USGS National Map

USGS National Map
Name	USGS National Map
Caption	National Map logo
Agency	United States Geological Survey
Formed	2001
Jurisdiction	United States

USGS National Map The National Map is a collaborative effort to provide consistent topographic information for the United States. It integrates spatial datasets including elevation, hydrography, transportation, boundaries, and orthoimagery to support mapping, science, and decision-making across federal, state, and local entities. The program underpins projects ranging from disaster response to infrastructure planning and is managed within the United States Department of the Interior by the United States Geological Survey.

Overview

The National Map serves as a foundational geospatial dataset used by agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Defense components including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It links to national programs like the National Spatial Data Infrastructure and initiatives such as the Geospatial One-Stop and Digital Coast. Stakeholders include the United States Congress, state geospatial offices like the California Department of Water Resources and Texas Natural Resources Information System, regional planning bodies such as the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and academic institutions including University of California, Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Texas at Austin, and Pennsylvania State University.

History and Development

Origins tie to historical mapping efforts of the United States Geological Survey and earlier surveys such as the U.S. Coast Survey and the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel. Modern consolidation accelerated after legislation influenced by the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 and policy guidance from the Office of Management and Budget. Early technology milestones involved collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for remote sensing, partnerships with USDA programs like the National Agricultural Imagery Program, and integration with standards from the Open Geospatial Consortium and the Federal Geographic Data Committee. Major program phases correspond with events such as the response to Hurricane Katrina and the development of national high-resolution elevation efforts tied to initiatives like the 3D Elevation Program.

Data Layers and Content

Core datasets include elevation models derived from lidar and photogrammetry inputs used by the 3D Elevation Program, hydrography based on the National Hydrography Dataset, transportation networks informed by Bureau of Transportation Statistics resources, and administrative boundaries aligned with the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER infrastructure. The map incorporates orthoimagery from partnerships with the USDA Farm Service Agency, bathymetry influenced by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration surveys, and geologic overlays referencing the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. Cartographic products follow standards promulgated by the Federal Geographic Data Committee and interoperate with formats endorsed by the Open Geospatial Consortium.

Services and Tools

The program exposes web services including tiled map services, feature services, and elevation services compatible with platforms like Esri, QGIS, Google Maps, and Mapbox. Tools for discovery and download include a viewer and catalog integrated with the Geoplatform.gov portal and APIs consumable by emergency platforms such as FEMA's National Response Coordination Center systems. Data processing workflows leverage tools from the United States Geological Survey science centers, cloud processing environments such as Amazon Web Services public datasets, and developer ecosystems including GitHub repositories maintained by academic and agency partners.

Applications and Users

Users span federal agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency, state agencies such as the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, local governments including county mapping offices, private sector firms in fields served by AeroVironment and Booz Allen Hamilton, nongovernmental organizations like the Red Cross, and research institutions including Stanford University, University of Michigan, and Cornell University. Applications include floodplain mapping used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency flood insurance program, transportation route planning for Federal Highway Administration projects, natural resource management by the Bureau of Land Management, and conservation planning by organizations linked to the Nature Conservancy.

Partnerships and Governance

Governance involves interagency coordination among entities such as the Federal Geographic Data Committee, the Office of Management and Budget, and congressional oversight committees including the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Partnerships extend to state geographic information offices, regional organizations like the Association of American Geographers, professional societies such as the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, private vendors including Esri and Trimble, and international collaborators such as Natural Resources Canada and the United Nations's geospatial programs.

Access, Distribution, and Licensing

Data distribution follows open data policies promoted by the White House and mandates including the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, with datasets available via download, web services, and cloud-hosted repositories used by platforms like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform. Licensing is governed by Public Domain principles for federal data, and metadata practices align with the Federal Geographic Data Committee standards to support interoperability with systems from vendors like Esri and open-source communities using QGIS.

Category:United States Geological Survey Category:Geographic information systems