COMPASSCOMPASSCComprehensiveomprehensive O Onlinenline

MMapping for apping for PPolicy olicy AAnalysis and nalysis and SSupport upport

SServiceservicesprepared byprepared by

James E. Mitchell, Ph. D.James E. Mitchell, Ph. D.Department of Transportation & DevelopmentDepartment of Transportation & Development

IT GIS ManagerIT GIS Manager(updated February 2011)(updated February 2011)

History of Mapping in History of Mapping in the USthe US

1879 - US Geological Survey established1879 - US Geological Survey established1882 - Topographic Mapping Program begins1882 - Topographic Mapping Program begins1980s – Last 7½-minute Quadrangle Map completed for Louisiana1980s – Last 7½-minute Quadrangle Map completed for Louisiana2000 – Funds for Federal Mapping terminated2000 – Funds for Federal Mapping terminated2002 – USGS creates 2002 – USGS creates The National MapThe National Map program to start digital program to start digital

mappingmapping

DOTD has been the lead for Louisiana in the USGS Cooperative DOTD has been the lead for Louisiana in the USGS Cooperative Topographic Mapping Program since its inception. Topographic Mapping Program since its inception.

DOTD has spent $150,000 per year for map revisions with USGS. DOTD has spent $150,000 per year for map revisions with USGS. This updated 12-20 maps (depending on content) of the This updated 12-20 maps (depending on content) of the approximately 900 maps for Louisianaapproximately 900 maps for Louisiana

In 2007 USGS declared,In 2007 USGS declared,

“We “We havehave 5 quads to finish up for Louisiana, and 5 quads to finish up for Louisiana, and have no plans to do have no plans to do anymore, anywhere.”anymore, anywhere.”

From Paper Maps the From Paper Maps the Digital DataDigital Data

Over the past century mapping has evolved Over the past century mapping has evolved from scribing single maps, one at a time, to from scribing single maps, one at a time, to aerial photogrametry, automated mapping, aerial photogrametry, automated mapping, and GIS.and GIS.

Modern methods can cost-effectively update Modern methods can cost-effectively update features across large areas and revise whole features across large areas and revise whole series of mapsseries of maps

According to the USGS:According to the USGS:“…the average primary series topographic “…the average primary series topographic map is 23 years old. Frequent changes on the map is 23 years old. Frequent changes on the landscape mean that many of these maps are landscape mean that many of these maps are no longer accurate and complete.”no longer accurate and complete.”

The Current Status of Paper The Current Status of Paper MapsMaps

Updated January 2012

AL

AK

TX

MS

Map Age as of January 2012

Years (Percent This Age or Older)

6 - 9 (All maps are 6 or more years old)

10 - 14 (97% are 10 years or older)

15 - 19 (77% are 15 years or older)

20 - 24 (60% are 20 years or older)

25 - 29 (37% are 25 years or older)

30 - 112 (21% are 30 years or older)

Age of USGS 7.5-Minute Quadrangle Map Series in Louisiana

How Up to Date How Up to Date are Louisiana’s Maps?are Louisiana’s Maps?

• All paper maps are 6 years or olderAll paper maps are 6 years or older• 97% of paper maps are 10 years or older97% of paper maps are 10 years or older• 77% of paper maps are 15 years or older77% of paper maps are 15 years or older• 60% of paper maps are 20 years or older60% of paper maps are 20 years or older• 37% of paper maps are 25 years or older37% of paper maps are 25 years or older• 21% of paper maps are 30 years or older21% of paper maps are 30 years or older

Digital map data have never been updatedDigital map data have never been updatedand are older than the paper mapsand are older than the paper maps

(Updated January 2012)(Updated January 2012)

The Paradigm ShiftThe Paradigm Shift

Before, the Maps Made the Data Before, the Maps Made the Data - - NowNow, the Data Make the Maps, the Data Make the Maps

Originally maps were hand-scribed and printed Originally maps were hand-scribed and printed on paper.on paper.

Today’s GIS data were digitized from those Today’s GIS data were digitized from those maps.maps.

The USGS mapping programs never made the The USGS mapping programs never made the paradigm change and were not able to keep paradigm change and were not able to keep up with the demands of modern mapping.up with the demands of modern mapping.

The National MapThe National Map

In 2005, the USGS created In 2005, the USGS created The National MapThe National Map to modernize their mapping program.to modernize their mapping program.

With no funds, the burden of financing new With no funds, the burden of financing new maps is placed on state and local maps is placed on state and local governmentgovernment

USGS says:USGS says:“USGS will encourage the participation of “USGS will encourage the participation of organizations and private citizens to serve as organizations and private citizens to serve as a volunteer force for change detection, data a volunteer force for change detection, data compilation, and validation.”compilation, and validation.”

