Summary

The United States Forest Service (USFS) Lands, Minerals and Geology (LMG) program is seeking to establish National Geospatial Datasets. The goal being to address current data gaps related to conditional ownership, critical minerals, access to existing oil, gas and coal leases, leasing rights, and additional LMG data themes. The LMG Program leadership advocates the critical function of building data infrastructure to support program initiatives. Also, to improve process efficiencies through the accessibility and usability of the tools designed for viewing and interacting with the data. This is accomplished through the use of Esri GIS technology and products. Products which include ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online (AGOL), Field Maps, and data stored in Postgres Enterprise Databases.

Problem and Solution

Numerous laws, acts, and policies require geospatial data to ensure efficiencies in the management of public lands relative to natural resources. The LMG program’s objectives are improved communication, reporting, and analysis from relevant and accessible data. The primary mechanism to share and distribute these outcomes using web-based mapping applications and tools including AGOL, Experience Builder, Dashboards, ArcHub, VertiGIS, and GIS web map viewers, widgets, and tools.

To support LMG geospatial applications and customizations, Xentity is providing ongoing support through maintenance of web mapping applications, tools, and configurations customized to meet LMG program needs and requirements. Support activities include configuration of data processing with Python scripts and Jupyter Notebooks to summarize and aggregate data for display. Xentity also supports LMG web GIS products through development and delivery of standardized national thematic datasets and layers. These are the foundation of interactive tools, apps, and reporting information significant for accomplishment reporting. Furthermore Xentity is developing LMG data standards and data entry. Xentity is also providing enhancements to the LMG geologic hazards web viewer to extend application functionality with VertiGIS Studio. Finally, Xentity is supporting geospatial work for LMG oil and gas wells infrastructure.

Outcome and Benefit

Deliverables of these projects include data dictionaries and working datasets for the LMG program. Also feasible approaches to data creation from a wide variety of existing data sources and levels of maturity in the data provider environment. Xentity’s efforts will ensure enhanced data availability, improved communication, and robust decision support. Also, alignment with the USFS’s priorities. This includes the management of orphaned oil and gas wells and addressing geologic hazards impacting agency infrastructure. Furthermore, this initiative is essential to address significant environmental and physical hazards posed by improperly decommissioned oil and gas wells.