Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

What is the difference between tiled and dynamic services?

A tiled service contains cached tiles that render the map in small tile images. This allows the map to perform much faster when panning and zooming, compared to a dynamic service.

Dynamic is considered an "older" way of displaying web maps, where each feature is called from the source data and drawn separately for every pan and zoom. Tiled base maps are cached from global scale to a scale of 1:9,000.

 

Related Content

link
Screen shot of streams near the Dillon Reservoir, Frisco, CO on imagery basemap

Where can I find a list of URLs for The National Map services?

See The National Map Services for a complete list of map service URLs. That includes available REST, WMS, WMTS (cached base maps only), WFS, WCS, and other service links. Learn more: Training videos for The National Map Products and Services The National Map Applications

link

Where can I find a list of URLs for The National Map services?

See The National Map Services for a complete list of map service URLs. That includes available REST, WMS, WMTS (cached base maps only), WFS, WCS, and other service links. Learn more: Training videos for The National Map Products and Services The National Map Applications

Learn More
link
Mercator the Man

What map projections are used in The National Map tiled base map services and dynamic overlay services?

The projection used for all tiled base map services in The National Map is the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) Web Mercator (Auxiliary Sphere) so that base map services can be used in combination with other common viewers. See Spatial Reference SR-ORG:6928 and Spatial Reference SR-ORG:7483. Dynamic overlay services are in WGS84 (see Spatial Reference EPSG:4326) but can be reprojected as needed...

link

What map projections are used in The National Map tiled base map services and dynamic overlay services?

The projection used for all tiled base map services in The National Map is the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) Web Mercator (Auxiliary Sphere) so that base map services can be used in combination with other common viewers. See Spatial Reference SR-ORG:6928 and Spatial Reference SR-ORG:7483. Dynamic overlay services are in WGS84 (see Spatial Reference EPSG:4326) but can be reprojected as needed...

Learn More
link
Image showing the main page of the Delavan Lake Monitoring Map tool

How can I submit a question or report issues regarding The National Map products and services?

Submit questions about The National Map products or report issues to The National Map service desk at: tnm_help@usgs.gov

link

How can I submit a question or report issues regarding The National Map products and services?

Submit questions about The National Map products or report issues to The National Map service desk at: tnm_help@usgs.gov

Learn More
link
Updated 2016 version of the East Austin US Topo quadrangle with orthoimage turned on. (1:24,000 scale)

What sources were used for imagery in The National Map services?

Sources for orthoimagery in The National Map services: World view to 1:2,300,000 - NASA Blue Marble Next Generation (BMNG) 1:1,150,000 to 1:289,000 - A subset of the Global Land Survey 2000 (Landsat) Scales larger than 1:289,000 - primarily the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). The data is 1-meter pixel resolution flown during "leaf-on" conditions. Collection of NAIP imagery is...

link

What sources were used for imagery in The National Map services?

Sources for orthoimagery in The National Map services: World view to 1:2,300,000 - NASA Blue Marble Next Generation (BMNG) 1:1,150,000 to 1:289,000 - A subset of the Global Land Survey 2000 (Landsat) Scales larger than 1:289,000 - primarily the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). The data is 1-meter pixel resolution flown during "leaf-on" conditions. Collection of NAIP imagery is...

Learn More
link
link

The National Map—New data delivery homepage, advanced viewer, lidar visualization

As one of the cornerstones of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Geospatial Program, The National Map is a collaborative effort among the USGS and other Federal, State, and local partners to improve and deliver topographic information for the Nation. The National Map is featuring direct links to new and improved GIS data access utilities on a refreshed data delivery homepage at https://w
Authors
By
National Geospatial Program, 3D Elevation Program, The National Map - Data Delivery

Scanning and georeferencing historical USGS quadrangles

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Geospatial Program is scanning published USGS 1:250,000-scale and larger topographic maps printed between 1884, the inception of the topographic mapping program, and 2006. The goal of this project, which began publishing the Historical Topographic Map Collection in 2011, is to provide access to a digital repository of USGS topographic maps that is availab
Authors
Kristin A. Fishburn, Larry R. Davis, Gregory J. Allord
By
National Geospatial Program

US Topo—Topographic maps for the Nation

Building on the success of 125 years of mapping, the U.S. Geological Survey created US Topo, a georeferenced digital map produced from The National Map data. US Topo maps are designed to be used like the traditional 7.5-minute quadrangle paper topographic maps for which the U.S. Geological Survey is so well known. However, in contrast to paper-based maps, US Topo maps provide modern technological
Authors
Kristin A. Fishburn, William J. Carswell
By
National Geospatial Program, Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS)

Map projections

A map projection is used to portray all or part of the round Earth on a flat surface. This cannot be done without some distortion. Every projection has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. There is no "best" projection. The mapmaker must select the one best suited to the needs, reducing distortion of the most important features. Mapmakers and mathematicians have devised almost limitless wa
Authors
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program
link

USGS Digital Elevation Models (DEM) Switching to New Distribution Format

In support of ongoing efforts to provide efficient, cloud ready, open data formats, the U.S. Geological Survey National Geospatial Program is...

Read Article
link

USGS 3DEP Lidar Point Cloud Now Available as Amazon Public Dataset

The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is excited to announce the availability of a new way to access and process lidar point cloud data from the 3DEP...

Read Article
link

USGS Topo Base Map Refreshed and Other Updates

The “USGS Topo Base Map” service named “USGS Topo” has been refreshed with new data and design changes. In addition, several of the “Data Availability...

Read Article
link

Keeping Current with Map Services Made Easier

The National Map provides a new Simple Notification Service and has new URLs for some of its thematic cartographic map services.

Read Article
link

Mapping Public Lands in the United States

The Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) is the official inventory of public parks and other protected areas in all U.S. states and...

