Example of a 2022 US Topo map. Quad is Morrison, Colorado. US Topo logo, bottom marginalia, and map content detail are shown. Please visit US Topo: Maps for America for full details.
Are there metadata files for USGS topographic maps?
GeoPDF files for both Historical Topographic maps (produced 1884-2006), US Topo maps (produced 2009-present), and OnDemand Topo maps come with an XML metadata file attached to each GeoPDF file. To access the metadata file, download the GeoPDF file, open it in Acrobat Reader, click on the paperclip icon, then select a file from the list that appears (US Topo maps also come with a Map Symbols sheet).
US Topo maps (only) downloaded through TopoView (only) or OnDemand Topos downloaded through topoBuilder in GeoTIFF format come with two metadata XML documents—one for the map and one for the orthoimage.
For Historical Topographic maps and US Topo maps, do a search on the map name and date in ScienceBase (example: Mammoth WV 2014). The entry for each map includes a link to the metadata.
A CSV zip file (for import into spreadsheets) of selected metadata fields for the complete Historical Topographic Map and US Topo Map collections is refreshed nightly. That file is also posted on the Topographic Maps website. The zip file contains files for all current US Topo maps (ustopo_current.zip), all superseded US Topo maps (ustopo_historical.zip) and all maps in the Historical Topographic Map Collection (historicaltopo.zip).
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Related Content
How do I find, download, or order topographic maps?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been the primary civilian mapping agency of the United States since 1879. Some of the most well-known USGS maps are the 1:24,000-scale topographic maps, also called 7.5-minute quadrangles . In 2009, the USGS transitioned from our hand scribed historical topographic maps to US Topos , which are computer-generated on a regular schedule using national databases...
Where can I find metadata for USGS products?
Metadata links are included with all individual files listed in the Sciencebase catalog . USGS data that predate 2000 might not have metadata . Metadata for Publications Metadata for publications (bibliographic information) authored by USGS scientists are in the USGS Publications Warehouse . Metadata for The National Map Products and Services In The National Map Viewer , click on the "Layer List"...
Where can I get metadata for The National Map products and services?
Metadata for The National Map products and services is available through the following sources: In The National Map Viewer , click on the "Layer List" icon above the map, then click on the three dots to the right of the layer and select "Description" in the dropdown menu. Most layers in the Viewer are also available as Download s and/or Services . In The National Map Download Client , after...
How can I find the source and vintage of each US Topo data layer?
US Topo maps have a credit legend in the lower left-hand corner of the map collar. This includes a short summary of data sources and data currency. More detailed source information is in an XML metadata file attached to each GeoPDF file. This file contains series-level, quad-level, and layer-level metadata, but US Topo does not preserve or track feature-level metadata. Open the GeoPDF map file in...
How accurate are US Topo maps, and why don't they have an accuracy statement?
US Topo maps are as accurate as the data sources used to make them, but because these sources are many and varied, it is not possible to make a single simple statement that the map as a whole meets a particular level of accuracy. US Topo maps, therefore, do not have a traditional accuracy statement in the map collar. Accuracy information for individual data sources is included in the metadata file...
Are USGS topographic maps copyrighted?
All topographic maps produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are in the public domain and are not copyrighted except for the following three cases that apply only to US Topo maps (produced 2009-present): Most maps in the period 2010-2016 contain commercially licensed road data (see note below). Orthoimages in Alaska are commercially licensed. Orthoimages in Hawaii were commercially licensed...
Example of a 2022 US Topo
Example of a 2022 US Topo map. Quad is Morrison, Colorado. US Topo logo, bottom marginalia, and map content detail are shown. Please visit US Topo: Maps for America for full details.
Kristen Bennett sets up an instrument to acquire detailed topographic information for a complex esker system.
linkKristen Bennett setting up a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (ground-based LiDAR) to acquire detailed topographic information for a complex esker system. The Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is visible in the background.
Kristen Bennett sets up an instrument to acquire detailed topographic information for a complex esker system.
linkKristen Bennett setting up a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (ground-based LiDAR) to acquire detailed topographic information for a complex esker system. The Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is visible in the background.
Lesson 9a: Accessing US Topo and Historical USGS Topographic Maps
In this lesson, we will discuss the USGS Store and how it can be used to access the US Topo and historical USGS Topographic maps. Specifically, this lesson will talk about the USGS Store, both where it’s accessed and what’s available at the store, as well as how you can locate and download free topographic maps through the store.
In this lesson, we will discuss the USGS Store and how it can be used to access the US Topo and historical USGS Topographic maps. Specifically, this lesson will talk about the USGS Store, both where it’s accessed and what’s available at the store, as well as how you can locate and download free topographic maps through the store.
US Topo
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
USGS Topographers at Work
USGS topographer running a traverse in the Alabama Hills near Mt. Whitney, California.
USGS topographer running a traverse in the Alabama Hills near Mt. Whitney, California.
