Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

National Geospatial Program

Your Source for Topographic Information

The National Map

Data Science: Converting Data into Actionable Knowledge

Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS)

Learn More

National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program

Determining the geologic framework of areas determined to be vital to the economic social, or scientific welfare of the Nation

Visit NCGMP Website

National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program

Preserving geoscience samples for today and future generations

Visit NGGDPP Website

USGS Library

Online Catalog

Core Science Systems Mission Area

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 haz

Read The Mission Overview

National Geospatial Program

Climbing Mount McKinley
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 More

Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS)

Screenshot of the USGS Science Data Catalog
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 More

CSS QUICK LINKS

News

link

Mapping Challenge Update (09/28/23): Schools in Utah

link

Using the Power of Landsat and Digital Earth Tools to Understand Coastlines in Australia and Africa

link

USGS announces elevation and hydrography data acquisition partnership opportunities.

View All

Publications

A guide to creating an effective big data management framework

Many agencies and organizations, such as the U.S. Geological Survey, handle massive geospatial datasets and their auxiliary data and are thus faced with challenges in storing data and ingesting it, transferring it between internal programs, and egressing it to external entities. As a result, these agencies and organizations may inadvertently devote unnecessary time and money to convey data without
Authors
Samantha Arundel, Kevin G McKeehan, Bryan B Campbell, Andrew N. Bulen, Philip T. Thiem
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Geospatial Program, Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS), National Geospatial Technical Operations Center

Calibration and validation for the Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) mission concept: Recommendations for a multi-sensor system for imaging spectroscopy and thermal imagery

The primary objective of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) mission is to measure biological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical features of the Earth's surface, realizing a key conceptual component of the envisioned NASA Earth System Observatory (ESO). SBG is planned to launch as a two-platform mission in the late 2020s, the first of the
Authors
Kevin R. Turpie, Kimberly Ann Casey, Christopher J. Crawford, Liane S Guild, Hugh H. Kieffer, Guoqing (Gary) Lin, Raymond F. Kokaly, Alok Shrestha, Cody Anderson, Shankar N. Ramaseri Chandra, Robert O. Green, Simon Hook, Constantine Lukashin, Kurt Thome
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Land Imaging Program, Land Change Science Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center

The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting Oregon's economy

IntroductionOregon’s physical environments and vegetation are diverse. The varied geologic and climatic conditions combined with increasing population have created the need for high-quality elevation data that can be used for infrastructure management, forestry and wildfire management, agriculture, natural resources conservation, and other business uses. Critical applications that meet the State’s
Authors
Tom Carlson
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Geospatial Program, 3D Elevation Program
View All

Science

link
Image Collage of Landsat, pollinator, and volcanologist

Diseases of Fish and Wildlife

The coronavirus pandemic, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer, and white-nose syndrome in bats have spawned great interest in diseases of native fish and wildlife. Many aspects of widely known diseases of wild (as opposed to domestic) animal populations are poorly understood, including their ecology, incidence, distribution, and methods for reducing effects of disease on culturally...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Cooperative Research Units
link

Diseases of Fish and Wildlife

The coronavirus pandemic, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer, and white-nose syndrome in bats have spawned great interest in diseases of native fish and wildlife. Many aspects of widely known diseases of wild (as opposed to domestic) animal populations are poorly understood, including their ecology, incidence, distribution, and methods for reducing effects of disease on culturally...
Learn More
link
A rocket sits in the foreground of people visiting a data center

Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2

This second special alumni edition of the Eyes on Earth podcast features stories told by former employees and others about science, technology and the international outlook at EROS.
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
link

Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2

This second special alumni edition of the Eyes on Earth podcast features stories told by former employees and others about science, technology and the international outlook at EROS.
Learn More
link
A tent in front of a building

Eyes on Earth Episode 103 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1

This special alumni edition of the Eyes on Earth podcast features stories told by former employees and others about the history and people at EROS.
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Land Imaging Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
link

Eyes on Earth Episode 103 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1

This special alumni edition of the Eyes on Earth podcast features stories told by former employees and others about the history and people at EROS.
Learn More
View All