"Networking Resources for Collaborative Research in the Southeast"

Environmental Hydrology Group

Collaboration Worksheet

1. Research Area/Topic:

• Short-term: Linking GIS with Two-Dimensional Random Vector Fields (+) Time in Order to Access Neighboring Databases at Local Stations
• Long-term: Linking GIS with Three-Dimensional Random Vector Fields (+) Time in Order to Access Neighboring Databases at Local Stations

2. Individuals/Institutions Participating:

• Ivonne Santiago - University of Puerto Rico
• David Maidment - University of Texas at Austin
• Robert Sharpley - University of South Carolina
• S. Rocky Durrans - University of Alabama
• Melanie Loots - National Computational Science Alliance
• James Browne - University of Texas at Austin
• Craig Douglas - University of Kentucky
• Joseph Lombardo - University of Nevada Las Vegas
• John Yost - University of Idaho

3. What is the Research Need/Opportunity?

• Create More Efficient Tools for Research
• Allow Synergy in Research Between Disciplines (e.g. air/water) and Systems (e.g. lakes/rivers)
• Provide Research Opportunities for Those With Little Resources or Ability to Gather New Data
• Provide New Modeling Techniques
• Education Component

4. What Strengths Will Each Member Bring to This Alliance?

• Rocky Durrans- WaterQUIS Database at UA, Surface Water Hydrology, Statistical Modeling, Data Merging
• Craig Douglas - Computer Science, Compilers, Interfaces, Web Expertise, Supercomputer (computing cycles), VBNS Connection
• Joseph Lombardo - Computer Science, Computer Modeling, National Supercomputer Center (High Performance Computer), Data Storage, Atmospheric Modeling
• Ivonne Santiago- Water Quality Modeling, Hydrology, GIS Interfacing, Hydrodynamics, Ground Water Modeling
• Robert Sharpley- Decision Support, GIS Graphical User Interfacing, Ground Water Modeling, Atmospheric Modeling

Others to be Determined (not at Friday Meeting):

• James Browne -
• John Yost -
• David Maidment -
• Melanie Loots -

5. What Weaknesses Have Been Identified and How Will They be Resolved?

• Who's the Champion? No One is an Identified Leader for the Group. Potential Resolution: Maidment/Browne with Grad Students will Gather Material on What each Existing Database Contains
• No Idea How Much it will Cost
• Time to Process Intellectual Property/Copyright
• Geographic Distance, for example Puerto Rico is not on VBNS

6. Which Organizations Are Potential Funders?

• NSF - Hydrologic Science, KDI, Computer Science/CIS, Water and Watersheds, Acid Rain
• NOAA
• EPA - Water and watersheds, solid waste program
• DARPA -
• DOE - Site Remediation, ASCI
• NASA - Earth Observing System or EOSDIS
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Private Corporations
• State Government (e.g., Agriculture Departments)

7. Which Groups are Likely to be Significant Competitors?

• Distributed Computing Centers - Robert Sharpley to Investigate
• NASA GCMD Site (Science Article) - All Working Group Participants Should Visit the NASA GCMD Site to See if it is a Potential Competitor (www.gcmd.nasa.gov).

8. What are the Projected Outcomes of the Alliance?

• Justification for Better, Faster, and Reliable Networks
• Improved Ties in other Fields
• Enhance Image of South
• Sustaining and Upgrading Resources
• Creation of a Virtual Research Center (Distributed Across Universities)
• Satellite Connection for Geographically Challenged Areas (e.g. Puerto Rico)

9. What are the Added Values from the Alliance to help Realize these Outcomes?

• Linkage of Expertise
• Foster Economic Development
• Minimizes Financial and Human Resource Burden
• Minimizes Replication

10. Why is this Need/Opportunity Attractive at the Present Time?

• Lack of Seamless Tools
• Computer Innovations Have Advanced to a State That it Can be Realized Now. Cost of Computing Storage has Decreased.
• Research Has Been Hindered Without Access to Such Data.

11. Will the Alliance Members' Institutions be Supportive? How?

Different Among the Various Institutions, For Example: Time, Human Resources, Computing Resources

12. What Outcomes/Decisions Have Been Agreed To?

• Seamless, Integrated Database
• Generate a Proposal

13. What Needed Actions Have Been Agreed To? Who is Accountable? By When?

1. Joanne P. Carney - Prepare collaboration worksheet
2. James Browne & Craig Douglas - Provide a Template for a Grant Proposal (template) for the Creation of a Seamless Integration Database
3. David Maidment - Forcing Function to Compile and Review Hydrodata Among Alliance Members
4. All - Talk with Colleagues with a Potential Interest in the Subject, Both from the Environmental Science Departments and the Computer Science Departments.
5. All - Check out NASA GCMD Site (www.gcmd.nasa.gov).

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