On Monday, ESRI President Jack Dangermond presented a Making a Difference Award to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne for his steadfast commitment to encouraging data sharing throughout the federal government and for using geospatial technology to make decisions.

Kempthorne accepted the award at the conference on behalf of his 73,000 member department, emphasizing that virtually every decision made by the Interior's nine agencies is informed by geospatial data.

"The Department of the Interior is the embodiment of the theme of this conference: Geography in Action," he said.

On Sunday, at the ESRI Senior Executive Seminar, he told high level executives that evidence from geospatial technology weighed in his deciding earlier this year to list the polar bear as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.

"The decision was based on extensive geospatial information and mapping that showed a long-term threat to the polar bear's sea ice habitat. Satellite imagery helped make the case for the listing and helped me explain my decision to the American people," he said.

Kempthorne showed several graphics based on satellite photos of the North Pole region that showed a stark retreat of sea ice over the past 30 years.

"There's no end to the importance of geospatial technology in problem solving, whether it's mapping wildfires or earthquakes to put plans in motion to protect communities or using it to help find new energy sources while still protecting wildlife," said Kempthorne.

Kempthorne said he has worked hard to break down barriers that have bogged down data sharing within the Department of Interior.

"Until recently, our agencies have largely worked in isolation from each other," he said.  "Even within agencies, data might be developed for one project that could be but isn't used for other projects because it is not readily accessible." 

What might make a difference?  The Department of the Interior is responsible for coordinating the federal government's geospatial activities through the Federal Geographic Data Committee. So, Kempthorne has directed one of his agencies, the U.S. Geological Survey, to release its 35-year archive of LANDSAT images over the Internet at no cost to the public by the end of the year, he said. It will help people better understand what is driving changes to our land, air, and water resources.

"With the click of the mouse, scientists, government officials, and land managers will be able to see changes in the Earth's landscape over the last three decades," he said to applause from the executives.

The LANDSAT archive will be available through the U.S. Geological Survey's Earth Resources Observation and Science Data Center Web site at http://edc.usgs.gov/.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne