u s g s g我s2008（ u s g s g i s2008）.docVIP

USGS GIS 2008 7th Biennial GIS Workshop Denver, CO May 13, 2008 Integrating Data to Accelerate Integrated Science – Mark Myers Title slide: Title slide [banks of the Colorado River, location unknown] . Good morning. I’m honored and very pleased to speak to you today. . I’m going to state my conclusion right here at the beginning. I strongly believe that GIS is a critical tool for integrating the many kinds of data that are brought into and generated in hundreds of science investigations across the Geological Survey. Broad and effective use of GIS is vital to our organization for the critical task of integrating our science disciplines and in knitting together the science directions spelled out in our Science Strategy. . In using the term “GIS-geographic information systems” today, I intend for this acronym to have the widest scope, to include computer-based geographic analysis as well as the systematic use and development of integrated geospatial data. . To see why GIS is so important to our organization, let’s begin with some observations about the human effect on the global environment. Slide 2: . As scientists and GIS practitioners, you are aware that impact of humans on the planet has expanded to the extent that humankind has emerged as a globally important force capable of reshaping the earth, capable of depleting or threatening many of the earth’s resources. . We are now in a situation of relatively rapid climate change in which we know with certainty that we will be crossing thresholds beyond which ecosystems, and the services they provide, will be irreversibly changed Slide 3: Image: A composite picture of the planet at night. Most of the electrical light that is produced come from coal fired generation plants. . Climate change will directly and indirectly threaten the stability of natural resources and human well-being. Slide 4: . If we do not focus on sustainable management of our earth’s resources, the lack of the res