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Keegan E Johnson

Keegan Johnson is a Software Developer and Hydrologist with the Web Informatics and Mapping (WIM) team at the Upper Midwest Water Science Center.

Keegan builds web applications and cloud services that make USGS hydrologic monitoring data and imagery accessible to scientists, cooperators, and the public.

Keegan is the lead developer for two national USGS imagery software projects:

National Imagery Management System (NIMS)

National Imagery Management System (NIMS): the cloud-based backend services that ingest, process, archive, and deliver camera imagery from USGS water-resource monitoring sites nationwide, providing the imagery and public API that power HIVIS and other applications.

NIMS

Hydrologic Imagery Visualization and Information System (HIVIS)

Hydrologic Imagery Visualization and Information System (HIVIS): a public web application that displays near real-time and historical camera imagery drawn from NIMS. Still images, timelapse videos, and paired hydrographs allow users to visually observe hydrologic conditions at water-resource monitoring sites.

HIVIS

Professional Experience

  • 2018 - present: Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

  • 2017 - 2018: Hydrology Pathways Intern, U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. Computer Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 2026

  • Computer Sciences Certificate, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 2024

  • B.S. Biological Systems Engineering - University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2017

Science and Products

Practical application of time-lapse camera imagery to develop water-level data for three hydrologic monitoring sites in Wisconsin during water year 2020 Practical application of time-lapse camera imagery to develop water-level data for three hydrologic monitoring sites in Wisconsin during water year 2020

Using camera imagery to measure water level (camera-stage) is a well-researched area of study. Previous camera-stage studies have shown promising results when implementing this technology with tight constraints on test conditions. However, there is a need for a more comprehensive evaluation of the extensibility of camera-stage to practical applications. Therefore, the aim of this study...
Authors
Keegan Eland Johnson, Paul Reneau, Matthew J. Komiskey
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Connecting flood-related fluvial erosion and deposition with vulnerable downstream road-stream crossings Connecting flood-related fluvial erosion and deposition with vulnerable downstream road-stream crossings

Fluvial erosion is increasingly responsible for infrastructure and building damages associated with floods as the intensity of extreme rainfalls hit rural and urban rivers in a variety of climate settings across the United States. Extreme floods in 2016 and 2018 caused widespread culvert blockages and road failures, including extensive damage along steep tributaries and ravines in the...
Authors
Faith A. Fitzpatrick, Kyle H. Magyera, Jason Laumann, Clement Larson, Stephanie Rockwood, Eric D. Dantoin, Tom Hollenhorst, Brandon Krumwiede, Brandon Ray Nelson, Julia G. Prokopec, Keegan Eland Johnson
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

PyNIMS: Python client and CLI for the USGS NIMS API PyNIMS: Python client and CLI for the USGS NIMS API

PyNIMS is a Python client and command‑line tool for accessing the USGS National Imagery Management System (NIMS). It enables scientists and researchers to query camera metadata, search for cameras, list and download imagery, and construct image URLs—either programmatically or from the command line. Designed to support workflows that require large volumes of site imagery, PyNIMS...
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
1,000 Cameras and Counting

1,000 Cameras and Counting

The USGS Hydrologic Imagery Visualization and Information System (HIVIS) now has more than 1,000 active webcams providing remote visibility of current...

Read Article
The USGS Library Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the National Center

The USGS Library Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the National Center

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the USGS’s National Center, the USGS Library is showcasing its collection of materials documenting the planning...

Read Article

Science and Products

Practical application of time-lapse camera imagery to develop water-level data for three hydrologic monitoring sites in Wisconsin during water year 2020 Practical application of time-lapse camera imagery to develop water-level data for three hydrologic monitoring sites in Wisconsin during water year 2020

Using camera imagery to measure water level (camera-stage) is a well-researched area of study. Previous camera-stage studies have shown promising results when implementing this technology with tight constraints on test conditions. However, there is a need for a more comprehensive evaluation of the extensibility of camera-stage to practical applications. Therefore, the aim of this study...
Authors
Keegan Eland Johnson, Paul Reneau, Matthew J. Komiskey
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Connecting flood-related fluvial erosion and deposition with vulnerable downstream road-stream crossings Connecting flood-related fluvial erosion and deposition with vulnerable downstream road-stream crossings

Fluvial erosion is increasingly responsible for infrastructure and building damages associated with floods as the intensity of extreme rainfalls hit rural and urban rivers in a variety of climate settings across the United States. Extreme floods in 2016 and 2018 caused widespread culvert blockages and road failures, including extensive damage along steep tributaries and ravines in the...
Authors
Faith A. Fitzpatrick, Kyle H. Magyera, Jason Laumann, Clement Larson, Stephanie Rockwood, Eric D. Dantoin, Tom Hollenhorst, Brandon Krumwiede, Brandon Ray Nelson, Julia G. Prokopec, Keegan Eland Johnson
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

PyNIMS: Python client and CLI for the USGS NIMS API PyNIMS: Python client and CLI for the USGS NIMS API

PyNIMS is a Python client and command‑line tool for accessing the USGS National Imagery Management System (NIMS). It enables scientists and researchers to query camera metadata, search for cameras, list and download imagery, and construct image URLs—either programmatically or from the command line. Designed to support workflows that require large volumes of site imagery, PyNIMS...
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center
1,000 Cameras and Counting

1,000 Cameras and Counting

The USGS Hydrologic Imagery Visualization and Information System (HIVIS) now has more than 1,000 active webcams providing remote visibility of current...

Read Article
The USGS Library Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the National Center

The USGS Library Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the National Center

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the USGS’s National Center, the USGS Library is showcasing its collection of materials documenting the planning...

Read Article
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