U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey1

National Geospatial Program Presentation

IMIA Asia Pacific Conference

Melbourne , AustraliaAugust 18, 2014

Ron Lofton

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Testimony to Congress on December 5, 1884

“A Government cannot do any scientific work of more value to the people at large, than by causing the construction of proper topographic maps of the country”

John Wesley Powell, Director USGS 1881-1894

http://nationalmap.gov/125years/index.html

Powell on National Mapping

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Provide the geospatial baseline of the Nation’s topography, natural landscape, and built environment.

The National Map products and services

Cooperative Data Acquisition and User Engagement

Natural Hazard Response

Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science

Foster a general understanding of broad geographic patterns.

The National Atlas of the United States of America®

National Geospatial Program: What We Do

0%

30%

60%

90%

Basis for Science Data Integration and Visualization

Application areas for NGP products and services reported by users.

Uses of National Importance

Hydrography data from The National Map allows the tracing of a contaminant downstream from a source to a water intake.

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Products and Services

National datasets available for data download and as web services.

National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)

National Elevation Dataset (NED)

Imagery – National and urban area

Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

Reference datasets –transportation, boundaries and structures

Land cover

Hazards Data Distribution System (HDDS)

Digital 7.5-minute topographic map images (US Topo)

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The National Map in Action

National

Hydrography

Dataset

Sample use:

Model stream-

flow and the

effects of

divergences

across the

Continental

Divide

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Electronic topographic map

Three-year revision cycle

Compiled from The National Map databases

Available for free over the Internet

Can be directly linked to GPS input

Very user-friendly format (GeoPDF)

Paper products available through USGS are printed on demand

US Topo

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Foundation: The National Map Base topographic

data

Digital

Seamless

Continuously maintained

Nationally consistent

Developed and maintained through partnerships

Available on line

Source for products and services

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US Topo – The Next Generation USGS Topographic Map

Built from The National Map data

Digital

GeoPDF Format

Available free on the Web

Image base

Core feature layers

Regular update

The USGS topographic map product

http://nationalmap.gov/ustopo/index.html

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National network of geospatial liaisons

Organize cooperative projects with other Federal, State, and local governments.

Leverage funding with cooperators to receive $8‐to‐$10 of data for each $1 from USGS (2011 figures).

Support users and interact with communities of use.

Cooperative Data Acquisition and User Engagement

Amount possible by USGS working alone

Amount possible by USGS working with

partners

Area (in green) of new detailed “mid-accuracy” elevation data being acquired in Alaska. To fund the project, USGS leveraged $1 million with $4.7 million from Federal and Alaska State agencies.

USGS organized a consortium of State, local, and Federal cooperators in six States to fund a swath (shown in red) of detailed elevation data from Maine to New York.

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Natural Hazards Response

Geospatial operations

to support emergency

response

Provide pre- and post-

event geospatial data,

services, and maps for

responses to natural

and man-made

disasters

Coordinate USGS

hazard response teams

Imagery for Deepwater Horizon oil spill response, 2010

Maps for National Level Exercise (NLE) 2011

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Conducts longer-term research

Based on needs of the National Geospatial Program

Research problems that would take 3-to-5 years to yield progress

Five-year research agenda guides project development

Works with universities

Expands the research capacity of CEGIS

Provides access to leading academic researchers and their students

USGS and academic researchers work together on projects

Sample efforts

Topographic map symbology usable for web, PDF, and paper map displays

Geospatial data generalization techniques to simplify very detailed data provided by partners for regional and national uses

Quality evaluation of geospatial data provided by volunteers to help evaluate the utility of this data acquisition option

Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science

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The National Atlas of the United States of America®

Geospatial data and interpretive information suitable for national and regional views

More than 300 layers of data for viewing and download.

