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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

Latest in Landsat - February 2026 - Vol. 5 | Issue 2

Latest in Landsat - February 2026 - Vol. 5 | Issue 2

Landsat in 2025: Milestones Continue the Mission's Legacy

Landsat in 2025: Milestones Continue the Mission's Legacy

Satellite Data and Science Abound in 2025

Satellite Data and Science Abound in 2025

Publications

A new inventory and conservation assessment of United States islands A new inventory and conservation assessment of United States islands

To support conservation-focused research and management we developed a new 30-m resolution polygon data layer of the nonlacustrine and nonriverine islands of the United States, with associated attributes describing key physical and conservation geography characteristics. Islands were grouped into a three-tiered hierarchy of island regions (twelve), island provinces (twenty-eight), and...
Authors
Roger Sayre, Madeline T. Martin, Nadia Naji, Kelly B. Sides, Jill Janene Cress, Kevin Butler, Keith Van Graafeiland, Deniz Karagulle, Charlie Frye, Sean Breyer, Dawn Wright, John Klavitter, Dena Spatz, David Will, Gregg Howald, Alex Wegmann, Charlotte K. Stanley, Nick Holmes

Multi-temporal surface water mapping with high-resolution elevation and image data through weakly supervised deep learning Multi-temporal surface water mapping with high-resolution elevation and image data through weakly supervised deep learning

Monitoring the extent of surface water features (hydrography), accurately storing them in databases, and representing them on topographic maps are essential for various applications such as navigation and policy-making for legislative boundaries and permitting. In this context, hydrographic data includes features that generally have water present or image data showing signs that water is...
Authors
Larry Stanislawski, Rongjun Qin, Jung-Kuan Liu, Ethan J. Shavers, Shaowen Wang, Nattapon Jaroenchai, Philip T. Thiem

GIScience in the era of Artificial Intelligence: A research agenda towards Autonomous GIS GIScience in the era of Artificial Intelligence: A research agenda towards Autonomous GIS

The advent of generative AI exemplified by large language models (LLMs) opens new ways to represent and compute geographic information and transcends the process of geographic knowledge production, driving geographic information systems (GIS) towards autonomous GIS. Leveraging LLMs as the decision core, autonomous GIS can independently generate and execute geoprocessing workflows to...
Authors
Zhenlong Li, Huan Ning, Song Gao, Krzysztof Janowicz, Wenwen Li, Samantha Arundel, Chaowei Yang, Budhendra Bhaduri, Shaoweng Wang, A-Xing Zhu, Mark Gahegan, Shashi Shekhar, Xinyue Ye, Grant McKenzie, Guido Cervone, Michael Hodgson

Science

EROS User Services

Your trusted resource for USGS EROS data and tools. As the primary contact point for the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) center, we help thousands of users each year access and understand our vast archive of remotely sensed imagery and science products. From technical assistance and tool support, to training and outreach, our team ensures you have the resources you need to make...
EROS User Services

EROS User Services

Your trusted resource for USGS EROS data and tools. As the primary contact point for the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) center, we help thousands of users each year access and understand our vast archive of remotely sensed imagery and science products. From technical assistance and tool support, to training and outreach, our team ensures you have the resources you need to make...
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USGS Sagebrush Science: Supporting Public Safety and Economic Decision Making Across the West

The sagebrush biome is one of the largest ecosystems in North America. Encompassing nearly one-third of the continental U.S., it provides critical resources for millions of Americans and a home for hundreds of plants and animal species in the West. Natural resource management in sagebrush ecosystems can be complex, and science can support management decisions by providing knowledge and tools to...
USGS Sagebrush Science: Supporting Public Safety and Economic Decision Making Across the West

USGS Sagebrush Science: Supporting Public Safety and Economic Decision Making Across the West

The sagebrush biome is one of the largest ecosystems in North America. Encompassing nearly one-third of the continental U.S., it provides critical resources for millions of Americans and a home for hundreds of plants and animal species in the West. Natural resource management in sagebrush ecosystems can be complex, and science can support management decisions by providing knowledge and tools to...
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National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP)

The National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) is a collaborative effort working towards a common mission to protect, restore, and enhance the nation's fish and aquatic communities through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people.
National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP)

National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP)

The National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) is a collaborative effort working towards a common mission to protect, restore, and enhance the nation's fish and aquatic communities through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people.
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