How should I cite datasets and services from The National Map?
The USGS does not require a specific format when citing data obtained through The National Map; you should follow the citation guidelines provided by instructors or publication editors as appropriate. The following should help you find the information that you need:
Citation for Datasets
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Author: U.S. Geological Survey
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Release date: the first four numbers of <pubdate> from dataset metadata for the year of the release date. For example, if the <pubdate> is 20190426, the year 2019.
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Title: depends on the dataset. Examples include: National Hydrography Dataset, 3D Elevation Program 1-Meter Resolution Digital Elevation Model, Watershed Boundary Dataset, or 3D Elevation Program Lidar Point Cloud.
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Version: <title> from dataset metadata
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Access information: date accessed and URL for webpage used to access the data
Dataset examples:
U.S. Geological Survey, 2019, National Hydrography Dataset (ver. USGS National Hydrography Dataset Best Resolution (NHD) for Hydrologic Unit (HU) 4 - 2001 (published 20191002)), accessed October 23, 2019 at URL https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/national-hydrography/access-national-hydrography-products
U.S. Geological Survey, 2019, 3D Elevation Program 1-Meter Resolution Digital Elevation Model (published 20200606), accessed October 23, 2019 at URL https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/ngp/3dep/data-tools
Citation for Web services
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Author: U.S. Geological Survey
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Release date: the date listed in the Copyright Text in the REST service description available at https://apps.nationalmap.gov/services/
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Title of the data: the Title listed in the Document Info in the REST service description available at https://apps.nationalmap.gov/services/
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Access information: Date accessed and URL for the map service
Web service examples:
U.S. Geological Survey, 2019, USGS TNM Hydrography (NHD), accessed June 7, 2019 at URL https://hydro.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/rest/services/nhd/MapServer.
U.S. Geological Survey, 2019, USGS 3D Elevation Program Digital Elevation Model, accessed June 7, 2019 at URL https://elevation.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/rest/services/3DEPElevation/ImageServer.
Learn more:
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