USGS Topographer at Work
Topographer George Stanley Druhot working with a tripod, planetable, and alidade at Kahekili Leap, on the island of Oahu. His two companions are Malcolm Springer and Tai Hai Lau
Topographer George Stanley Druhot working with a tripod, planetable, and alidade at Kahekili Leap, on the island of Oahu. His two companions are Malcolm Springer and Tai Hai Lau
USGS Topographic Mapping Field Camp
Topographic mapping crew poses in camp in the Cascade Mountains of Washington.
Topographic mapping crew poses in camp in the Cascade Mountains of Washington.
Related Content
How do I find, download, or order topographic maps?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been the primary civilian mapping agency of the United States since 1879. Some of the most well-known USGS maps are the 1:24,000-scale topographic maps, also called 7.5-minute quadrangles . In 2009, the USGS transitioned from our hand scribed historical topographic maps to US Topos , which are computer-generated on a regular schedule using national databases...
Where can I find metadata for USGS products?
Metadata links are included with all individual files listed in the Sciencebase catalog . USGS data that predate 2000 might not have metadata . Metadata for Publications Metadata for publications (bibliographic information) authored by USGS scientists are in the USGS Publications Warehouse . Metadata for The National Map Products and Services In The National Map Viewer , click on the "Layer List"...
Where can I get metadata for The National Map products and services?
Metadata for The National Map products and services is available through the following sources: In The National Map Viewer , click on the "Layer List" icon above the map, then click on the three dots to the right of the layer and select "Description" in the dropdown menu. Most layers in the Viewer are also available as Download s and/or Services . In The National Map Download Client , after...
How can I find the source and vintage of each US Topo data layer?
US Topo maps have a credit legend in the lower left-hand corner of the map collar. This includes a short summary of data sources and data currency. More detailed source information is in an XML metadata file attached to each GeoPDF file. This file contains series-level, quad-level, and layer-level metadata, but US Topo does not preserve or track feature-level metadata. Open the GeoPDF map file in...
How accurate are US Topo maps, and why don't they have an accuracy statement?
US Topo maps are as accurate as the data sources used to make them, but because these sources are many and varied, it is not possible to make a single simple statement that the map as a whole meets a particular level of accuracy. US Topo maps, therefore, do not have a traditional accuracy statement in the map collar. Accuracy information for individual data sources is included in the metadata file...
Are USGS topographic maps copyrighted?
All topographic maps produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are in the public domain and are not copyrighted except for the following three cases that apply only to US Topo maps (produced 2009-present): Most maps in the period 2010-2016 contain commercially licensed road data (see note below). Orthoimages in Alaska are commercially licensed. Orthoimages in Hawaii were commercially licensed...
Example of a 2022 US Topo
Example of a 2022 US Topo map. Quad is Morrison, Colorado. US Topo logo, bottom marginalia, and map content detail are shown. Please visit US Topo: Maps for America for full details.
Example of a 2022 US Topo map. Quad is Morrison, Colorado. US Topo logo, bottom marginalia, and map content detail are shown. Please visit US Topo: Maps for America for full details.
Kristen Bennett sets up an instrument to acquire detailed topographic information for a complex esker system.
linkKristen Bennett setting up a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (ground-based LiDAR) to acquire detailed topographic information for a complex esker system. The Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is visible in the background.
Kristen Bennett sets up an instrument to acquire detailed topographic information for a complex esker system.
linkKristen Bennett setting up a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (ground-based LiDAR) to acquire detailed topographic information for a complex esker system. The Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is visible in the background.
Lesson 9a: Accessing US Topo and Historical USGS Topographic Maps
In this lesson, we will discuss the USGS Store and how it can be used to access the US Topo and historical USGS Topographic maps. Specifically, this lesson will talk about the USGS Store, both where it’s accessed and what’s available at the store, as well as how you can locate and download free topographic maps through the store.
In this lesson, we will discuss the USGS Store and how it can be used to access the US Topo and historical USGS Topographic maps. Specifically, this lesson will talk about the USGS Store, both where it’s accessed and what’s available at the store, as well as how you can locate and download free topographic maps through the store.
US Topo
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
USGS Topographers at Work
USGS topographer running a traverse in the Alabama Hills near Mt. Whitney, California.
USGS topographer running a traverse in the Alabama Hills near Mt. Whitney, California.
USGS Topographer at Work
Topographer George Stanley Druhot working with a tripod, planetable, and alidade at Kahekili Leap, on the island of Oahu. His two companions are Malcolm Springer and Tai Hai Lau
Topographer George Stanley Druhot working with a tripod, planetable, and alidade at Kahekili Leap, on the island of Oahu. His two companions are Malcolm Springer and Tai Hai Lau
USGS Topographic Mapping Field Camp
Topographic mapping crew poses in camp in the Cascade Mountains of Washington.
Topographic mapping crew poses in camp in the Cascade Mountains of Washington.