U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

The National Map in North Dakota

The National Map in North Dakota

Ron WenclState Mapping Liaison

USGS National Geospatial Programs Office

North Dakota GIS DayNovember 17, 2004

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”

Powell on National MappingPowell on National Mapping

Once-over mapping was an immense feat

The only national synthesis of geography that is

Comprehensive

Transjurisdictional

Border to border and coast to coast

Cost of replication today would be $2 to $3 billion

USGS Topographic MapsUSGS Topographic Maps

Maps are increasingly outdated

Limited resources restrict maintenance

Maps and digital data do not correspond

Duplication of effort emphasizes the need to share

National priorities demand current information

USGS 1953; PR 1966 & 1974

Pixxures 2000

Baltimore, MD

Topographic Maps TodayTopographic Maps Today

Homeland SecurityHomeland Security

The National Map must be immediately available to plan for, respond to, and recover from natural and human-induced disasters

The Nation’s urban areas are home to more than 180 million people and much of our critical infrastructure

A National Information SynthesisA National Information Synthesis “Weaving A National Map” National Research Council - 2003

1. Blanket

2. Quilt

NSDI - National Spatial Data NSDI - National Spatial Data InfrastructureInfrastructure

– FGDC – coordination standards, policy

– The National Map –integrated base data

– GOS – data discovery and access

Data Discovery& Access

Consistent &Current Content

Coordination &Standards

A seamless, continuously maintained, nationally consistent set of base geographic data – THE NATIONAL MAP

Maintained through partnerships

A national foundation for science, land and resource management, recreation, policy making, and homeland security

Available over the Web and the source for revised topographic maps

The National MapThe National Map – Past and Present – Past and Present

The National MapThe National Map depends on partnerships depends on partnerships

The USGS role emphasizes collaboration to create and maintain data, tools, and applications

Partners include Federal agencies; State, tribal, regional, and local governments; private industry; universities and libraries; and the public

Partner roles include identifying needs for base geographic data, sharing and maintaining data, ensuring data access, developing tools and standards, research, and applications

Implementing a Web ViewerImplementing a Web Viewer

• The data of The National Map are viewable at nationalmap.gov

• This capability requires only a Web browser

• Initial sources of data include USGS national datasets and partner data

Tools in The National Map Viewer

“Standard” ArcIMS functions

Zoom In/Out, Full Extent, Pan

Identify

Find Place – GNIS, Zoom to Partner

Elevation

Measure

Download

Options

Data in The National MapData Layers / Themes- Administrative- Boundaries- Elevation- Geographic Names- Geology- Hydrography- Land Use/Land Cover- Orthoimagery- Other- Structures- Topographic Maps- Transportation

Partnerships in The National Map

• U.S. Forest Service

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Bureau of Land Management

State and Local Partnerships

Private Sector

Analogy with the U.S. Interstate Highway System

Road Map to the FutureRoad Map to the Future

Initiated for defense purposes – movement of troops and materielRequired use of nationally-consistent standards – signage, road grades, on and off rampsConstructed using Federal and State matching fundsBuilt largely by private contractorsResulted in greatly improved interstate commerce and mobility

www.nationalmap.govwww.nationalmap.gov