My current position is Branch Chief for the Science Data Management in the Science Analytics, and Synthesis (SAS) program in the US Geological Survey. My team is passionate about supporting scientists in long-term management and release of scientific data through enterprise tools, best practices, and building community.
In my role as SAS Science Data Management Branch Chief, I participate and/or lead a number of activities related to data management in the USGS. In 2020 I served as the representative for the Department of the Interior on the Federal Data Strategy Working Group. I represent the Core Science Systems Mission Area on the Fundamental Science Practices Advisory Committee (FSPAC), co-lead the FSPAC Data Guidance Subcommittee, and participate on the Data Preservation Subcommittee. I have co-led the Community for Data Integration (CDI) Data Management Working Group since its inception 10 years ago. I am on the board of DataCite, an international organization that serves digital object identifiers, and served the last 10 years on the DataONE project both on the Leadership Team and as co-lead for the Education and Outreach Committee. Prior to becoming the Branch Chief for SAS Science Data Management, I worked as the Metadata Coordinator for a biological science program in USGS. During that time, I held the position of President of the Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers from 2006-2007. I joined the USGS in 2002 and currently reside in Denver, Colorado. My biggest interest is in spending time with family - others include travel, backpacking, hiking, books, soccer, and photography.
Education and Certifications
University of Maryland, College Park
Masters in Library Science (2002)Pitzer College, Claremont, CA
B.A. in Political Science (1991)
Science and Products
Opportunities to improve alignment with the FAIR Principles for U.S. Geological Survey data
Leveraging existing technology: Developing a trusted digital repository for the U.S. Geological Survey
USGS enterprise tools for efficient and effective management of science data
Measuring sustainability of seed-funded Earth science informatics projects
U.S. Geological Survey Community for Data Integration 2017 Workshop Proceedings
The evolution, approval and implementation of the U.S. Geological Survey Science Data Lifecycle Model
Community for Data Integration 2016 annual report
Community for Data Integration 2015 annual report
Dam Removal Information Portal (DRIP)—A map-based resource linking scientific studies and associated geospatial information about dam removals
Archiving and access systems for remote sensing: Chapter 6
Community for Data Integration 2014 annual report
Community for Data Integration 2013 Annual Report
Building a Roadmap for Making Data FAIR in the U.S. Geological Survey
National Dam Removal Database: A living database for information on dying dams
Data Management Workshop
Data Management Training and Education
Data Management Website
Data Management Workshops for USGS: Let the Culture Change Begin
USGS State of the Data Project: Rubric and Assessment Data
Data on the Deliverables, Sustainability, and Collaboration of Community for Data Integration Projects from 2010-2016
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 13
Opportunities to improve alignment with the FAIR Principles for U.S. Geological Survey data
In 2016, an interdisciplinary, international group of 53 scientists introduced a framework named “the FAIR Principles” for addressing 21st century scientific data challenges. The FAIR Principles are increasingly used as a guide for producing digital scientific products that are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR), especially to enable use of such products in automated systems.AuthorsFrances L. Lightsom, Vivian B. Hutchison, Bradley Bishop, Linda M. Debrewer, David L. Govoni, Natalie Latysh, Shelley StallLeveraging existing technology: Developing a trusted digital repository for the U.S. Geological Survey
As Federal Government agencies in the United States pivot to increase access to scientific data (Sheehan, 2016), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has made substantial progress (Kriesberg et al., 2017). USGS authors are required to make federally funded data publicly available in an approved data repository (USGS, 2016b). This type of public data product, known as a USGS data release, serves as aAuthorsVivian B. Hutchison, Tamar Norkin, Madison Langseth, Drew Ignizio, Lisa Zolly, Ricardo McClees-Funinan, Amanda N. LifordUSGS enterprise tools for efficient and effective management of science data
The Science Data Management Branch (SDM) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides data management expertise and leadership and develops guidance and tools to support the USGS in providing the nation with reliable scientific information on the basis of which to describe the Earth. The SDM suite of tools supports the USGS Data Management Lifecycle by facilitating quality assurance, description,AuthorsVivian B. Hutchison, Amanda Liford, Ricardo McClees-Funinan, Lisa Zolly, Drew Ignizio, Madison Langseth, Brandon Serna, Elizabeth Sellers, Leslie Hsu, Tamar Norkin, Marcia McNiff, Grace C. DonovanMeasuring sustainability of seed-funded Earth science informatics projects
