The National Map - From Geography to Mapping and Back Again

With the widespread availability of desktop geographic information systems, source data available as a commodity from private industry, and the realization that many complex problems faced by society need far more and different kinds of spatial data for their solutions, national mapping organizations must realign their business strategies to meet growing demand and anticipate the needs of a rapidly changing geographic information environment. So contend the authors of this article on The National Map (USGS, 2001) of the United States. The authors explain how The National Map builds on a sound historic foundation of describing and monitoring the land surface and adds a focused effort to produce improved understanding, modeling, and prediction of land-surface change. They discuss the construct of The National Map as a National spatial data infrastructure, the next priorities for The National Map, availability issues, accessibility considerations, and applicability. The authors describe how, within the overarching construct of The National Map, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is making a transition from data collector to guarantor of national data completeness; from producing paper maps to supporting an online, seamless, integrated database; and from simply describing the Nation's landscape to linking these descriptions with increased scientific understanding. The authors conclude by calling for a robust research agenda to understand these changes and realize The National Map vision.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00991112
• Authors:
  • Kelmelis, John A
  • DeMulder, Mark L
  • Ogrosky, Charles E
  • VanDriel, Nicholas J
  • Ryan, Barbara J
• Publication Date: 2003-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 1109-1118
• Serial:
  • Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing
  • Volume: 69
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
  • ISSN: 0099-1112

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Digital mapping; Federal government agencies; History; Information technology; Information, data, and knowledge; Infrastructure; Interagency relations; Mapping; Partnerships
• Identifier Terms: National Map; United States Geological Survey
• Uncontrolled Terms: Geospatial information infrastructure
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Highways; History; Planning and Forecasting; I10: Economics and Administration; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01001877
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 14 2005 10:11AM