National Elevation Dataset

National Elevation Dataset
Name	National Elevation Dataset
Description	A geographic dataset of elevation data for the United States
Country	United States
Organization	United States Geological Survey

National Elevation Dataset is a comprehensive dataset of elevation data for the United States, developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in collaboration with other federal agencies, including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The dataset is based on data from various sources, including NASA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and the National Elevation Dataset's predecessor, the National Elevation Dataset's foundation, which was built on data from the USGS's National Mapping Division. The dataset is widely used by researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in fields such as geology, hydrology, and ecology, including scientists at Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of California, Berkeley.

Introduction

The National Elevation Dataset is a critical component of the USGS's National Map, which provides a comprehensive suite of geospatial data for the United States. The dataset is designed to provide a seamless, consistent, and accurate representation of the nation's elevation, which is essential for a wide range of applications, including floodplain mapping, wildfire management, and climate change research, as conducted by researchers at MIT, Columbia University, and the University of Michigan. The dataset is also used by federal agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Park Service, to support their missions and operations, in collaboration with international organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Bank.

Data Characteristics

The National Elevation Dataset contains elevation data for the entire United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, with a resolution of 1/3 arc-second (approximately 10 meters) and a vertical accuracy of 1-2 meters, as verified by National Institute of Standards and Technology and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration standards. The dataset is based on a combination of lidar (light detection and ranging) data, photogrammetry, and radar data, which are integrated using advanced geospatial analysis techniques, developed by researchers at University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington, and Georgia Institute of Technology. The dataset includes a range of elevation-related attributes, such as slope, aspect, and curvature, which are used to support a wide range of applications, including landslide hazard mapping and wildlife habitat modeling, as conducted by scientists at University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Oregon, and University of Colorado Boulder.

Applications and Uses

The National Elevation Dataset has a wide range of applications and uses, including flood risk assessment, water resources management, and ecosystem modeling, as utilized by researchers at Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The dataset is also used to support disaster response and recovery efforts, such as hurricane response and wildfire management, in collaboration with organizations like the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Additionally, the dataset is used by researchers to study climate change impacts on sea level rise, glacier dynamics, and permafrost thaw, as investigated by scientists at University of California, Los Angeles, University of Chicago, and University of Pennsylvania.

Development and Updates

The National Elevation Dataset is developed and updated by the USGS in collaboration with other federal agencies, including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with support from international partners like the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. The dataset is updated periodically to reflect new data sources and improvements in geospatial analysis techniques, as developed by researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, and Carnegie Mellon University. The updates are typically released on a USGS-wide basis, with notifications sent to users and stakeholders through the USGS's National Map website and social media channels, including Twitter and Facebook.

Data Access and Distribution

The National Elevation Dataset is available for download from the USGS's National Map website, which provides a range of tools and services for accessing and manipulating the data, including ArcGIS and QGIS, as utilized by researchers at University of Florida, University of Georgia, and University of Tennessee. The dataset is also available through other data portals, such as the Data.gov website, which provides access to a wide range of federal datasets, including those from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Additionally, the dataset can be accessed through Web Map Services (WMS) and Web Feature Services (WFS), which allow users to integrate the data into their own geographic information systems (GIS), as supported by organizations like the Open Geospatial Consortium and the Geospatial Information & Technology Association.

Technical Specifications

The National Elevation Dataset is stored in a geodatabase format, which allows for efficient storage and querying of the data, as optimized by researchers at University of Southern California, University of California, San Diego, and University of Utah. The dataset is projected in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) and uses the Geographic Coordinate System (GCS), as standardized by the National Geodetic Survey and the International Association of Geodesy. The dataset is also available in a range of formats, including ASCII and GeoTIFF, which can be easily imported into GIS software, such as ArcGIS and QGIS, as used by researchers at University of Arizona, University of New Mexico, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The technical specifications of the dataset are documented in a range of metadata standards, including the Federal Geographic Data Committee's (FGDC) Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata, as adopted by organizations like the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress.

Category:Geographic datasets