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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
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