December 22, 2005
Tele-conference Call
9:30-11:00 am Central Time

Note Taker: Lois Uranowski

Attendees:
AR: Bill Winters, Lois Uranowski, Mike Dunn; MR: Bill Joseph, Len Meier; WR: Lou Hamm; Bill Kannawin, Bob Welsh.

Review action/pending items from last meeting

TOPIC: Lou Hamm discussed his new responsibilities as TIPS Technology Branch Chief, aka Team Leader of the TIPS Team. He does have many wishes for the New Year, one of which is to improve the entire team’s active participation and integration into TIPS. He is actively encouraging the team to discuss with him ways to advance and improve TIPS. Call him anytime.

TOPIC: Software Distribution-Configuration of new Hard drives

DISCUSSION: Posponed.
DECISION: None

TOPIC: New TIPS Website rollout [Winters]

DISCUSSION:
Web site ready for roll out. As per Bill Kannawin, the server should be on line on this date and new web site available immediately thereafter.
DECISION: Team to review site.

TOPIC: TIPS Recommended Plotters, Scanners, Digitizers [Welsh]

DISCUSSION: A survey for mobile computing needs will include plotters, scanners and digitizers. Bob noted that he has received several recommendations and will be reviewing these. The recommended list will be incorporated into the mobile computing survey, now named the “Mobile Computing and Other Hardware Survey”.

DECISION: Please get any recommendations for these items to Bob Welsh ASAP.

Status Reports

TOPIC: TIPS National Team meeting – [Winters]

DISCUSSION: No activity yet – to be actively pursued in January 2006.
DECISION: None

TOPICS: Training Program [Evans]

DISCUSSION: Bob Welsh reported that Karen Evans and Dawn Trudeau will be taking training offered in headquarters on the functionality of the new management system as well as spending time with out NTTP counterparts January 12-15, 2006.

DECISION: None

TOPIC: Mobile Computing Team [Welsh]

DISCUSSION: Bob noted that the Mobile Computing and Other Hardware Survey will be coming out soon. Nineteen items on mobile computing have been identified and the plotter, scanner and digitizer specs will be compiled (see 4 above)
DECISION: None

TOPIC: Software Upgrades and Distribution [Greene]

DISCUSSION: Postponed
DECISION: None

TOPIC: PA-Wilkes University Project-Status Report [Uranowski]

DISCUSSION: Project underway with first action item to be for Wilkes University, PADEP and OSM to agree on the defined goals/objectives to be submitted in January 2006.

DECISION: None

TOPIC: National Surface Mining Geospatial Committee and “EGIM”-status DISCUSSION: Geospatial Data Call from DOI re: reporting themes and layers using GIS was discussed. Only those projects that require long-term GIS management are to be reported, not individual one-time projects like site specific AML designs.

DECISION: Questions should be directed to Alan Wilhelm. Reportable GIS themes and layers need to be sent to Alan by January 6, 2006.

TOPIC: GeoFluv Review Team—Report on last week’s mine trip [Garnett]

DISCUSSION: The team reviewed a site in Farmington NM and found the use of the GeoFluv design module on this site resulted in reclamation that looked like it was never mined. Also vendor training was offered. State of Indiana has requested this software for use. Potential uses include both AML design and Title 5 permitting. One big advantage is potential costs savings to our states.

DECISION: Present findings and recommendation to the Steering Committee in May 2006.

TOPIC: FY06 Annual Steering Committee Meeting Planning-status [Uranowski]

DISCUSSION: Site of meeting currently being investigated. Potential cites are Baltimore, MD and Charleston SC.

DECISION: Select site, enter into contract with hotel.

TOPIC: Live Meeting—use and tracking cost savings and benefits [Clark/Evans – DISCUSSION: Postponed

DECISION: None

Team Member Reports

TOPIC: Team Member Reports [All]

DISCUSSION:

Uranowski: National Technology Transfer team has announced an RFP for Applied Science Projects. Web site for further information is http://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOI/OSM/1438/IFB612014/listing.html

Behum: A requisition for Rockware Rockworks software has been placed. The Indiana hydrologic data acquisition with mobile computing project has been postponed until weather permits.

Joseph: A lecture on mobile computing is upcoming January 19, 2006 in Albuquerque, NM.

Hamm: Bruce Swartz will be the main contact on the Exhibit 300 report. All TIPS reports should be directed to him.

Next meeting Thursday—January 5, 2006

Team Member Reports TOPIC: Team Member Reports [All]

Team Member Reports

TOPIC: Team Member Reports [All]