U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey
Geographic NamesIn the United StatesGeographic NamesIn the United States
The National Map & Other Applications
The National Map & Other Applications
FGDC BriefingRoger L. Payne
BLM/USFS GIS Symposium 2005
• Agenda – Standardization
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
Geographic Names Information System
Support for The National Map & Other Applications; Partner Data
Standardization not Regulation
Why Standardize Geographic Names?• National Security• Emergency Preparedness & Response• Regional & Local Planning• Site Selection & Analysis• Cartographic Application• Environmental Problem-solving• Tourism• All Levels of Communication
Need for Names Standardization
• In the 1800’s, there were numerous scientific and exploration expeditions of the United States by the Federal Government
• Many agencies recorded different names, resulting in confusion
• Geographic names is a key component of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure for the United States
• Consistency is a key attribute of a common set of base geographic information
The Solution
• 4 September 1890 – U.S. Board on Geographic Names established by Presidential Executive Order
• 25 July 1947 – Board re-established by Public Law
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
• Provides for uniformity in geographic nomenclature and orthography throughout the Federal government
• Formulates principles, policies, and procedures to be followed with reference to both domestic and foreign geographic names
• Promulgates in the name of the Board…, decisions with respect to geographic names and principles of geographic nomenclature and orthography
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
• No Federal agency may CHANGE or ADD unilaterally any name on any product for any reason without BGN approval
• An agency may choose
to leave the name off a map or out of a publication
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
• Principles
• Policies
• Procedures
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
• Some Committees are Empowered by the Board to Set Policy and Establish Procedures
The Domestic Names Committee (DNC) processes names for the United States.
The Foreign Names Committee (FNC) processes names for all other countries for use by the United States.
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
• Advisory Committees Make Only Recommendations to the Board for Decision
Advisory Committee on Antarctica (ACAN)
Advisory Committee on Undersea Features (ACUF)
Advisory Committee on Extraterrestrial Features (ACEF) – not active
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) & The National Map
One of the Eight Layers of The National Map
• Data ContentGoal - complete in every categoryMore complete than any topographic map or
any individual product, digital or conventional
• In 1987, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names designated the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) as the only official vehicle for domestic geographic names used by the Federal government
• Therefore, GNIS is the only source for applying geographic names to Federal maps and other products depicting areas under U.S. jurisdiction
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Electronic Maintenance Program Since 1987 U.S. Board on Geographic Names U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Forest Service (1997) Office of Coast Survey (1997) National Hydrographic Data Set Partners – synchronized
(NHD – 1997) National Park Service (1999) Bureau of Land Management (Monday, April 18, 2005) Fish & Wildlife Service (soon) GNIS staff processed updates regularly from other agencies
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
• Maintenance by States Delaware (2002) Hawaii (2003) West Virginia (2004) North Carolina (2004) Florida (2005) Oregon (2005) Nevada (startup) New Mexico (not yet active) Missouri (pending) More Agreements in Discussion
Names Standards – Partners:
• Submit names data for approval & entry into GNIS prior to registration in the Catalog Non-natural feature names & coords accepted from
responsible source Natural features, canals, reservoirs reviewed
• Include as a minimum feature name, primary point May include feature geometry/boundary Encouraged to submit secondary attributes
• Secondary points, variants, history, description• Include the GNIS Feature ID in source databases
To synchronize and maintain names data in GNIS
GNIS Website
• http://geonames.usgs.gov/
• Approximately 40,000 accesses per day or more than 1,000,000 per month
• Approximately 100 gazetteers downloaded per day
Names in The National Map Viewer
http://nationalmap.usgs.govNames/GNIS
Names in The National Map Viewer
GNIS Data Submission
• Online data entry & EditFor authorized users and partners
• Batch file submissionMost standard formats
• Partner tools for direct submission Developed in coordination with
partnerUsing web services and tools
Partnerships
NamesDesign Team
&(GNIS)
NamesDesign Team
&(GNIS)
State NamesAuthorities
State NamesAuthorities
State/Local GISAuthorities
State/Local GISAuthoritiesLong Standing
Develop
Further
Develop
Further
BGNBGN
Federal AgenciesFederal Agencies
Mai
nten
ance
Beg
un 1
997
Maintenance Begun 1987
Inte
rdep
artm
enta
l Bod
y
GNIS - Integrating Partner Data
Web Maintenance Forms
Temporary Table
Quality Assurance(Staff)
Commit to Database
GNIS - Integrating Partner Data
Data Foundations Team
Partner Files
Other State & Local Partners
Resolution Algorithms
GNIS - Integrating Partner Data
Match
Apply GNIS IDTo Partner Data
Return ID to Partner
New Names(not in GNIS)
Assign GNIS ID
Exception List(no match)
Rookie Toponymists
Rookie Resolve Conflict(Requires Training & Experience)
Referred to Staff(Resolution)
Add to GNIS(Staff)
Reject Partner Data