U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Records Appraisal Tool Presented at the Ensuring the Long-Term Preservation & Adding Value to the Scientific & Technical Data Symposium by John Faundeen & Carol Wippich European Space Agency, Frascati, Italy October 7, 2004

Outline  Context  Rationale  Process  Tool  Summary

Context  1970s  Landsat  Primarily Laser-Beam Recorder Film  2004  Multiple Satellites  Mainly Digital  Aerial Photography  Analog  GIS  Topography / Elevation

Context

 Aerial & Space Photography  4 Film Types  Multiples Sizes  110,000 Rolls – 13,000,000 Frames  1937 to Present

Context

 Digital Satellite Imagery  1 to 2 Terabytes / Day  2 Petabytes – 3,000,000 Images  1972 to Present  National Satellite Land Remote Sensing Data Archive  U.S. Public Law (1992)  Federal Advisory Committee Act  Committee on Earth Observation Satellites  Working Group on Information Systems & Services  Archive Task Team

Context

Rationale  No “Back Door”  Seeking Additional Relevance  Met Other Agency Desires  Little to No Documentation  Embracing Lifecycle  Creation / Acceptance  Maintenance & Use  Disposition

Process  Appraisal  Accession  Arrangement  Description  Access  Preservation  Disposition  Outreach

Process  Appraisal Process is Evolving  Driven by  Archivist Position  Need for Mission Alignment  Re-Organizations  Budget Constraints  OMB Scrutiny

Process  Collection Policy  Appraisal Flow  Review of a Collection Requested  Team Created With Scientists  Background Information Assembled  Appraisal Conducted, Documented & Recommendations Generated  Meet With Requestor & Directors Office  Recommendations Enacted  Documentation Maintained  Justifies Action

Tool  Scientific Tool Development   USGS Headquarters and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Involved  Categories  Mission Relevancy  Policy  Physical  Metadata  Cost / Benefit  Documentation Tool

Summary  Need for Appraisals  Appraisal Process Evolving  Science Supported Confirmed  Tool is Part of the Process  Openly Available for Use  CEOS Version Created