Interactive MapMaker

Published maps available for download and printing

Dynamic maps

Articles

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602 mission-critical activities that require enhanced elevation data were identified by:

34 Federal agencies 50 states A sampling of local governments, tribes, private and not‐for profit

organizations

A national program has the potential to generate $1.2 billion to $13 billion in new benefits each year when fully operational

Sponsored by the National Digital Elevation Program (NDEP) and funded by USGS, NGA,FEMA, NRCS and NOAA to:

Document national requirements for improved elevation data from technologies such as LiDAR and IfSAR

Estimate the benefits and costs of meeting these requirements

Evaluate multiple national enhanced program scenarios

http://www.csc.noaa.gov/inventory/#

National Enhanced Elevation Assessment At a Glance

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Benefits for Top Business UsesAnnual Benefits

Rank

Conserva

tive Potential

1 Flood Risk Management $295M $502M

2 Infrastructure and Construction Management $206M $942M

3 Natural Resources Conservation $159M $335M

4 Agriculture and Precision Farming $122M $2,011M

5 Water Supply and Quality $85M $156M

6 Wildfire Management, Planning and Response $76M $159M

7 Geologic Resource Assessment and Hazard Mitigation $52M $1,067M

8 Forest Resources Management $44M $62M

9 River and Stream Resource Management $38M $87M

10 Aviation Navigation and Safety $35M $56M

:

20 Land Navigation and Safety $0.2M $7,125M

Total for all Business Uses (1 – 27) $1.2B $13B

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Current Status of the Nation’s Elevation Data NEEA Inventory Results

1996 - 2011

28% coverage - 49 states

15% coverage – Alaska

30+ year replacement cycle

Program is well coordinated – less than 10%

overlap of coverage

Data quality variable

Why is this a problem?

Remaining 72% coverage is 30 or more years

old.

Alaska – very poor quality

Meets 10% of reported needs

Current and emerging needs require higher

quality data

http://nationalmap.gov/3dep/index.html

Map depicts public sources of LiDAR in all states

Map depicts public sources of LiDAR in all states plus IfSAR data in Alaska

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey16

http://nationalmap.gov/TheNationalMapCorps

nationalmapcorps@usgs.gov

The National Map CorpsVOLUNTEERED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AT USGS

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History of VGI At The USGS

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Revival of VGI at The USGS

2010:

• USGS VGI Workshop

• OSMCP Phase 1- Roads in Kansas with

GIS professionals

2011:

• OSMCP Phase 2- Structures with

Students, 4 quads over Denver

2012:

• Phase 3, The National Map Corps –

Structures in Colorado open to all

volunteers

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National Expansion• School

• College/University

• Fire Station/EMS

• Law Enforcement

• Prison/Correctional Facility

• State Capital

• Hospital/Medical Center

• Ambulance Service

• Cemetery

• Post Office

http://navigator.er.usgs.gov/help/vgistructures_userguide.html

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Social Media

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Volunteer Recognition - Badges

Order of the

Surveyor’s

Chain

(25-49)Society of the Steel Tape

(50-99)

Circle of the Surveyor’s

Compass (200-399)Stadia Board

Society

(500-999)

Alidade Alliance

(1000-1999)

Pedometer

Posse

(100-199)

Theodolite Assemblage

(2000 +)

http://navigator.er.usgs.gov/help/vgistructures_rewards.html

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Web Editor

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Project Home Page

https://my.usgs.gov/confluence/display/nationalmapcorp

s/Home

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Urban And Regional Information Systems Association

GISCorps – Google Wiki

https://sites.google.com/site/tnmcsite/new-home

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Moving Forward

• Twitter

• Trails

• Mobile Applications

• Next Generation Web Editor

Follow us on Twitter: #tnmcorpshttp://nationalmap.gov/TheNationalMapCorps

nationalmapcorps@usgs.gov

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A Challenge – From A River Running West, Donald Worster

Dogged in hope, driving in energy, he remained to the end incapable of imagining that his native country would ever fail in its promise

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Research cannot be controlled by some central authority, as an army by its general, from the fact that scientific men, competent to pursue original research, are peculiarly averse to dictation and official management.

What Are the Traits We Need to Encourage to Succeed in Today’s World

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www.nationalmap.gov

National Map – A Proud Heritage