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National Vegetation Classification Standard
The National Vegetation Classification (NVC) is your guide to inventorying natural and cultural vegetation communities. Its standard allows users to produce uniform statistics about vegetation resources across the nation at local, regional, or national levels. CSAS&L actively participates in the development of this important standard through our involvement with the FGDC Vegetation...
Gap Analysis Project (GAP)
GAP provides data to assess effects of land management by providing information on where species and natural communities occur and how they are being managed. "Gap analysis" assesses how well we are protecting common plants and animals by identifying the degree to which animal species and plant communities are under-represented on protected lands such as parks and refuges.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
With more than 700,000 scientifically vetted entries, the ITIS is the authoritative source for scientific names of species and higher-level groups of organisms in North America and the world. It is produced in conjunction with eight other Federal partners. Its partnership with the European-based Species 2000 yields the global names standard: Catalogue of Life.
National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58, Sec. 351) established the this program in the USGS and outlined the following goals: Archive geological, geophysical, and engineering data, maps, well logs, and samples.Provide a national catalog of archived materials. Provide technical and financial assistance to State geological surveys and relevant DOI bureaus for archived materials.
National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP)
The NCGMP produces accurate geologic maps and 3-D geologic frameworks that provide critical data for sustaining and improving the quality of life and economic vitality of the Nation. Geologic maps are indispensable to understanding earth surface processes and ground-water availability and quality, supporting DOI land management decisions and mitigating hazards.
National Geospatial Program (NGP)
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 and web services. Operational support is provided by the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center.
The National Map
We provide America with high-quality topographic data and maps for advancing science, supporting government, and enlightening citizens. By providing seamless, publicly accessible, and comprehensive coverage of the nation's landscape, it is your source for topographic information.
Core Science, Analytics, Synthesis & Libraries (CSAS&L)
With expertise in technology, informatics, and science, CSAS&L leads the management and delivery of scientific data and information for the USGS. CSAS&L implements and promotes standards and best practices to enable efficient, data-driven science for decision making at multiple scales. Critical relationships are established and fostered to identify and access data, and to develop and...
Special Collections
Explore Field Records, Map Collections, the Kunz Collection, the Rare Book Collection, the Topographic Map Archive, the United States Antarctic Resource Center, and the USGS Photographic Collection.
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Metadata Wizard
The Metadata Wizard tool helps geospatial data users with the creation and editing of metadata compliant with the Federal Geographic Data Committee's 'Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata' (FGDC-CSDGM).
Online Metadata Editor (OME)
The OME is an online metadata creation tool that allows scientists to document their data using the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata by answering simple questions about their data.
ScienceBase
ScienceBase is data and information management infrastructure that enables data upload, documentation, sharing, and dynamic data services using standards-compliant methods and technological components. ScienceBase furnishes a foundation for data stewardship, government open data, and scientific discovery.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Creation Tool
The DOI Tool allows creation of a permanent DOI for released USGS science data.
The National Map Data Download and Visualization Access
The National Map, managed by the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP), provides free visualization, inspection, and download access to our most current US Topo and Historical Topographic Map products as well as GIS data for our primary data themes including: Elevation, Orthoimagery, Hydrography, Geographic Names, Boundaries, Transportation, Structures, and Land Cover.
Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON)
BISON: (http://bison.usgs.ornl.gov) A web-based map viewer allowing users to search, view and download species occurrence data from BISON. BISON APIs: (http://bison.usgs.ornl.gov/#api) REST, WMS, and solr services enabling direct use of species occurrence data from custom external applications. BISON...
Publications Warehouse
Gain access to over 100,000 publications written by USGS scientists over the century-plus history of the bureau.
Data Management
The USGS Data Management Website provides the Bureau with best practices, tools, and references to enable the management and preservation of science data.
Legacy Data Inventory and Reporting System (LDIRS)
The USGS Legacy Data and Information Reporting System (LDIRS) is an online tool to facilitate the inventory and preservation of USGS legacy data. The LDIRS inventories and reports are available to all USGS employees and getting started is easy!
