For more than 50 years, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has produced about 55,000 separate 7.5-minute topographic maps of the United States to meet needs for geographic base information.  We completed once-over mapping of the Nation in the early 1990’s.  These maps are a national treasure.  It would cost well over one billion dollars to recreate them.  Unfortunately, traditional approaches to topographic mapping have not enabled USGS to maintain the currentness of these maps and the usefulness of this massive collection of vital information is jeopardized.  The average age of a 7.5-minute map today is 23 years. As USGS maps and related digital data have aged, there have been advances in technology and a diffusion of mapping capabilities to other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and the private sector.  The broad involvement of many sectors in creating and maintaining base geographic information offers exciting possibilities for addressing needs for current and accurate national base data.  As a result, USGS has reconsidered its role and processes for ensuring the availability of this information.  Our vision for the 21st century is called “The National Map.”

Users will be able to choose how to combine and display data from the National Map to meet their specific needs.  A traditional view that looks like a USGS topographic map can be produced with contours that are created from elevation data,  symbolized feature content, and geographic names.  By accessing The National Map from kiosks available at libraries and retail outlets, or from a desktop personal computer, users will be able to prepare up-to-date versions of base maps quickly and inexpensively. 

This example incorporates shaded relief and contours with vector and point information, and geographic names.  The shaded relief can be generated from high resolution elevation data in The National Map and is a very powerful way to depict terrain.  It is an enhancement over what USGS offers in its paper topographic maps today.

These are some important points that sum up what is key to USGS’ implementation of The National Map vision. We need a better understanding of the capabilities and needs of all sectors of base geographic data producers and users. Collaboration is essential; creative work share, funding, and data partnerships will make The National Map possible. USGS will reassess and restructure its programs and operations to align with the vision. We will seek answers to relevant research questions and take advantage of new technologies. Our focus will be to promote awareness of and ensure the availability and usefulness of accurate, nationally consistent, and current geographic base data. We will meet user needs for standard digital data and topographic map products derived from The National Map. We will stay in touch with changing needs, technologies, and business opportunities to maintain the viability of The National Map vision. By achieving tangible results, we will demonstrate and sustain our commitment to the vision. We will give users the information they need to understand, manage, and respond to a world of geographic problems.

We know that the best available data will only become accessible to us as we build partnerships with states, local, tribal, university, and private/commercial partners.  On the other hand, USGS will continue to assemble these data into the highest quality, Nationally consistent databases. 

This perspective view of the Lakewood, Colorado area illustrates some of The National Map concepts.  It takes advantage of the key data characteristics. The terrain is derived from a high accuracy elevation model so that the relationship between roads and streams with the terrain surface slope is correct.  This is The National Map: a data set in which all the data register, are geographically correct, are complete and current, and are available for whatever geographic area a user defines.

What words can explain this.  When you look at the Rodeo fire from 500 miles up and it looks this dramatic, the picture its own story.

The benefits of having ready access to current, accurate, public domain base geographic information are widely appreciated.  The critical importance of this information is underscored by the fact that about 80% of government services are geographically based.  Many of the goods and services delivered by the private sector also rely on geographic data.  The Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16 addresses spatial data coordination by establishing the Federal Geographic Data Committee as an interagency coordinating body, affirms the National Spatial Data Infrastructure as the vision for ensuring that spatial data from multiple sectors are widely available and easily integrated, and defines the responsibilities of Federal agencies to develop the NSDI. Geospatial One-Stop is one of 24 E-Government initiatives that seek to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and customer service throughout the Federal government.  Geospatial One-stop will provide a geographic component for use in all Internet-based E-Government activities.  Specific objectives include standards for framework data content, an interactive index to data holdings, an on-line Web portal to geospatial data, and continuing dialogue between government at all levels about existing and planned spatial data collection.

All data that are spatially referenced make up the universe of geographic information.  The universe includes socioeconomic data produced by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, crime statistics prepared by local law enforcement authorities, and zip code-based market penetration statistics compiled by advertising agencies.  Within this universe, base geographic information provides the spatial foundation of commonly-needed information to which all other geographic data can be referenced. The Federal Geographic Data Committee (and many other organizations, such as the Mapping Science Committee of the National Academy of Sciences, the National States Geographic Information Council and the National Association of Counties) advocates the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, or NSDI, to develop policies, standards, and procedures for organizations to cooperatively produce and share base geographic data.  The NSDI framework data concept establishes a collaborative effort in which commonly needed data themes are developed, maintained, and integrated by public and private organizations.  The framework categories include orthoimagery, elevation and bathymetry, hydrography, transportation, government units, geodetic control, and cadastral data.  Sharing framework data helps to reduce operating costs and to improve service and decision making.