Read Article

Related Content

  • FAQ
    link
    Screen shot of streams near the Dillon Reservoir, Frisco, CO on imagery basemap

    Where can I find a list of URLs for The National Map services?

    See The National Map Services for a complete list of map service URLs. That includes available REST, WMS, WMTS (cached base maps only), WFS, WCS, and other service links. Learn more: Training videos for The National Map Products and Services The National Map Applications

    link

    Where can I find a list of URLs for The National Map services?

    See The National Map Services for a complete list of map service URLs. That includes available REST, WMS, WMTS (cached base maps only), WFS, WCS, and other service links. Learn more: Training videos for The National Map Products and Services The National Map Applications

    Learn More
    link
    Mercator the Man

    What map projections are used in The National Map tiled base map services and dynamic overlay services?

    The projection used for all tiled base map services in The National Map is the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) Web Mercator (Auxiliary Sphere) so that base map services can be used in combination with other common viewers. See Spatial Reference SR-ORG:6928 and Spatial Reference SR-ORG:7483. Dynamic overlay services are in WGS84 (see Spatial Reference EPSG:4326) but can be reprojected as needed...

    link

    What map projections are used in The National Map tiled base map services and dynamic overlay services?

    The projection used for all tiled base map services in The National Map is the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) Web Mercator (Auxiliary Sphere) so that base map services can be used in combination with other common viewers. See Spatial Reference SR-ORG:6928 and Spatial Reference SR-ORG:7483. Dynamic overlay services are in WGS84 (see Spatial Reference EPSG:4326) but can be reprojected as needed...

    Learn More
    link
    Image showing the main page of the Delavan Lake Monitoring Map tool

    How can I submit a question or report issues regarding The National Map products and services?

    Submit questions about The National Map products or report issues to The National Map service desk at: tnm_help@usgs.gov

    link

    How can I submit a question or report issues regarding The National Map products and services?

    Submit questions about The National Map products or report issues to The National Map service desk at: tnm_help@usgs.gov

    Learn More
    link
    Updated 2016 version of the East Austin US Topo quadrangle with orthoimage turned on. (1:24,000 scale)

    What sources were used for imagery in The National Map services?

    Sources for orthoimagery in The National Map services: World view to 1:2,300,000 - NASA Blue Marble Next Generation (BMNG) 1:1,150,000 to 1:289,000 - A subset of the Global Land Survey 2000 (Landsat) Scales larger than 1:289,000 - primarily the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). The data is 1-meter pixel resolution flown during "leaf-on" conditions. Collection of NAIP imagery is...

    link

    What sources were used for imagery in The National Map services?

    Sources for orthoimagery in The National Map services: World view to 1:2,300,000 - NASA Blue Marble Next Generation (BMNG) 1:1,150,000 to 1:289,000 - A subset of the Global Land Survey 2000 (Landsat) Scales larger than 1:289,000 - primarily the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). The data is 1-meter pixel resolution flown during "leaf-on" conditions. Collection of NAIP imagery is...

    Learn More
  • Multimedia
    link
    link
  • Publications

    The National Map—New data delivery homepage, advanced viewer, lidar visualization

    As one of the cornerstones of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Geospatial Program, The National Map is a collaborative effort among the USGS and other Federal, State, and local partners to improve and deliver topographic information for the Nation. The National Map is featuring direct links to new and improved GIS data access utilities on a refreshed data delivery homepage at https://w
    Authors
    By
    National Geospatial Program, 3D Elevation Program, The National Map - Data Delivery

    Scanning and georeferencing historical USGS quadrangles

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Geospatial Program is scanning published USGS 1:250,000-scale and larger topographic maps printed between 1884, the inception of the topographic mapping program, and 2006. The goal of this project, which began publishing the Historical Topographic Map Collection in 2011, is to provide access to a digital repository of USGS topographic maps that is availab
    Authors
    Kristin A. Fishburn, Larry R. Davis, Gregory J. Allord
    By
    National Geospatial Program

    US Topo—Topographic maps for the Nation

    Building on the success of 125 years of mapping, the U.S. Geological Survey created US Topo, a georeferenced digital map produced from The National Map data. US Topo maps are designed to be used like the traditional 7.5-minute quadrangle paper topographic maps for which the U.S. Geological Survey is so well known. However, in contrast to paper-based maps, US Topo maps provide modern technological
    Authors
    Kristin A. Fishburn, William J. Carswell
    By
    National Geospatial Program, Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS)

    Map projections

    A map projection is used to portray all or part of the round Earth on a flat surface. This cannot be done without some distortion. Every projection has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. There is no "best" projection. The mapmaker must select the one best suited to the needs, reducing distortion of the most important features. Mapmakers and mathematicians have devised almost limitless wa
    Authors
    By
    Core Science Systems Mission Area, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program
  • News
    link

    USGS Digital Elevation Models (DEM) Switching to New Distribution Format

    In support of ongoing efforts to provide efficient, cloud ready, open data formats, the U.S. Geological Survey National Geospatial Program is...

    Read Article
    link

    USGS 3DEP Lidar Point Cloud Now Available as Amazon Public Dataset

    The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is excited to announce the availability of a new way to access and process lidar point cloud data from the 3DEP...

    Read Article
    link

    USGS Topo Base Map Refreshed and Other Updates

    The “USGS Topo Base Map” service named “USGS Topo” has been refreshed with new data and design changes. In addition, several of the “Data Availability...

    Read Article
    link

    Keeping Current with Map Services Made Easier

    The National Map provides a new Simple Notification Service and has new URLs for some of its thematic cartographic map services.

    Read Article
    link

    Mapping Public Lands in the United States

    The Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) is the official inventory of public parks and other protected areas in all U.S. states and...

    Read Article