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Roland J Viger

Roland Viger is Chief of the Geo-Intelligence Branch for the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.

Roland Viger holds degrees in geography from the University of Toronto and the University of Colorado-Boulder (PhD). After contracting with the USGS Branch of Petroleum Geology as a GIS analyst for the National Hydrocarbon Assessment in 1992, he joined the Water Resources National Research Program in Denver as the GIS lead on the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System project (subsequently the Modeling of Watershed Systems project). As a Research Geographer, interests include integrated simulation modeling, spatial analyses for the delineation and characterization of landscape features for modeling, and geoinformatics. In addition to improving the use of geographic information in modeling, he is interested in the development of national and continental hydrologic modeling systems. His methods, data, and software (examples include the GIS Weasel software and the Geospatial Fabric for the National Hydrologic Modeling Framework) and training materials for geographic analysis in hydrologic simulation modeling have been used throughout the U.S., as well as internationally. He provides consultation within and outside the USGS and has represented USGS interests to other organizations. He has been a member of the Open Water Data Initiative (OWDI), the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), the USGS Core Science Systems Strategic Science Planning Team, various steering committees for the National Hydrography Dataset, and the future of hydrologic modeling in the USGS.

Roland is active in the USGS Community for Data Integration (CDI), and the American Water Resources Association.

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. Geography (Geographic Information Science), University of Colorado-Boulder; August 2011
  • M.A. Geography (Geographic Information Science), University of Colorado-Boulder; March 2004
  • B.S. Geography, University of Toronto; March 1992

APPOINTMENTS

  • 2017-present: Chief, Branch of Geo-Intelligence, USGS Water Resources Mission Area
  • 2011-present: Research Geographer, Modeling of Watershed Systems (MoWS), National Research Program, USGS Water Mission Area, Denver, CO
  • June 2007-2011: Geographer, Modeling of Watershed Systems (MoWS), National Research Program, USGS Water Mission Area, Denver, CO
  • June 1995-June 2007: Physical Scientist, Precipitation-Runoff Modeling Systems, National Research Program, USGS Water Resources Division, Denver, CO
  • Oct. 1994-April 1995: Physical Science Technician, Branch of Petroleum Geology, USGS Geologic Division, Denver, CO

RECENT COMMITTEES and ACTIVITIES

  • Department of Interior Open-Source GIS committee
  • Advisory Council on Water Information: Subcommittee on Spatial Water Data: Open Water Data Initiative and the Internet of Water
  • Strategic Science Planning Team for Core Science Systems 
  • Coordinator/Leader for USGS Community for Data Integration

Science and Products

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Filter Total Items: 42

The Modular Modeling System (MMS): A modeling framework for water- and environmental-resources management

The interdisciplinary nature and increasing complexity of water- and environmental-resource problems require the use of modeling approaches that can incorporate knowledge from a broad range of scientific disciplines. The large number of distributed hydrological and ecosystem models currently available are composed of a variety of different conceptualizations of the associated processes they simula
Authors
G.H. Leavesley, S.L. Markstrom, Roland J. Viger

Second U.S. Geological Survey Wildland Fire Workshop: Los Alamos, New Mexico, October 31-November 3, 2000

In the past decade, fire-management policies have shifted to embrace the reduction of long-term building of excessive fuel levels in the Nation's forests and rangelands. In 1995, the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior issued the Federal Wildland-Fire Policy Statement (Appendix A) identifying the critical role that fire can play in the management of forests and rangelands. As a result of r
Authors
J.L. Coffelt, Russell K. Livingston
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

A modular approach to addressing model design, scale, and parameter estimation issues in distributed hydrological modelling

A modular approach to model design and construction provides a flexible framework in which to focus the multidisciplinary research and operational efforts needed to facilitate the development, selection, and application of the most robust distributed modelling methods. A variety of modular approaches have been developed, but with little consideration for compatibility among systems and concepts. S
Authors
G.H. Leavesley, S.L. Markstrom, Pedro J. Restrepo, Roland J. Viger

Maps showing geology, oil and gas fields and geologic provinces of the South America region

This digitally compiled map includes geology, geologic provinces, and oil and gas fields of South America. The map is part of a worldwide series on CD-ROM by World Energy Project released of the U.S. Geological Survey . The goal of the project is to assess the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources of the world and report these results by the year 2000. For data management pur
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Roland J. Viger, Christopher P. Anderson
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Maps showing geology, oil and gas fields and geologic provinces of the Arabian Peninsula

IntroductionThis digital map compilation, which includes geology, geologic provinces, and oil and gas fields of the Arabian Peninsula, is part of a map series of the world produced by the U.S. Geological Survey World Energy Project. The goal of the project is to produce a worldwide assessment of the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources and report these results by the year 20
Authors
Richard M. Pollastro, Amy S. Karshbaum, Roland J. Viger
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

1995 National Assessment of United States oil and gas resources: Results, methodology, and supporting data

This revised CD-ROM summarizes the results, released in 1995, of the 3-year study of the oil and gas resources of the onshore and state waters of the United States. Minor errors in the original DDS-30 (listed in DDS-35 and DDS-36) are corrected in this revised version and in the data files now released in DDS-35 and DDS-36. Estimates are made of technically recoverable oil, including measured (pro
Authors
Donald L. Gautier, Gordon Dolton, Kenneth I. Takahashi, Katharine L. Varnes
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center

Science and Products