Short term funding is a common funding model for informatics projects. Funders are interested in maximizing the sustainability and accessibility of the outputs, but there are no commonly accepted practices to do so in the Earth sciences informatics field. We constructed and applied a framework for sustainability drawing from other disciplines that have more published work in sustainability of projAuthorsLeslie Hsu, Vivian B. Hutchison, Madison LangsethU.S. Geological Survey Community for Data Integration 2017 Workshop Proceedings
Executive SummaryThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Community for Data Integration (CDI) Workshop was held May 16–19, 2017 at the Denver Federal Center. There were 183 in-person attendees and 35 virtual attendees over four days. The theme of the workshop was “Enabling Integrated Science,” with the purpose of bringing together the community to discuss current topics, shared challenges, and steps forAuthorsLeslie Hsu, Vivian B. Hutchison, Madison L. Langseth, Benjamin WheelerThe evolution, approval and implementation of the U.S. Geological Survey Science Data Lifecycle Model
This paper details how the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Community for Data Integration (CDI) Data Management Working Group developed a Science Data Lifecycle Model, and the role the Model plays in shaping agency-wide policies. Starting with an extensive literature review of existing data Lifecycle models, representatives from various backgrounds in USGS attended a two-day meeting where tAuthorsJohn Faundeen, Vivian B. HutchisonCommunity for Data Integration 2016 annual report
The Community for Data Integration (CDI) represents a dynamic community of practice focused on advancing science data and information management and integration capabilities across the U.S. Geological Survey and the CDI community. This annual report describes the various presentations, activities, and outcomes of the CDI monthly forums, working groups, virtual training series, and other CDI-sponsoAuthorsMadison L. Langseth, Leslie Hsu, Jon Amberg, Norman Bliss, Andrew R. Bock, Rachel T. Bolus, R. Sky Bristol, Katherine J. Chase, Theresa M. Crimmins, Paul S. Earle, Richard Erickson, A. Lance Everette, Jeff T. Falgout, John Faundeen, Michael N. Fienen, Rusty Griffin, Michelle R. Guy, Kevin D. Henry, Nancy J. Hoebelheinrich, Randall J. Hunt, Vivian B. Hutchison, Drew A. Ignizio, Dana M. Infante, Catherine Jarnevich, Jeanne M. Jones, Tim Kern, Scott Leibowitz, Francis L. Lightsom, R. Lee Marsh, S. Grace McCalla, Marcia McNiff, Jeffrey T. Morisette, John C. Nelson, Tamar Norkin, Todd M. Preston, Alyssa Rosemartin, Roy Sando, Jason T. Sherba, Richard P. Signell, Benjamin M. Sleeter, Eric T. Sundquist, Colin B. Talbert, Roland J. Viger, Jake F. Weltzin, Sharon Waltman, Marc Weber, Daniel J. Wieferich, Brad Williams, Lisamarie Windham-MyersCommunity for Data Integration 2015 annual report
The Community for Data Integration (CDI) continued to experience success in fiscal year 2015. The CDI community members have been sharing, learning, and collaborating through monthly forums, workshops, working groups, and funded projects. In fiscal year 2015, CDI coordinated 10 monthly forums with 16 different speakers from the U.S. Geological Survey and external partners; funded 11 collaborativeAuthorsMadison L. Langseth, Michelle Y. Chang, Jennifer Carlino, J. Ryan Bellmore, Daniella D. Birch, Joshua Bradley, R. Sky Bristol, Daniel D. Buscombe, Jeffrey J. Duda, Anthony L. Everette, Tabitha A. Graves, Michelle M. Greenwood, David L. Govoni, Heather S. Henkel, Vivian B. Hutchison, Brenda K. Jones, Tim Kern, Jennifer Lacey, Rynn M. Lamb, Frances L. Lightsom, John L. Long, Ra'ad A. Saleh, Stan W. Smith, Christopher E. Soulard, Roland J. Viger, Jonathan A. Warrick, Katherine E. Wesenberg, Daniel J. Wieferich, Luke A. WinslowDam Removal Information Portal (DRIP)—A map-based resource linking scientific studies and associated geospatial information about dam removals
The removal of dams has recently increased over historical levels due to aging infrastructure, changing societal needs, and modern safety standards rendering some dams obsolete. Where possibilities for river restoration, or improved safety, exceed the benefits of retaining a dam, removal is more often being considered as a viable option. Yet, as this is a relatively new development in the historyAuthorsJeffrey J. Duda, Daniel J. Wieferich, R. Sky Bristol, J. Ryan Bellmore, Vivian B. Hutchison, Katherine M. Vittum, Laura Craig, Jonathan A. WarrickArchiving and access systems for remote sensing: Chapter 6
Focuses on major developments inaugurated by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, the Group on Earth Observations System of Systems, and the International Council for Science World Data System at the global level; initiatives at national levels to create data centers (e.g. the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distributed Active Archive Centers and other internationalAuthorsJohn Faundeen, George Percivall, Shirley Baros, Peter Baumann, Peter H. Becker, J. Behnke, Karl Benedict, Lucio Colaiacomo, Liping Di, Chris Doescher, J. Dominguez, Roger Edberg, Mark Ferguson, Stephen Foreman, David Giaretta, Vivian B. Hutchison, Alex Ip, N.L. James, Siri Jodha S. Khalsa, B. Lazorchak, Adam Lewis, Fuqin Li, Leo Lymburner, C.S. Lynnes, Matt Martens, Rachel Melrose, Steve Morris, Norman Mueller, Vivek Navale, Kumar Navulur, D.J. Newman, Simon Oliver, Matthew Purss, H.K. Ramapriyan, Russ Rew, Michael Rosen, John Savickas, Joshua Sixsmith, Tom Sohre, David Thau, Paul Uhlir, Lan-Wei Wang, Jeff YoungCommunity for Data Integration 2014 annual report
