The FORT Information Science Branch staff enhance discovery of our natural world and turn information into knowledge by
- Helping to ensure that stakeholders can find, obtain, and use USGS information in ways that are meaningful to them;
- Developing and providing innovative technology and tools to improve natural resource management and discovery;
- Promoting and ensuring effective stewardship of USGS information assets; and
- Implementing a wide range of geospatial tools for research, analysis, and modeling of spatial data and associated information
Our mission is to implement an integrated information environment that supports science and decision making. To that end, Branch functions focus on the following three areas:
Information management and delivery supports the discovery, access, delivery, and use of USGS-generated data and information by our scientists, customers, partners, and interested publics. Branch staff accomplish this by means of library services, Web applications, publishing, communications, and records management.
Information technology and security addresses the systems (hardware and software) that constitute the physical infrastructure along with basic IT and telecommunications support services. Typical services cover information security, data and voice communication networks, and electronic mail.
Environmental information science involves developing and applying approaches that integrate natural science, computer technology, and information management to address key natural resource issues. We offer development capabilities in GIS and remote sensing applications, Web applications and decision support tools, and integrated access to multiple distributed databases. This focus area is unique in that it features both independent research and science support, and it operates within a dynamic environment influenced by customer and partner needs as well as external mandates.