The Alaska Mapping Executive Committee (AMEC) coordinates the modernization of critical Alaska map layers. Executives from multiple federal agencies and the State meet to prioritize and coordinate mapping objectives. AMEC currently promotes acquisition of several digital map layers including Imagery, Elevation, Terrestrial Hydrography, Wetlands, Coastal Shorelines and Bathymetry.
Participating Entities
The following entities have participated in AMEC activities across the past decade:
- Congressional Offices
- State of Alaska
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Defense
- Department of Homeland Security
- Department of Interior
- Department of Transportation
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Executive of Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget
- Executive of Office of the President, Office of Science and Technology Policy
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- National Reconnaissance Office
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- National Science Foundation
- United States Army Corps of Engineers
- United States Bureau of Land Management
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service
- United States Forest Service
- United States Geological Survey
- United States National Park Service
- United States Northern Command
Committee Co-Chairs
- Department of Commerce Co-Chair, NOAA Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries Dr. Kelly Kryc
- Department of Interior Co-Chair, DOI Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo
Meeting Information
- The next meeting will be held May 17, 2023, in Anchorage, Alaska and will include a virtual option. More details regarding the onsite venue and the agenda will be forthcoming. If you are interested in participating contact Tracy Fuller for more information using the contact email listed on the right.
- The most recent meeting was held virtually on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. 79 executives and technical support personnel attended. Highlights include:
- Significant recent accomplishments were recognized including release of the Alaska Coastal Mapping Implementation Plan for public comment, significant progress in terrestrial hydrography, wetlands, coastal, shoreline, GRAV-D, and imagery mapping, the State's deployment of an imagery service to serve the 0.5m statewide satellite mosaic and other imagery datasets, and the acquisition of high resolution lidar data for multiple potential landslide sites in southeast Alaska.
- Federal representatives and the State of Alaska presented critical issues where AMEC mapping efforts can support their missions. Several actions were taken to investigate options for advancing the mapping requirements that meet the Committee's current objectives or could be considered for advancement in the future.
18-Month Tactical Plan
AMEC uses 18-month tactical plans to guide its coordination activities. The plans provide details regarding anticipated data acquisition, communication, and outreach objectives. An updated plan is in development and will be introduced to AMEC executives at the May 2023 meeting.
Example: Alaska Mapping 18-month Tactical Plan III 04/2021-12/2022
This plan proposed actions to be completed from June 2021 through December 2022 to advance the mapping efforts of the Alaska Mapping Executive Committee in coordination with the Alaska Geospatial Council and various Alaska Federal Regional Executives.
- Terrestrial Hydrography goals
- AMEC partnering agencies will acquire 120,000 square miles of updated NHD/WBD comprising 22% statewide coverage coordinating with the Alaska Hydrography Technical Working Group.
- USGS will acquire 110,000 square miles of NHDPlus HR comprising 18% of statewide coverage.
- USFWS, USGS and the State of Alaska will engage in the combined NHD/NWI collection project funded by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trust Council. Representatives will identify common collection standards and procedures and document any cost savings.
- USGS explore solutions for modifying recently updated non-EDH NHD to meet new USGS specifications for downslope monotonicity and elevation height attribution.
- USGS and USFS will coordinate cross-border terrestrial hydrography alignment with Natural Resources Canada using established coordination councils.
- USGS to work with State of Alaska to designate NHD Steward, role, and responsibilities.
- Wetlands Mapping goals
- The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) will be officially recognized as a monitored theme by the Alaska Mapping Executive Committee.
- FWS, as the data Steward, will coordinate data acquisition, conduct quality control and integrate data into the National Wetlands Inventory Geodatabase.
- AMEC partners will acquire 35 million acres of standard compliant National Wetlands Inventory data, in accordance with the ten-year strategy produced by the Alaska Wetlands Technical Working Group.
- The AMEC and USFWS will coordinate data collection efforts with the Alaska Wetlands Technical Working Group.
- USFWS, USGS and the State of Alaska will engage in the combined NHD/NWI collection project funded by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trust Council. Representatives will identify common collection standards and procedures and document any cost savings.
- AMEC partners will identify and explore funding/contracting mechanisms to expediate partnerships amongst agencies and other data collection efforts including the NHD.
- GRAV-D goals
- Shoreline Mapping goals
- See relevant FY21-22 performance indicators in Objective 2.3. Produce and Disseminate Key Datasets and Products from Alaska Coastal Mapping Data portion of the Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy Implementation Plan 2020-2030.
- Coastal Topography/Bathymetry Mapping goals
- Coordinate with the AMEC Coastal Mapping Technical Subcommittee, a subsidiary of the AMEC Technical Subcommittee
- See relevant FY21-22 performance indicators in Objective 2.1. Execute a Flexible Alaska Coastal Mapping Campaign portion of the Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy Implementation Plan 2020-2030.
- Imagery goals
- Continue collaboration with the Civil Applications Committee (CAC) for the acquisition of spectrally consistent Worldview 2/3, 8-band imagery (Pan/MSI) for the areas in the State that are older than 2017 or non-summer scenes via the NRO NGA NextView contract. Ensure delivery to Earth Explorer.
- Promote continued collection of AK scenes by NGA to replace scenes that are older than five years, non-WV 2/3, or of inferior clarity (cloud cover, haze, snow, smoke).
- Technical Subcommittee representatives support the National Digital Orthophoto Program’s Investigation of a potential NAIP-like imagery acquisition program to support common federal, State, and local AOIs in Alaska.
- Evaluate use of imagery service subscriptions to meet statewide imagery requirements and refresh rates.
- Acquire high resolution, 30cm, 4 band, public-domain imagery on 20% of USFS lands in Alaska. Estimated acquisition includes 3 million acres in FY21 and 2.5 million acres of FY22, based on projected funding.
- AMEC agencies identify opportunities to support State of Alaska imagery service and distribution mechanisms.
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Next generation topographic elevation data
- Evaluate results of 3D Nation Survey to understand future revisit requirements and priority target areas.
- Identify potential new technologies.
- Investigate opportunities to engage in the 3DEP Broad Agency Announcement.
- Members will identify opportunities to develop partnerships that support digital elevation updates.
- Prepare communication materials and establish meetings and mechanisms to transfer knowledge of AMEC objectives and activities to broad array of political, federal, and citizen representation
- Pursue executive-level representation from all AMEC member agencies, specifically individuals who can commit agency resources and funding.
- Appoint new officers to AMEC as necessary.
- Develop AMEC introduction presentation and white paper.
- Develop and maintain up to date membership information and distribution lists at the Technical Subcommittee and Executive levels