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CSS leads USGS’s mission as the civilian mapping agency for the Nation. We conduct detailed surveys and develop high quality, highly accurate topographic, geologic, hydrographic, and biogeographic maps and data. Our maps allow precise planning for critical mineral assessments; energy development; infrastructure projects; urban planning; flood prediction; emergency response; and hazard mitigation.
National Geospatial Program
The National Geospatial Program is the Federal civilian mapping agency and provides the digital geospatial foundation for the Nation. It engages partners and communities of use to collaboratively produce consistent and accurate topographic map data.
Learn MoreScience Analytics and Synthesis (SAS)
The USGS Science Data Catalog, supported by SAS, provides seamless access to USGS research and monitoring data from across the nation. Users have the ability to search, browse, or use a map-based interface to discover data.
Learn MoreNews
FINISHED! City / Town Halls in MA, CT, & RI
This challenge is now complete! Thank you to everyone who contributed!
NEW TNMCorps Mapping Challenge for City / Town Halls in IL & MO!
TNMCorps Mapping Challenges shift to the Midwest with a new challenge for city/town halls in Illinois and Missouri!
Agencies Announce Bold Initiative to Fill Water Management Data Gap in Western U.S.
A bold new initiative called OpenET that is intended to fill the biggest data gap in water management in the western U.S. was announced Tuesday, Sept. 15, by a unique public-private partnership of Federal agencies, universities, environmental groups, and water managers and farmers.
Publications
Elevation-derived hydrography acquisition specifications
Hydrographic features derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 3D Elevation Program data, and collected for use by the USGS, must meet the specifications described in this document. The specifications described herein pertain to the final product delivered to the USGS, not to methods used to derive the hydrographic features. The specifications...
Terziotti, Silvia; Archuleta, Christy-Ann
Elevation-derived hydrography—Representation, extraction, attribution, and delineation rules
With the increasing availability of 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) quality high resolution elevation data across the United States and the pressing need for better integrated elevation and hydrography data, the U.S. Geological Survey is developing guidance to improve the horizontal and vertical alignment of these datasets. The U.S. Geological Survey...
Archuleta, Christy-Ann; Terziotti, Silvia
Preserving meander bend geometry through scale
Stream meander geometry is a function of hydrologic, geologic, and anthropogenic forces. Meander morphometrics are used in geomorphic classification, ecological characterization, and tectonic and hydrologic change detection. Thus, detailed measurement and classification of meander geometry is imperative to multiscale representation of hydrographic...
Shavers, Ethan J.; Stanislawski, Larry; Buttenfield, Barbara P.; Kronenfeld, Barry J.