Institutional Capabilities

The Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) has major programs in data management and distribution, public information, and education. It is a leader in the field of web-based dissemination of geological and resource information and it operates under contract with the Kansas Data Access and Support Center (http://www.kansasgis.org/), a repository and distribution facility for GIS databases for the state of Kansas. Although its primary focus is the state of Kansas, KGS and its research staff are internationally recognized, and contribute to earth science research and information in many arenas. The State of Kansas has tied for first place in the U.S. for Digital Government including GIS and transportation technologies in rankings by the Center for Digital Government (http://www.centerdigitalgov.com/center/01digitalstates.phtml).

Including DASC, there is a staff of 12 full-time professional computer and data support personnel (http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Staff/cs.html), 7 positions in the relevant public information areas; and numerous part-time and temporary employees. KGS research projects have access to central design, development, and support services for databases and internet-based systems. This provides operational standardization and documentation and permits routine upgrades and maintenance. These development and management support services are part of an institutional commitment to the longevity and accessibility of data and information facilities.

KGS maintains a suite of Unix and Windows web servers, extensive computer and production facilities for data management and computerized cartography and geospatial data management. KGS supports critical facilities (e.g., for the State Department of Emergency Management), and therefore devotes major efforts to ensuring consistent and reliable service. Redundant servers are located in a professionally managed computer facility featuring dual air conditioning systems and power conditioning equipment. Our Oracle database server is replicated daily at an off-site location. Regular backups are stored both on- and off-site, and arrangements with partner institutions outside the region permit mutual transfer of data service in the event of large-scale disruptions. All backups are performed "hot," allowing for 24x7 operations.

All KGS investigators, staff and student employees are provided with access to networked computer hardware and software appropriate for their responsibilities. The institution provides publication, graphics, and communication support in addition to office and laboratory space.

KGS Computing Environment

Database

Software

Oracle Standard Edition (9.2.0.5.0)

Apache Web Server 2.X with mod_plsql extensions

DataDirect ODBC connectivity and JDBC

ESRI SDE (8.3)

DiGIR: Distributed Generic Information Retrieval

OPeNDAP: Open-source Project for a Network Data Access Protocol

Servers

Sun Fire V440 Server

Quad 1.28GHz UltraSPARC IIIi processors

16GB RAM

Four 36GB drives

Fourteen 18GB drives

Fourteen 146GB drives

Sun Enterprise 420R (replicated server)

Quad 450MHz SPARC II processors

4GB RAM

Two 36GB drives

Five 72GB drives

Nine 146GB drives

Sun V120R (development)

Single 650 MHz UltraSPARC-IIi processor

2GB RAM

Seven 36GB drives

Sun Sparc 2300 (off-site replicated server)

Dual 300 MHz SPARC-II processors

1GB RAM

360GB RAID 5 disk system

Web Servers

Software

Apache Web Server 2.X with Java Tomcat

Cold Fusion (MX)

ESRI ArcIMS

Mr. SID

Servers

Eight Dell PowerEdge Servers

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

Dual Pentium 2.2-3.2GHz CPUs

1-3 GB RAM

RAID 5

Sun V120R

Dual 650 MHz UltraSPARC IIi processors

2GB RAM

Four 72GB drives

Networking

Cisco based 100/1000 Mbs Ethernet connectivity for all systems with 100 Mbs internet access

Disaster Recovery and Backups

Servers backed up with Legato Networker

PCs backed up with Connected Laptop

Oracle:

Weekly hot backups to disk/tape

Weekly full exports to disk/tape

Daily incremental exports to disk/tape

Offsite tape storage

Redundant off-site servers