The Art and Science of Topo: Cartographic Specifications
Elevate Your Understanding with Detailed Specifications
Building upon the existing OnDemand Topo products (7.5-Minute Topo, 100K Topo), USGS released two new topoBuilder product configurations in 2025 (25K Recreational Topo, 250K Topo). In addition to leveraging new workflows and solutions such as dynamic page sizes, a refreshed layout, custom symbology, and simplified map symbol guides; OnDemand Topos have a newly published set of cartographic specifications.
Cartographic specifications define the detailed requirements for producing topographic maps including feature symbology and dynamic labels. Cartographic specifications are organized by authoritative data sets and themes including Elevation, Geographic Names, Governmental Units (Boundaries), Hydrography, Land Cover, Structures, and Transportation. Each theme is organized by Feature Type and includes descriptive and technical specifications for each map symbol (size, color, transparency), corresponding label for named features (font, size, color, halo, placement properties), and a graphic depiction for reference and display.
As the USGS continues to innovate and lead national topographic mapping efforts; improvements, additions, and refinements of products, feature symbology, and labels will be documented and published concurrently. This includes version histories summarizing symbology refinements for each product.
To learn more about Standards and Specifications for US Topo, OnDemand Topo, or the Historical Topographic Map Collection, visit Topographic Maps Standards and Specifications.
To explore OnDemand Topo cartographic specifications, visit OnDemand Topo Cartographic Specifications, or select one of the linked product configurations below.
