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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

Hundreds of Fire Maps Released on Burn Severity Portal

Hundreds of Fire Maps Released on Burn Severity Portal

EROS Interns Gain Experience, Produce Science

EROS Interns Gain Experience, Produce Science

Farms to Faucet: The Hidden Connection

Farms to Faucet: The Hidden Connection

Publications

Automated deep learning-based point cloud classification on USGS 3DEP lidar data using transformer

The goal of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is to facilitate the acquisition of nationwide lidar data. Although data meet USGS lidar specifications, some point cloud tiles include noisy and incorrectly classified points. The enhanced accuracy of classified point clouds can improve support for many downstream applications such as hydrologic analysis, urban planning,
Authors
Jung-Kuan (Ernie) Liu, Rongjun Qin, Shuang Song

Evaluation of classified ground points from National Agriculture Imagery program photogrammetrically derived point clouds

Studies have shown that digital surface models and point clouds generated by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) can measure basic forest parameters such as canopy height. However, all measured forest parameters from these studies are evaluated using the differences between NAIP digital surface models (DSMs) and available lidar digital terrain
Authors
Jung-Kuan (Ernie) Liu, Samantha Arundel, Ethan J. Shavers

Assessing the utility of uncrewed aerial system photogrammetrically derived point clouds for land cover classification in the Alaska North Slope

Uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) have been used to collect “pseudo field plot” data in the form of large-scale stereo imagery to supplement and bolster direct field observations to monitor areas in Alaska. These data supplement field data that is difficult to collect in such a vast landscape with a relatively short field season. Dense photogrammetrically derived point clouds are created and are faci
Authors
Jung-Kuan (Ernie) Liu, Rongjun Qin, Samantha Arundel

Science

Eyes on Earth Episode 123 – Bathymetry Mapping

A satellite system designed to image land is helping fill in data gaps of underwater topography near shorelines.
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Eyes on Earth Episode 123 – Bathymetry Mapping

A satellite system designed to image land is helping fill in data gaps of underwater topography near shorelines.
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Eyes on Earth Episode 122 – EROS Interns, 2024

What can you learn during an internship at the USGS EROS Center? A lot! Several interns talk about their experience working a summer internship at EROS.
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Eyes on Earth Episode 122 – EROS Interns, 2024

What can you learn during an internship at the USGS EROS Center? A lot! Several interns talk about their experience working a summer internship at EROS.
Learn More

Eyes on Earth Episode 121 – Mapping the Australia Coastline

Landsat’s deep archive can reveal where coastlines are changing, even for an entire continent, especially with some clever coding to make it useful to researchers.
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Eyes on Earth Episode 121 – Mapping the Australia Coastline

Landsat’s deep archive can reveal where coastlines are changing, even for an entire continent, especially with some clever coding to make it useful to researchers.
Learn More
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