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Crowdsourcing The National Map
Using crowdsourcing techniques, the US Geological Survey’s (USGS) Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) project known as “The National Map Corps (TNMCorps)” encourages citizen scientists to collect and edit data about man-made structures in an effort to provide accurate and authoritative map data for the USGS National Geospatial Program’s web-...
McCartney, Elizabeth; Craun, Kari J.; Korris, Erin M.; Brostuen, David A.; Moore, Laurence R.
Minerals, lands, and geology for the common defence and general welfare, Volume 4, 1939-1961: A history of geology in relation to the development of public-land, federal science, and mapping policies and the development of mineral resources in the United States from the 60th to the 82d year of the U.S. Geological Survey
The fourth volume of the comprehensive history of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is titled “Minerals, Lands, and Geology for the Common Defence and General Welfare—Volume 4, 1939‒1961.” The title is based on a passage in the preamble of the U.S. Constitution. The late Mary C. Rabbitt (1915‒2002), a geophysicist who served with...
Rabbitt, Mary C.; Nelson, Clifford M. Synoptic evaluation of scale-dependent metrics for hydrographic line feature geometry
Methods of acquisition and feature simplification for vector feature data impact cartographic representations and scientific investigations of these data, and are therefore important considerations for geographic information science (Haunert and Sester 2008). After initial collection, linear features may be simplified to reduce excessive detail or...
Stanislawski, Larry V.; Buttenfield, Barbara P.; Raposo, Paulo; Cameron, Madeline; Falgout, Jeff T. Complex Topographic Feature Ontology Patterns
Semantic ontologies are examined as effective data models for the representation of complex topographic feature types. Complex feature types are viewed as integrated relations between basic features for a basic purpose. In the context of topographic science, such component assemblages are supported by resource systems and found on the local...
Varanka, Dalia E.; Jerris, Thomas J. An applied ontology for semantics associated with surface water land cover
Ahlqvist, Ola; Varanka, Dalia; Fritz, Steffen; Janowicz, Krzysztof; Varanka, Dalia E.; Usery, E. Lynn Crisis crowdsourcing framework: designing strategic configurations of crowdsourcing for the emergency management domain
Crowdsourcing is not a new practice but it is a concept that has gained significant attention during recent disasters. Drawing from previous work in the crisis informatics, disaster sociology, and computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) literature, the paper first explains recent conceptualizations of crowdsourcing and how crowdsourcing is a...
Liu, Sophia B.
Tools and data for meeting America's conservation challenges
The Gap Analysis Program (GAP) produces data and tools that help meet critical national challenges such as biodiversity conservation, renewable energy development, climate change adaptation, and infrastructure investment. The GAP is managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior. GAP supports a wide range of national, State, and...
Gergely, Kevin J.; McKerrow, Alexa
Species data: National inventory of range maps and distribution models
The Gap Analysis Program (GAP) produces data and tools that help meet critical national challenges such as biodiversity conservation, renewable energy development, climate change adaptation, and infrastructure investment. The GAP species data includes vertebrate range maps and distribution models for the continental United States, as well as...
Gergely, Kevin J.; McKerrow, Alexa
PAD-US: National Inventory of Protected Areas
The Gap Analysis Program produces data and tools that help meet critical national challenges such as biodiversity conservation, renewable energy development, climate change adaptation, and infrastructure investment. The Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) is the official inventory of protected open space in the United States....
Gergely, Kevin J.; McKerrow, Alexa
Terrestrial ecosystems: national inventory of vegetation and land use
The Gap Analysis Program (GAP)/Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools (LANDFIRE) National Terrestrial Ecosystems Data represents detailed data on the vegetation and land-use patterns of the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. This national dataset combines detailed land cover data generated by the GAP with...
Gergely, Kevin J.; McKerrow, Alexa Integrating complexity into data-driven multi-hazard supply chain network strategies
Major strategies in the wake of a large-scale disaster have focused on short-term emergency response solutions. Few consider medium-to-long-term restoration strategies that reconnect urban areas to the national supply chain networks (SCN) and their supporting infrastructure. To re-establish this connectivity, the relationships within the SCN must...