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researches Earth science to help address complex issues affecting society and the environment. In 2006, the USGS held the first Scientific Information Management Workshop to bring together staff from across the organization to discuss the data and information management issues affecting the integration and delivery of Earth science research and investigate the useAuthorsMadison L. Langseth, Michelle Y. Chang, Jennifer Carlino, Daniella D. Birch, Joshua Bradley, R. Sky Bristol, Craig Conzelmann, Robert H. Diehl, Paul S. Earle, Laura E. Ellison, Anthony L. Everette, Pamela L. Fuller, Janice M. Gordon, David L. Govoni, Michelle R. Guy, Heather S. Henkel, Vivian B. Hutchison, Tim Kern, Frances L. Lightsom, Joseph W. Long, Ryan Longhenry, Todd M. Preston, Stan W. Smith, Roland J. Viger, Katherine Wesenberg, Eric C. WoodCommunity for Data Integration 2013 Annual Report
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducts earth science to help address complex issues affecting society and the environment. In 2006, the USGS held the first Scientific Information Management Workshop to bring together staff from across the organization to discuss the data and information management issues affecting the integration and delivery of earth science research and investigate the use oAuthorsMichelle Y. Chang, Jennifer Carlino, Christopher Barnes, David L. Blodgett, Andrew R. Bock, Anthony L. Everette, Gregory L. Fernette, Lorraine E. Flint, Janice M. Gordon, David L. Govoni, Lauren E. Hay, Heather S. Henkel, Megan Hines, Sally L. Holl, Collin G. Homer, Vivian B. Hutchison, Drew A. Ignizio, Tim J. Kern, Frances L. Lightsom, Steven L. Markstrom, Michael S. O'Donnell, Jacquelyn L. Schei, Lorna A. Schmid, Kathryn M. Schoephoester, Peter N. Schweitzer, Susan K. Skagen, Daniel J. Sullivan, Colin Talbert, Meredith Pavlick Warren - Science
Building a Roadmap for Making Data FAIR in the U.S. Geological Survey
FAIR is an international set of principles for improving the findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of research data and other digital products. The PIs for this CDI project planned and hosted a workshop of USGS data stakeholders, data professionals, and managers of USGS data systems from across the Bureau’s Mission Areas. Workshop participants shared case studies that foste...National Dam Removal Database: A living database for information on dying dams
The United States has over 2 million dams on rivers and streams (Graf, 1999), and more than 84,000 of the larger dams are documented in the congressionally mandated National Inventory of Dams (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2015). The average age of these National Inventory of Dams is 52 years; by the year 2030, over 80 percent will be at least 50 years old (American Society of Civil Engineers, 201Data Management Workshop
An additional product not originally on the funded activities list was organized for the newly-formed Science Data Coordinator Network. The Network invited 2 representatives from each of the USGS geographic areas, and several mission areas, to participate in a Data Management Workshop. The Workshop was organized by Viv Hutchison and taught by Tom Chatfield of the Bureau of Land Management. The couData Management Training and Education
2012 Updates - Phase 2 (information from the FY12 CDI Annual Report) This project solicited input from USGS Mission Areas, Geographic Areas, CDI, etc. on Phase 1 FY11 Data Management Education Products. The proposal called for an interface with Data Management Website Working Group to make materials available. The work also included the development of content for a USGS data management training pData Management Website
2012 Updates (from the 2012 CDI Annual Review): This proposal would continue the building of website content, including: best practices, tools, recommended reading, and data management planning tool. It also includes a usability testing on the website. It also calls for on-going maintenance of the website and its content. Principal Investigator : Heather S Henkel, Vivian B Hutchison Cooperator/PData Management Workshops for USGS: Let the Culture Change Begin
USGS data are one of the most valuable assets of the organization, and it is critical that we ensure our scientists and staff produce and manage data in such a way that at the completion of a project, the data continues to be accessible in useable formats, documented so it can be understood, and preserved properly for future uses. Principal Investigator : Vivian B Hutchison Cooperator/Partner : - Data
USGS State of the Data Project: Rubric and Assessment Data
The FAIR Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) provide a concise and measurable strategy for optimizing the reuse of scientific data (Wilkinson et al., 2016). In FY20, the U.S. Geological Survey initiated a research study, titled "State of the Data", to evaluate and report on the current FAIRness of USGS data. Project outputs include the USGS FAIR Rubric, which can be useData on the Deliverables, Sustainability, and Collaboration of Community for Data Integration Projects from 2010-2016
These four tables document the data used to draw the findings in the manuscript "Measuring sustainability of seed-funded Earth science informatics projects," by Hsu et al. Table 1, "ListProjects-data" lists the projects funded by the Community for Data Integration from 2010-2016. Table 2, "Outputs-data" lists the deliverables that were proposed and delivered to the Community for Data Integration f - Multimedia