The Seamless Map The Seamless Map Supports All Digital and Supports All Digital and

Analog ActivitiesAnalog ActivitiesFramework Data LayersFramework Data Layers

– Hydrology (rivers, lakes, Hydrology (rivers, lakes, ponds, watershed ponds, watershed boundaries, NHD model)boundaries, NHD model)

– Hypsography (elevation, Hypsography (elevation, breaklines, DEM)breaklines, DEM)

– Transportation (roads, Transportation (roads, bridges, railroads, bridges, railroads, transmission lines, transmission lines, pipelines)pipelines)

– Boundaries (Federal, state, Boundaries (Federal, state, parish, & local parish, & local government;)government;)

– Man-Made Structures Man-Made Structures (government buildings, (government buildings, hospitals, schools, hospitals, schools, churches, emergency churches, emergency facilities)facilities)

– Vegetation/non-vegetation Vegetation/non-vegetation coverage's (Including land coverage's (Including land use)use)

– Public Land Survey System Public Land Survey System GridGrid

Mitigation Related Data LayersMitigation Related Data Layers– Shelters (with capacities & Shelters (with capacities &

Utilities availability)Utilities availability)– Areas for Temporary Facilities Areas for Temporary Facilities

(tent cities, manufactured housing, (tent cities, manufactured housing, trailer parks; with available trailer parks; with available utilities)utilities)

– Medical Treatment SitesMedical Treatment Sites

Essential Functions In All Essential Functions In All Agencies Are Supported Agencies Are Supported

From One MapFrom One MapEmergency PreparednessEmergency Preparedness – DOTD, State Police, and OEP used GIS to create the – DOTD, State Police, and OEP used GIS to create the

Louisiana Emergency Evacuation PlanLouisiana Emergency Evacuation Plan

Emergency ResponseEmergency Response – DOTD, DWF, OEP, State Police, 911, and federal – DOTD, DWF, OEP, State Police, 911, and federal agencies collaborated with GISagencies collaborated with GIS

Statewide Hurricane RecoveryStatewide Hurricane Recovery – DOTD and DEQ collaborated in finding debris – DOTD and DEQ collaborated in finding debris collection points, tabulating removal, and safely routing truckscollection points, tabulating removal, and safely routing trucks

Coastal RestorationCoastal Restoration – DOTD, DNR, DEQ, and others collaborate on coastal – DOTD, DNR, DEQ, and others collaborate on coastal restoration projectsrestoration projects

Hazard MitigationHazard Mitigation – GOHSEP must compile a State Hazard Mitigation Plan; GIS – GOHSEP must compile a State Hazard Mitigation Plan; GIS is essential in evaluating risk, as well as, sharing data and presenting it to is essential in evaluating risk, as well as, sharing data and presenting it to the publicthe public

National Flood InsuranceNational Flood Insurance – DOTD is the lead agency for NFIP; GIS data can – DOTD is the lead agency for NFIP; GIS data can provide more accurate maps, faster and keep them up to dateprovide more accurate maps, faster and keep them up to date

Customer ServiceCustomer Service – Agencies maintain databases of customers, vendors, service – Agencies maintain databases of customers, vendors, service locations, and other address information that can be shared and locations, and other address information that can be shared and disseminated to the public via the Internetdisseminated to the public via the Internet

What are the Problems with What are the Problems with Our Current Digital Maps Our Current Digital Maps

from USGS?from USGS?• USGS produced maps USGS produced maps cartographically,cartographically, not not

using modern digital techniquesusing modern digital techniques– No maps “edge-match” and features break along No maps “edge-match” and features break along

map boundariesmap boundaries– It is too expensive to update more than a few It is too expensive to update more than a few

maps at a timemaps at a time– Adjacent maps can be produced decades apartAdjacent maps can be produced decades apart

• Different themes on the same map may have Different themes on the same map may have come from data collected decades apartcome from data collected decades apart– Some maps show land surface elevation contours Some maps show land surface elevation contours

within water features, creating inaccuracies and within water features, creating inaccuracies and confusionconfusion

– Current development and road systems are not Current development and road systems are not shownshown

– Land cover and land use are not currentLand cover and land use are not current

USGS Maps Do Not Edge-USGS Maps Do Not Edge-matchmatch

As lines cross map boundaries they do not meet their counterpart on the next map.

Our Data and Our Our Data and Our CoastlineCoastline

The yellow lines are where best-available digital data show the land-water boundary. The image is post-hurricane orthophotography. Neither match the maps.

Where Do We Build Where Do We Build Infrastructure?Infrastructure?

The first step in a project is to estimate the scope of the work. Much of this is done with maps and GIS. The best-available data are labeled as “USGS NHD” and clearly do not match the shoreline on the image. The remaining lines show how GIS-based photo-revision techniques can be used to update the data.

