National Geologic Map Database

National Geologic Map Database
Name	National Geologic Map Database
Abbreviation	NGMDB
Formed	1994
Jurisdiction	United States
Headquarters	Reston, Virginia
Parent agency	United States Geological Survey

Contents

National Geologic Map Database

The National Geologic Map Database is a coordinated effort to catalog, preserve, and provide access to geologic mapping information produced by the United States Geological Survey, state geologic surveys such as the California Geological Survey and Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, and academic institutions including Stanford University and Columbia University. It serves as a central index and repository linking historic and modern cartographic products from producers like the United States Bureau of Mines, federal agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and professional organizations including the Geological Society of America and American Geosciences Institute.

Overview

The database aggregates metadata and digital geospatial datasets created by agencies such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, research centers like the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and university mapping programs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley. It documents map series from the United States Geological Survey topographic and geologic quadrangles to state mapping initiatives led by institutions like the Ohio Geological Survey and New York State Geological Survey. Users can discover legacy paper maps from repositories such as the Library of Congress and modern geospatial products generated by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and regional partners like the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission.

The initiative began in the early 1990s with leadership from the United States Geological Survey and support from the Association of American State Geologists to address preservation issues faced by the Library of Congress and state archives including the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Early contributors included the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and academic consortia involving University of Minnesota and University of Arizona. The project evolved alongside national programs such as the National Spatial Data Infrastructure and partnerships with federal venues like the National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution. Milestones include incorporation of digital geologic map standards developed in concert with the Federal Geographic Data Committee and adoption of protocols used by the National Park Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The collection encompasses cartographic formats ranging from paper folios held by the National Archives and Records Administration to digital raster and vector files compatible with systems maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Metadata conforms to standards promoted by the Open Geospatial Consortium and the Federal Geographic Data Committee, and content includes map series, explanatory pamphlets, cross sections, and geologic interpretation documents produced by agencies such as the United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program and state offices like the Pennsylvania Geological Survey. Contributors include academic researchers from Princeton University and Yale University, professional societies like the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and industry partners such as the United States Steel Corporation archives.

Access mechanisms mirror tools used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, offering searchable metadata catalogs, downloadable geospatial datasets, and map image viewers modeled after platforms employed by the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution. Tools support interoperability with geographic information systems produced by vendors like Esri and open-source projects such as QGIS and tools from the Open Geospatial Consortium. The portal integrates services analogous to those of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure and provides data delivery compatible with standards from the International Organization for Standardization where applicable.

Maps and datasets in the database support applied work by organizations like the Federal Emergency Management Agency for hazard assessment, the Environmental Protection Agency for contamination studies, and the Bureau of Land Management for resource inventory. Academic investigations at institutions such as Cornell University and University of Texas at Austin use the resources for stratigraphic analysis, paleoseismology, and groundwater research. Industry users including energy companies and environmental consultants apply the materials for site selection, mineral exploration, and engineering geology projects managed in collaboration with entities like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Governance involves coordination among the United States Geological Survey, the Association of American State Geologists, and stakeholders including state geological surveys such as the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology and academic partners like Pennsylvania State University. Funding and project partnerships have included the National Science Foundation, state governments, and cooperative agreements with institutions such as the University of Kansas and the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Collaborative efforts extend internationally through connections with organizations like the International Union of Geological Sciences and data standards groups including the Open Geospatial Consortium.