U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey The National Map in North Dakota The National Map in North Dakota Ron Wencl State Mapping Liaison USGS National Geospatial Programs Office North Dakota GIS Day November 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 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 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 Maps are increasingly outdated  Limited resources restrict maintenance  Maps and digital data do not correspond  Duplication of effort emphasizes the need to share  National priorities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 Today

Homeland 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 Synthesis  “Weaving A National Map”  National Research Council Blanket 2.Quilt

NSDI - National Spatial Data Infrastructure –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 Map – Past and Present

The National Map 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 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 Map Data 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 Future Initiated for defense purposes – movement of troops and materiel Required use of nationally- consistent standards – signage, road grades, on and off ramps Constructed using Federal and State matching funds Built largely by private contractors Resulted in greatly improved interstate commerce and mobility