Why are Land Contours in the Why are Land Contours in the Water?Water?

USGS maps are comprised of seven “framework themes” (water, elevation, transportation, boundaries, benchmarks, vegetation, and structures). USGS does not update all themes simultaneously. In recent years, USGS has not updated the land surface elevation theme. This map shows how the old elevation contours (brown) lie in the updated water (blue). The thick red lines show the photo-revised locations of the shoreline and other water features from the 2004 orthophotos.

The Solution – Implement The Solution – Implement Comprehensive Online Mapping Comprehensive Online Mapping for Policy Analysis and Support for Policy Analysis and Support

ServicesServices

COMPASSCOMPASSStep 1 – Clarify the role of DOTD Step 1 – Clarify the role of DOTD

in mapping Louisianain mapping Louisiana

Historical/Legislative HistoryHistorical/Legislative HistoryAct 159 of 1928Act 159 of 1928

Act 508 of 1929Act 508 of 1929

USGS Cooperative Topographic Mapping USGS Cooperative Topographic Mapping ProgramProgram

The USGS The USGS National MapNational Map Program Program

COMPASSCOMPASSStep 2 - Step 2 - Use Existing Data Use Existing Data

Use Existing data and national mapping programs to update the digital map base.Use Existing data and national mapping programs to update the digital map base.

The data are already available:The data are already available:Louisiana has already made a large investment in data using high resolution Louisiana has already made a large investment in data using high resolution photography, LIDAR, and GPS. These are programs that are already in place.photography, LIDAR, and GPS. These are programs that are already in place.

Existing programs include:Existing programs include:Tele Atlas – The largest private-sector vendor of street, address, and navigation data (already a DOTD Tele Atlas – The largest private-sector vendor of street, address, and navigation data (already a DOTD

vendor)vendor)NED – The National Elevation Database (USGS)NED – The National Elevation Database (USGS)

Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and contour linesDigital Elevation Models (DEM) and contour linesNHD – The National Hydrology Database (USEPA & USGS)NHD – The National Hydrology Database (USEPA & USGS)

Hydrologic Network with database and attributes for modelingHydrologic Network with database and attributes for modelingWBS – The Watershed Boundaries Database (USDA-NRCS)WBS – The Watershed Boundaries Database (USDA-NRCS)

Basin boundaries for water and land use modeling and managementBasin boundaries for water and land use modeling and managementNFIP – The National Flood Insurance Program (DHS-FEMA)NFIP – The National Flood Insurance Program (DHS-FEMA)

The basis for flood risk assessment and flood insurance ratesThe basis for flood risk assessment and flood insurance ratesSURGO – Detailed soils data from Soil surveys (USDA-NRCS)SURGO – Detailed soils data from Soil surveys (USDA-NRCS)

All of these programs have standards in place and contractors who are qualified to All of these programs have standards in place and contractors who are qualified to produce the digital and paper products. They require state participation at 25% to produce the digital and paper products. They require state participation at 25% to

100%. Of the federal programs, none have complete coverage of Louisiana. 100%. Of the federal programs, none have complete coverage of Louisiana.

All of the federal programs are currently using old, outdated USGS maps to develop All of the federal programs are currently using old, outdated USGS maps to develop their databasestheir databases..

COMPASSCOMPASSStep 3 – Create the Digital Step 3 – Create the Digital Infrastructure to Maintain Infrastructure to Maintain

and Distribute the Dataand Distribute the Data

The data from this program will be available to all levels of The data from this program will be available to all levels of government, local, state, and federal.government, local, state, and federal.

The data will be stored, centrally and distributed via the Internet, The data will be stored, centrally and distributed via the Internet, disk media, and hardcopy, to serve the needs of the individual disk media, and hardcopy, to serve the needs of the individual user. This will require:user. This will require:

1.1. A moderate increase in storage space (less than a Terabyte), not A moderate increase in storage space (less than a Terabyte), not currently available at DOTDcurrently available at DOTD

2.2. A server to provide the data management and distribution capacity, A server to provide the data management and distribution capacity, not currently available at DOTDnot currently available at DOTD

3.3. Hardware for paper map production, not currently available at DOTDHardware for paper map production, not currently available at DOTD

All of these represent new capacity that does not exist, anywhere in the stateAll of these represent new capacity that does not exist, anywhere in the state

What Will It Cost? What Will It Cost? Photo-revision of all Quadrangle Maps - $8.5 to 10 Million

This depends on data (e.g., availability and format of address data for local roads, LRS development, etc.).

Infrastructure for management and distribution - Less than $30,000

This will provide additional storage, software for data management and map production, and data distribution via the Internet

The Benefits - Priceless!