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National Geospatial Program

Your Source for Topographic Information

The National Map

Data Science: Converting Data into Actionable Knowledge

Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS)

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USGS Library

Online Catalog

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.

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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.

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Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program

Front side of the Denali and Tallgrass computer server racks.

The Science Synthesis Analysis, and Research (SSAR) Program provides analysis and synthesis of scientific data and information, interdisciplinary research to improve understanding of Earth system changes, and preservation of scientific data and samples and library collections.

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News

New Improvements to Burn Severity Portal Announced

New Improvements to Burn Severity Portal Announced

Landsat Science Team: Helping Farmers Monitor Water Use

Landsat Science Team: Helping Farmers Monitor Water Use

Landsat Science Team Focuses on Advanced Satellite Technology

Landsat Science Team Focuses on Advanced Satellite Technology

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Publications

Authoritative knowledge infrastructure for GeoAI: Implications for scientific spatial data providers Authoritative knowledge infrastructure for GeoAI: Implications for scientific spatial data providers

Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) increasingly relies on automated analysis of authoritative geospatial data, exposing limitations in data infrastructures originally designed for simple dissemination rather than for knowledge-driven use. From the perspective of scientific spatial data providers, the challenge is enabling GeoAI responsibly while retaining semantic clarity...
Authors
Samantha T. Arundel, Lilit Veghiazarian, Torsten Hahmann, Bryan B Campbell
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS)

Geospatial Agentic Services: A framework for interoperable geospatial intelligence Geospatial Agentic Services: A framework for interoperable geospatial intelligence

Autonomous GIS uses large language models as its reasoning core to automate spatial data collection, analysis, modeling, and visualization for solving spatial problems with minimal human intervention. Often implemented through autonomous geospatial agents that work independently or collaboratively, it represents a shift from GIS as a passive software environment requiring expert...
Authors
Zhenlong Li, Ali Khosravi Kazazi, Ruixiang Liu, Temitope Akinboyewa, Huan Ning, Xiao Huang, Xinyue Ye, Samantha T. Arundel, Wenwen Li, Chaowei Yang, Shaoweng Wang, Ingo Simonis
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS)

Linking scale-specific sinuosity to hydrogeomorphic domains in Alaska watersheds Linking scale-specific sinuosity to hydrogeomorphic domains in Alaska watersheds

River meander patterns arise from geomorphological processes influenced by climate, geology, terrain, and hydrology. These processes produce a wide spectrum of sinuous channel and meander forms, and understanding them is essential for land management practices, such as natural channel restoration (Dominguez et al., 2018), flood and erosion control, bank stabilization (U.S. Department of...
Authors
Lawrence V. Stanislawski, Pierofranco Costabile, Barry J. Kronenfeld, Margherita Lombardo
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS)
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Science

a picture of the 2026-2030 Landsat Science Team

Landsat Science Team

Led by USGS and NASA Landsat Project Scientists, Landsat Science Teams consist of USGS and NASA scientists and engineers, external scientists, engineers, and application specialists, representing industry and university research initiatives. The Science Teams are tasked with providing scientific and technical evaluations to the USGS and NASA to ensure the continued success of the Landsat program.
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Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Landsat Missions
Landsat Science Team

Landsat Science Team

Led by USGS and NASA Landsat Project Scientists, Landsat Science Teams consist of USGS and NASA scientists and engineers, external scientists, engineers, and application specialists, representing industry and university research initiatives. The Science Teams are tasked with providing scientific and technical evaluations to the USGS and NASA to ensure the continued success of the Landsat program.
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Collage of software mapper tools.

2026 18th CEGIS Annual Research Meeting

The Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS) is proud to host the 2026 18th CEGIS Annual Research Meeting June 23-25, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. The annual research meeting is a special occasion to celebrate our accomplishments, explore ongoing projects, and foster collaboration for future endeavors. This year's gathering featured a broad range of presentations from our...
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Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Geospatial Program, Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS), 3D Elevation Program, 3D Hydrography Program, 3D National Topography Model, National Geospatial Technical Operations Center
2026 18th CEGIS Annual Research Meeting

2026 18th CEGIS Annual Research Meeting

The Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS) is proud to host the 2026 18th CEGIS Annual Research Meeting June 23-25, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. The annual research meeting is a special occasion to celebrate our accomplishments, explore ongoing projects, and foster collaboration for future endeavors. This year's gathering featured a broad range of presentations from our...
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las moras

Las Moras Wash Restoration: Integrated Geomorphic Assessment, Modeling, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management

The Las Moras Wash, within the Santa Margarita Ranch, Altar Valley, AZ, exhibits channel incision, gully expansion, head‑cut migration, vegetation loss, and reduced hydrologic connectivity between upper watershed and floodplains.
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Western Geographic Science Center
Las Moras Wash Restoration: Integrated Geomorphic Assessment, Modeling, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management

Las Moras Wash Restoration: Integrated Geomorphic Assessment, Modeling, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management

The Las Moras Wash, within the Santa Margarita Ranch, Altar Valley, AZ, exhibits channel incision, gully expansion, head‑cut migration, vegetation loss, and reduced hydrologic connectivity between upper watershed and floodplains.
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