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Core Science Systems Mission Area

USGS CSS serves as the primary national civilian mapping agency, including topographic and geologic mapping for Federal and State requirements, national geospatial coordination, satellite operations and remote sensing. Our products and data are necessary to understand, monitor, and detect changes that affect the Nation’s natural and agricultural resources, the economy, public safety, and security.

News

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Terry Sohl Named Head of USGS EROS Science

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USGS expands National Map digital offerings, putting mountain-scale topography at user’s fingertips

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Landsat 7 Imaging Suspended

Publications

GeoAI for spatial image processing

The development of digital image processing, as a subset of digital signal processing, depended upon the maturity of photography and image science, introduction of computers, discovery and advancement of digital recording devices, and the capture of digital images. In addition, government and industry applications in the Earth and medical sciences were paramount to the growth of the technology. Fr
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Samantha Arundel, Kevin G McKeehan, Wenwen Li, Zhining Gu

At what scales does a river meander? Scale-specific sinuosity (S3) metric for quantifying stream meander size distribution

Stream bend geometry is linked to terrain features, hydrologic and ecologic conditions, and anthropogenic forces. Knowledge of the distributions of geometric properties of streams advances understanding of changing landscape conditions and associated processes that operate over a range of spatial scales. Statistical decomposition of sinuosity in natural linear features has proven a longstanding ch
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Larry Stanislawski, Barry J. Kronenfeld, Barbara P. Buttenfield, Ethan J. Shavers

Space-based Earth observation and ecosystem extent: Exploring opportunities

The purpose of this white paper is to explore and communicate potential new opportunities for using space-based Earth observation (EO) for monitoring biodiversity with a focus on ecosystem extent (the distribution of ecosystems on the Earth). It is part of a new activity of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), a collaboration of the world’s space agencies that facilitates cross-ag
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Gary Geller, Shaun Levick, Sandra Luque, Roger Sayre

Science

Eyes on Earth Episode 111 – Mendenhall Fellow’s Drought Forecasting

Meet the EROS Mendenhall Fellow who is working on innovative ways to use algorithms and Landsat data to forecast drought.
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Eyes on Earth Episode 111 – Mendenhall Fellow’s Drought Forecasting

Meet the EROS Mendenhall Fellow who is working on innovative ways to use algorithms and Landsat data to forecast drought.
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Eyes on Earth Episode 110 – Geospatial Information Response Team

When nature unleashes its fury, whether in an earthquake or storm, the Geospatial Information Response Team ensures data gets to responders quickly.
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Eyes on Earth Episode 110 – Geospatial Information Response Team

When nature unleashes its fury, whether in an earthquake or storm, the Geospatial Information Response Team ensures data gets to responders quickly.
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Eyes on Earth Episode 109 – Fall 2023 EROS Poster Session

If you’ve never been to a scientific poster session, this episode will provide a taste of what it’s like.
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Eyes on Earth Episode 109 – Fall 2023 EROS Poster Session

If you’ve never been to a scientific poster session, this episode will provide a taste of what it’s like.
Learn More