Description:
This past year marked a major milestone for AZGS. The 4-year, $22 million
National Geothermal Data System (NGDS) project formally ended on December 1,
2014, and with it a special period in AZGS history. This was the largest, most ambitious
project we have ever undertaken. We had 45 subcontractors in 45 states and a number of
other collaborators and contributors. NGDS is now operational, with 60+ data providers
sharing more than 10 million records from all 50 states. We are deploying that same open
source, open access data integration framework for a variety of other applications, not only
in AZGS but nationally and internationally. This has been a great effort, for the Survey,
both technically and financially. The project began just as the recession budget cuts slashed
state support, so that today, AZGS is 85–90% funded with grant funds. State funds have
been providing less than 10% of our annual budget. The NGDS project allowed the
Survey to not only survive but thrive during a period of economic challenges.