Boundaries: Primary sources include the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), International Boundary Commission (IBC) for the Canadian boundary, and the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) for the Mexican boundary. Boundaries include city, county, State, Federal lands, provinces, and territories; as well as cadastral data (where applicable), associated with Public Land Survey System (PLSS), and Indian lands.
Structures: Currently included at a national scope are hospitals, law enforcement, fire stations, and other similar essential facilities. This data was developed as part of an ongoing effort between Federal agencies and States. For The National Map, the primary sources for the data are states and volunteers associated with The National Map Corps. The USGS reconciles the collection of structures data with the location and feature names from the Geographic Names Information System, achieving a single baseline of data for State and Federal vector data sources as well as gazetteer applications.
Transportation: Roads are from U.S. Census Bureau's TIGER/Line Shapefile source content with some updates of major roads by the USGS, along with U.S. Forest Service road data over National Forests. Railroads were originally sourced from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory but the Federal Railroad Administration is now responsible for maintaining a national dataset. Airport runways are derived from the Federal Aviation Administration location points, with polygon geometry and locational updates provided by USGS.
Related Content
How often are boundaries, structures, and transportation products and services updated in the National Map?
Since the USGS obtains most boundaries, structures, and transportation data from external sources, the frequency of updates depends on the release schedule of the source products.Boundaries - updates are variable.Structures - data content for map services is targeted for quarterly refresh cycles, while updated products are immediately available for download.Transportation - updates range from...
What download formats are available for boundaries, structures, and transportation data products in The National Map?
Boundaries, structures, and transportation data products are currently available in Esri File Geodatabase 10.1 or Shapefile format. Use The National Map Downloader, The National Map Services, or download files staged at the below sites.USGS National Boundary DatasetUSGS National Structures DatasetUSGS National Transportation Dataset
Why don’t the boundaries on US Topo maps match and why are some missing?
Improving boundaries for USGS topographic maps is an ongoing effort. Boundaries have been added to computer-generated US Topo maps (published 2009-present) as digital versions become available: 2009-2010 – The U.S. national boundary was the only boundary shown. 2011 – State and county boundaries added using TIGER/Line data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 – U.S. Forest Service areas added. 2013 –...
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...
What sources of vector data were used to create base maps in The National Map?
Vector data for small scales are from The National Map Small-Scale Collection, while medium to large scales are comprised of The National Map themes, including the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data. Other medium-to-large-scale vector features are from USGS edited versions of the U.S. Census Bureau's TIGER/Line data for Governmental Unit...
The National Map—New data delivery homepage, advanced viewer, lidar visualization
US Topo Product Standard
Department of the Interior metadata implementation guide—Framework for developing the metadata component for data resource management
Scanning and georeferencing historical USGS quadrangles
The 3D Elevation Program and America's infrastructure
Related Content
- FAQ
How often are boundaries, structures, and transportation products and services updated in the National Map?
Since the USGS obtains most boundaries, structures, and transportation data from external sources, the frequency of updates depends on the release schedule of the source products.Boundaries - updates are variable.Structures - data content for map services is targeted for quarterly refresh cycles, while updated products are immediately available for download.Transportation - updates range from...
What download formats are available for boundaries, structures, and transportation data products in The National Map?
Boundaries, structures, and transportation data products are currently available in Esri File Geodatabase 10.1 or Shapefile format. Use The National Map Downloader, The National Map Services, or download files staged at the below sites.USGS National Boundary DatasetUSGS National Structures DatasetUSGS National Transportation Dataset
Why don’t the boundaries on US Topo maps match and why are some missing?
Improving boundaries for USGS topographic maps is an ongoing effort. Boundaries have been added to computer-generated US Topo maps (published 2009-present) as digital versions become available: 2009-2010 – The U.S. national boundary was the only boundary shown. 2011 – State and county boundaries added using TIGER/Line data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 – U.S. Forest Service areas added. 2013 –...
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...
What sources of vector data were used to create base maps in The National Map?
Vector data for small scales are from The National Map Small-Scale Collection, while medium to large scales are comprised of The National Map themes, including the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data. Other medium-to-large-scale vector features are from USGS edited versions of the U.S. Census Bureau's TIGER/Line data for Governmental Unit...
- Multimedia
- 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://wUS Topo Product Standard
This document defines a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) digital topographic map. This map product series, named “US Topo,” is modeled on the now historical USGS 7.5-minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic map series produced and printed by the USGS from 1947 to 2006. US Topo maps have the same extent, scale, and general layout as the historical topographic maps. US Topo maps incorporate an orthorectifieDepartment of the Interior metadata implementation guide—Framework for developing the metadata component for data resource management
The Department of the Interior (DOI) is a Federal agency with over 90,000 employees across 10 bureaus and 8 agency offices. Its primary mission is to protect and manage the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provide scientific and other information about those resources; and honor its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated iScanning 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 availabThe 3D Elevation Program and America's infrastructure
Infrastructure—the physical framework of transportation, energy, communications, water supply, and other systems—and construction management—the overall planning, coordination, and control of a project from beginning to end—are critical to the Nation’s prosperity. The American Society of Civil Engineers has warned that, despite the importance of the Nation’s infrastructure, it is in fair to poor c - News