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The preliminary report for the December 4-5 meeting is now available. To request a copy of the report (available on CD), please send an email to hhenkel@usgs.gov and be sure to include a non-P.O. Box address in the body of the email.

The Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, FL

The Gulf of Mexico Joint Planning Team wishes to invite you to attend an U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Integrated Database Workshop. The Integrated Database Workshop will address the development of Internet-based systems to distribute information to Gulf-wide science activities.

The Integrated Database Workshop is a combined inventory and planning effort that will be hosted by the National Mapping Program, the Biological Resource discipline, the Coastal and Marine Geology Program, and the five Gulf state Water Resource Division District Chiefs. The workshop will be held on December 4-5, 2001 in St. Petersburg, Florida at the Bayfront Center Complex. Hotel rooms are available at the St. Petersburg Hilton.

The objectives of the workshop are:

1. To conduct an inventory of the kinds of information that the USGS has developed for the Gulf region, including satellite and land use data as well as data from research projects, cooperative research unit projects, and water resources investigations and monitoring.
2. To identify and promote a methodology to provide these data to the scientific community through access from the Internet and in coordination with the "Gateway to the Earth" concept.

Main agenda items will include:

• Gateway to the Earth concepts
• Overview of data inventories: format, volume, metadata and media
• Case studies and lessons learned
• Technology Assessment – Tools for data access and delivery
• Gulf-wide science information system – concepts and considerations

Based on the presentations and written summaries of existing USGS work, it is apparent that the USGS collects a wide range of information in the Gulf of Mexico region, most of which is geographically referenced. Your participation will assist in bringing together knowledge on existing information sources and requirements for the Gulf-related USGS science activities. You will be expected to participate in the discussion and presentation of the topics on the agenda.

A workshop report will contain recommendations for developing this integrated database of USGS information for the Gulf region, and it will link the USGS database effort with those of other federal agencies. The long-range objective of this activity is to enable internal and external customers to "one-stop shop" for science information, data and products developed by all Federal and State agencies, universities and (non-governmental organizations) NGO’s in the Gulf region.

Your participation is important. Please notify Jeff Eidenshink (eidenshink@usgs.gov) at the EROS Data Center to confirm your attendance at the workshop. You can contact Heather Henkel at (hhenkel@usgs.gov) at the USGS Center for Coastal Geology for further information on the meeting location and/or hotel accommodations. If a special need exists, there are some funds available to cover a portion of the travel expenses.