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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
Major Update for America’s Inventory of Parks and Other Protected Areas: Protected Areas Database of the United States
A new version of the Protected Areas Database of the U.S., or PAD-US, has major federal, state and easement updates, an easier-to-use data structure, new web services, national-scale printable maps, and more.
Searching for Great Geologic Maps
The USGS Announces Final Call for Abstracts: Best Student Geological Map Competition at GSA Phoenix.
Volunteers Collect and Edit Over 400K Structure Points!
The National Map Corps volunteers are a force that can't be stopped! In just over a year, volunteers have collected another 100,000 structures points, bringing the total to more than 400,000.
Publications
Supply chain infrastructure restoration calculator software tool—Developer guide and user manual
This report describes a software tool that calculates costs associated with the reconstruction of supply chain interdependent critical infrastructure in the advent of a catastrophic failure by either outside forces (extreme events) or internal forces (fatigue). This tool fills a gap between search and recover strategies of the Federal Emergency...
Ojha, Akhilesh; Kanwar, Bhanu; Long, Suzanna K.; Shoberg, Thomas G.; Corns, Steven
Problems of Large Spatial Databases
Large spatial databases often labeled as geospatial big data exceed the capacity of commonly used computing systems as a result of data volume, variety, velocity, and veracity. Additional problems also labeled with V’s are cited, but the four primary ones are the most problematic and focus of this chapter (Li et al., 2016, Panimalar et al., 2017...
Usery, E. Lynn
The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting California's Economy
IntroductionCalifornia faces unprecedented challenges presented by shifting weather patterns that are defining a “new normal.” The result has been extreme weather events, prolonged drought, flooding, and debris flows. These conditions drive severe tree mortality, increase wildfire occurrence and intensity, reduce water availability, and hasten...
Ostergren, Carol L.; Decker, Drew; Carswell,, William J.