Image depicting transportation layer (left image) and structures / orthoimage layers (right image) from a selected area of a 2019 US Topo map of Dallas, TX.
Can I import a US Topo map into my Geographic Information System (GIS)?
Modern USGS topographic maps are derived from GIS data sets and are distributed as a digital Portable Document Format (PDF) for the benefit of non-specialist users. USGS topographic maps are considered the output of, rather than the input to, GIS.
Many Geographic Information System (GIS) software cannot read or import a PDF file. It is not recommended to use USGS topographic maps in a GIS environment beyond reference or base map purposes.
Many common GIS software support GeoTIFF formats. All USGS topographic maps available from TopoView are free to download in a high-resolution GeoTIFF format and can be brought into GIS for reference purposes. All other source data shown on current USGS topographic maps is also available in GIS-usable vector format from The National Map Download Application.
Related
Why is the orthoimage (air photo) layer not available for some US Topo maps and OnDemand Topo maps?
In the lower 48 States, orthoimages (rectified air photographs) for US Topo maps and OnDemand Topo maps comes from the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). There are areas over some military installations where NAIP imagery is not available. In these locations, the OnDemand Topo maps will either not include imagery or contain partial imagery. US Topo maps are only produced for areas that...
How do USGS OnDemand Topo maps differ from US Topo maps?
USGS OnDemand Topo maps and USGS US Topo maps are built using similar datasets but can look different depending on what areas or options the user selects. OnDemand Topos--created using the topoBuilder application--offer customizations such as custom extents, a variety of scales, contour smoothing, and user-selected data layers. They include U.S. Territory coverage that is not available on US...
How can I find the source and vintage of each US Topo data layer?
US Topo maps have a credit legend in the lower left-hand corner of the map collar. This includes a short summary of data sources and data currency. More detailed source information is in an XML metadata file attached to each GeoPDF file. This file contains series-level, quad-level, and layer-level metadata, but US Topo does not preserve or track feature-level metadata. Open the GeoPDF map file in...
How current are US Topo maps?
US Topo maps are updated on a three-year production cycle (maps covering one third of the country are updated each year). The US Topo production schedule follows the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) collection schedule. This does not include US Topos for Alaska, which are on a different schedule. The linework features shown on the maps are generated...
Are US Topo products available for Alaska?
Yes, US Topo products are available for all of Alaska. Publication of 1:25,000-scale US Topo maps in Alaska began in 2013. The production schedule is determined by availability of IFSAR elevation data and SPOT imagery provided by the Alaska Statewide Digital Mapping Initiative. To see an index map of publication dates for US Topos in Alaska, go to the National Map Downloader. Put a checkmark next...
Image Depicting Transportation-Structures-Orthoimagery on 2019 US Topo
Image depicting transportation layer (left image) and structures / orthoimage layers (right image) from a selected area of a 2019 US Topo map of Dallas, TX.
Lesson 8a: US Topos Created after June 2017
In this lesson we will demonstrate how to open and manipulate data layers using Adobe Reader DC and Adobe Acrobat Pro. We will also learn how to use basic tools like panning, zooming and making measurements.
In this lesson we will demonstrate how to open and manipulate data layers using Adobe Reader DC and Adobe Acrobat Pro. We will also learn how to use basic tools like panning, zooming and making measurements.
Downloading the Style Template and Topo Map Vector Data Products
This is lesson 12, Downloading the Style Template and Topo Map Vector Data Products. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used. We will show you where to download the Template and the various products.
This is lesson 12, Downloading the Style Template and Topo Map Vector Data Products. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used. We will show you where to download the Template and the various products.
How to Configure the Topo TNM Style Template
This is lesson 12 - How to configure the Topo TNM Style Template. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used. We will show you where to download the Template and the various products.
This is lesson 12 - How to configure the Topo TNM Style Template. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used. We will show you where to download the Template and the various products.
Introduction to the Topo TNM Style Template and Topo Map Vector Data
This is lesson 12-Introduction to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data Products. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used.
This is lesson 12-Introduction to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data Products. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used.
US Topo
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
Related
Why is the orthoimage (air photo) layer not available for some US Topo maps and OnDemand Topo maps?
In the lower 48 States, orthoimages (rectified air photographs) for US Topo maps and OnDemand Topo maps comes from the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). There are areas over some military installations where NAIP imagery is not available. In these locations, the OnDemand Topo maps will either not include imagery or contain partial imagery. US Topo maps are only produced for areas that...
How do USGS OnDemand Topo maps differ from US Topo maps?
USGS OnDemand Topo maps and USGS US Topo maps are built using similar datasets but can look different depending on what areas or options the user selects. OnDemand Topos--created using the topoBuilder application--offer customizations such as custom extents, a variety of scales, contour smoothing, and user-selected data layers. They include U.S. Territory coverage that is not available on US...
How can I find the source and vintage of each US Topo data layer?
US Topo maps have a credit legend in the lower left-hand corner of the map collar. This includes a short summary of data sources and data currency. More detailed source information is in an XML metadata file attached to each GeoPDF file. This file contains series-level, quad-level, and layer-level metadata, but US Topo does not preserve or track feature-level metadata. Open the GeoPDF map file in...
How current are US Topo maps?
US Topo maps are updated on a three-year production cycle (maps covering one third of the country are updated each year). The US Topo production schedule follows the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) collection schedule. This does not include US Topos for Alaska, which are on a different schedule. The linework features shown on the maps are generated...
Are US Topo products available for Alaska?
Yes, US Topo products are available for all of Alaska. Publication of 1:25,000-scale US Topo maps in Alaska began in 2013. The production schedule is determined by availability of IFSAR elevation data and SPOT imagery provided by the Alaska Statewide Digital Mapping Initiative. To see an index map of publication dates for US Topos in Alaska, go to the National Map Downloader. Put a checkmark next...
Image Depicting Transportation-Structures-Orthoimagery on 2019 US Topo
Image depicting transportation layer (left image) and structures / orthoimage layers (right image) from a selected area of a 2019 US Topo map of Dallas, TX.
Image depicting transportation layer (left image) and structures / orthoimage layers (right image) from a selected area of a 2019 US Topo map of Dallas, TX.
Lesson 8a: US Topos Created after June 2017
In this lesson we will demonstrate how to open and manipulate data layers using Adobe Reader DC and Adobe Acrobat Pro. We will also learn how to use basic tools like panning, zooming and making measurements.
In this lesson we will demonstrate how to open and manipulate data layers using Adobe Reader DC and Adobe Acrobat Pro. We will also learn how to use basic tools like panning, zooming and making measurements.
Downloading the Style Template and Topo Map Vector Data Products
This is lesson 12, Downloading the Style Template and Topo Map Vector Data Products. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used. We will show you where to download the Template and the various products.
This is lesson 12, Downloading the Style Template and Topo Map Vector Data Products. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used. We will show you where to download the Template and the various products.
How to Configure the Topo TNM Style Template
This is lesson 12 - How to configure the Topo TNM Style Template. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used. We will show you where to download the Template and the various products.
This is lesson 12 - How to configure the Topo TNM Style Template. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used. We will show you where to download the Template and the various products.
Introduction to the Topo TNM Style Template and Topo Map Vector Data
This is lesson 12-Introduction to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data Products. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used.
This is lesson 12-Introduction to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data Products. This lesson consists of a series of videos intended to introduce the user to the Topo TNM Style Template and the Topo Map Vector Data products. We will discuss the how and why they are needed and used.
US Topo
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known.
Updated Date: January 27, 2025