent & Inter-Gov Affairs Education and Sustainable Dev. Program Analysis And Evaluation Marine and Aviation Operations Fed Coordinator For Meteorology Chief Information Officer National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC)

NGDC – Organizational Table

Product 1: National Weather Service Weather Hydrologic Climate forecasts Warnings

Product 2: Solar imaging Space weather and solar events Solar flares Solar eclipses

Product 3: Geodetic survey Defines the National Spatial Reference System which provides the foundation for mapping, transportation, satellite communication etc…

Product 4: Satellite imagery National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS) Landsat 3, 4 Fire and smoke analysis Snow and ice Hurricanes Winds Sun-synchronous orbit Geosynchronous orbits Polar orbits

NGDC contact: Ted Habermann Ph.D. from CU Boulder Researches spatial data management techniques Scientist Employs about people (CIRES)

Sample proposal Summary Problem statement Proposed solution Analysis Performance measures –Milestones –Deliverables Budget

How projects are funded Proposal process is messy Funding process is also messy Continuing resolutions ‘Societal benefits’ Salaries: Congress -> NOAA -> Ted -> University -> CIRES employees End of year money

Federal Funding Federal Fiscal Year: Oct 1st - Sept 30th Continuing Resolution in Aug/Sept –Traditionally a rare occurance –Becoming normal for every year Earliest Receipt of Funding: April 1st Last Date to Spend Funds: Sept 30th Congress -> NOAA (Ted) -> University -> Ted’s Employees University taking longer to process Grants –Must receive funding from Ted sooner

Fund Dispersion NOAA provides ~1.5M annually to Ted at NGDC –This comes from Gov. Most funding goes to Personnel –This is achieved via the U of C Boulder Sale of Maps and Data –Only charge for cost of reproduction –Covers cost only, provides no income

Fund Acquisition Other Federal Funding Sources –Basically not allowed –Few Exceptions (eg. NASA) NOAA Requests funds from Congress –Uses an approach based on Logical Reasoning In summary: “Get as much as you can” -Ted Habermann

Applying ROI Steps to our Case Study 1. Prepare for the ROI project 2. Identify Business Opportunities 3. Prioritize Business Opportunities 4. Construct a GIS Program 5. Define Project Control 6. Specify and Cost GIS projects 7. Estimate Benefits 8. Create a Benefits Roadmap 9. Calculate Financial Metrics 10. Build and Present a Report

Conclusive Thoughts NGDC > not the best ROI study –Doesn’t fit the ROI mold very well –Hard to relate what has been learned –Difficult to provide recommendations NGDC > a great ROI study –Realistic example of a different approach –Forced us to compare and contrast –Perspective on politics of government funding