Long, Suzanna K.; Shoberg, Thomas G.; Ramachandran, Varun; Corns, Steven M.; Carlo, Hector J.
Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science research plan 2013-18
The U.S. Geological Survey Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS) was created in 2006 and since that time has provided research primarily in support of The National Map. The presentations and publications of the CEGIS researchers document the research accomplishments that include advances in electronic topographic map...
Usery, E. Lynn
Natural oil seep along Tarwater Creek, San Mateo County, California
The natural oil seep in this photo is located in Pescadero Creek County Park, where the Canyon Trail crosses Tarwater Creek. The oil is black, has a taffy-like consistency, and smells like motor oil.
Oil well pumping unit, Half Moon Bay oil field, California
The Half Moon Bay oil field is one of the oldest oil fields in California and was first developed during the 1880s. Since then, the field has produced an estimated 60,000 barrels of oil from about 19 wells. Most of the old wells have been plugged and abandoned, but this well was reworked in 1980 and produces small volumes of oil from thin sandstone layers of the Miocene and Pliocene Purisima...
Lesson 3c The National Map Viewer: Adding Data
This lesson shows how to add data to the map view in the National Map Viewer from URLs or files.
Lidar point cloud Washington, DC
Lidar point cloud Washington, DC
Lidar point cloud Washington, DC
Lidar point cloud Washington, DC
Lidar point cloud over Dulles Airport
Lidar point cloud over Dulles Airport
Image of DEM in Atchafalaya Basin, LA
DEM of Atchafalaya Basin, LA
3D rendering of Mesa County landslide from 3DEP lidar
3D rendering of Mesa County, Colorado landslide from 3DEP lidar. Lidar point cloud with color from imagery.
Lidar point cloud over Tacoma WA bridge
Lidar point cloud over Tacoma WA bridge
A perspective view of Mount hood
A perspective view of Mount hood, made from the OR_Sandy_River_2007 lidar data
Lidar point cloud showing structures
An example of a lidar point cloud showing structures
3D Rendering of part of Grand Tetons National Park
3D view of USGS_LPC_WY_GrandTetonElkRefuge_2014 data
Point and Click to Track Wildfire Activity in the United States
Keep tabs on wildfire activity via this U.S. Geological Survey website, GeoMAC.
Mapping Public Lands in the United States
The Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) is the official inventory of public parks and other protected areas in all U.S. states and territories.
The 3D Elevation Program and America's Infrastructure
The USGS is seeing a dramatic increase in the use of 3D geospatial data for infrastructure planning, modeling and construction
Exploring the Nation's waterways through the National Hydrography Dataset Plus
Interested in finding a good river to float down this hot summer? Or a favorite fishing hole? Ever wonder where those blue lines mapping the rivers, streams and lakes on the US Topo and other maps come from?
Volunteering to Map the Nation
As the USGS continues to celebrate “Mapping Month”, we again promote noteworthy contributors to The National Map Corps “crowdsourcing” project.
USGS Program Funds and Trains the Next Generation of Geologic Mappers
As part of the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, EDMAP is supporting upcoming geologic mappers by providing invalubable experience and matching-funds grants.
Alaska Mapping Update
The USGS continues to collect high resolution elevation data, contributing to greatly improved Alaska map data
Challenge Accepted
USGS crowd-sourcing project volunteers have updated more than 1,200 Post Office locations and data in Illinois
Landslide Assistance from the Air
The USGS uses cutting edge technologies to investigate and forecast landslides and other natural hazards.
Historical Maps at Your Fingertips
Earlier this month, the USGS launched “TopoView 2.1”, an enhancement to the current popular TopoView mapping service that lets users discover, interact, and download historical USGS topographic maps scans.
Volunteering for Science
Citizen Scientists edit structures to improve US Topo Maps and along the way earn virtual badges.
Searching for Great Geological Maps
The USGS announces details for the 2017 Best Student Geological Map Competition
Social Media
Locations
U.S. Geological Survey Headquarters
National Geospatial Technical Operations Center - Rolla, MO
