Benchmark C9, installed by the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (now the National Geodetic Survey) in 1923 near Apollinaris Spring in Yellowstone National Park. The number stamped into the mark, “7337.580,” is the elevation in feet that was determined by surveys the year the benchmark was established. USGS photo by Michael Poland, September 4, 2024.
How can I find survey benchmark and triangulation station information?
Most survey marks were set by the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey (now called the National Geodetic Survey); information for those marks is available online. For further assistance, contact the National Geodetic Survey at 301-713-3242 or ngs.infocenter@noaa.gov.
For information about marks set by the USGS, contact the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center at tnm_help@usgs.gov.
Learn more:
Related
Can I still get the older topographic maps?
Yes. Topographic maps originally published as paper documents between 1884-2006 have been scanned and published as the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection. Download our historical topographic maps and our more current US Topo maps (published 2009-present) free of charge using TopoView (GeoPDF, GeoTIFF, JPEG, and KMZ formats) or using the USGS Store’s Map Locator (GeoPDF format). Order paper...
Are USGS topographic maps copyrighted?
All topographic maps produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are in the public domain and are not copyrighted except for the following three cases that apply only to US Topo maps (produced 2009-present): Most maps in the period 2010-2016 contain commercially licensed road data (see note below). Orthoimages in Alaska are commercially licensed. Orthoimages in Hawaii were commercially licensed...
How accurate are elevations generated by the Elevation Point Query Service in The National Map?
The National Map’s Elevation Point Query Service (EPQS) returns elevations that are interpolated from the 3DEP dynamic elevation service. This is a web coverage service (WCS) that includes multiple resolutions of DEMs including 1 meter resolution lidar-based DEMs where available, and 1/3 arc-second seamless DEMs. The accuracy of the elevations returned by EPQS will vary according to the source...
What is the projection, horizontal datum, vertical datum, and resolution for a USGS digital elevation model (DEM)?
Projection: 3DEP DEMS have different projections/coordinate systems depending on the product: 1/3-, 1-, and 2-arc-second (also the discontinued 1/9-arc-second) DEMs are not projected. They are all in geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude). 5-meter DEMs (Alaska only) are Alaska Albers Equal Area. 1-meter DEMs are in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM). Original Product Resolution (OPR) DEMs –...
Benchmark C9, near Apollinaris Spring in Yellowstone National Park
Benchmark C9, installed by the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (now the National Geodetic Survey) in 1923 near Apollinaris Spring in Yellowstone National Park. The number stamped into the mark, “7337.580,” is the elevation in feet that was determined by surveys the year the benchmark was established. USGS photo by Michael Poland, September 4, 2024.
Hampton Roads Benchmark Monitoring: Occupying a Benchmark
Occupying a surveying benchmark, part of the Hampton Roads Benchmark Monitoring Network.
Occupying a surveying benchmark, part of the Hampton Roads Benchmark Monitoring Network.
USGS National Center Benchmark
A USGS benchmark at the USGS National Center.
A USGS benchmark at the USGS National Center.
Bryce Canyon Benchmark
A USGS elevation benchmark in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Bryce Canyon is a unique sandstone formation in southern Utah. It is home to a large number of hoodoos, which are oddly shaped pillars of rock that formed due to different erosion rates for the dolomite that caps them and the sandstone that forms their base.
A USGS elevation benchmark in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Bryce Canyon is a unique sandstone formation in southern Utah. It is home to a large number of hoodoos, which are oddly shaped pillars of rock that formed due to different erosion rates for the dolomite that caps them and the sandstone that forms their base.
PubTalk 11/2004 — From Plane Tables to Pixels
The Revolution in Mapping at the U.S. Geological Survey
by Susan P. Benjamin, Research Geographer
The Revolution in Mapping at the U.S. Geological Survey
by Susan P. Benjamin, Research Geographer
Related
Can I still get the older topographic maps?
Yes. Topographic maps originally published as paper documents between 1884-2006 have been scanned and published as the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection. Download our historical topographic maps and our more current US Topo maps (published 2009-present) free of charge using TopoView (GeoPDF, GeoTIFF, JPEG, and KMZ formats) or using the USGS Store’s Map Locator (GeoPDF format). Order paper...
Are USGS topographic maps copyrighted?
All topographic maps produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are in the public domain and are not copyrighted except for the following three cases that apply only to US Topo maps (produced 2009-present): Most maps in the period 2010-2016 contain commercially licensed road data (see note below). Orthoimages in Alaska are commercially licensed. Orthoimages in Hawaii were commercially licensed...
How accurate are elevations generated by the Elevation Point Query Service in The National Map?
The National Map’s Elevation Point Query Service (EPQS) returns elevations that are interpolated from the 3DEP dynamic elevation service. This is a web coverage service (WCS) that includes multiple resolutions of DEMs including 1 meter resolution lidar-based DEMs where available, and 1/3 arc-second seamless DEMs. The accuracy of the elevations returned by EPQS will vary according to the source...
What is the projection, horizontal datum, vertical datum, and resolution for a USGS digital elevation model (DEM)?
Projection: 3DEP DEMS have different projections/coordinate systems depending on the product: 1/3-, 1-, and 2-arc-second (also the discontinued 1/9-arc-second) DEMs are not projected. They are all in geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude). 5-meter DEMs (Alaska only) are Alaska Albers Equal Area. 1-meter DEMs are in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM). Original Product Resolution (OPR) DEMs –...
Benchmark C9, near Apollinaris Spring in Yellowstone National Park
Benchmark C9, installed by the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (now the National Geodetic Survey) in 1923 near Apollinaris Spring in Yellowstone National Park. The number stamped into the mark, “7337.580,” is the elevation in feet that was determined by surveys the year the benchmark was established. USGS photo by Michael Poland, September 4, 2024.
Benchmark C9, installed by the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (now the National Geodetic Survey) in 1923 near Apollinaris Spring in Yellowstone National Park. The number stamped into the mark, “7337.580,” is the elevation in feet that was determined by surveys the year the benchmark was established. USGS photo by Michael Poland, September 4, 2024.
Hampton Roads Benchmark Monitoring: Occupying a Benchmark
Occupying a surveying benchmark, part of the Hampton Roads Benchmark Monitoring Network.
Occupying a surveying benchmark, part of the Hampton Roads Benchmark Monitoring Network.
USGS National Center Benchmark
A USGS benchmark at the USGS National Center.
A USGS benchmark at the USGS National Center.
Bryce Canyon Benchmark
A USGS elevation benchmark in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Bryce Canyon is a unique sandstone formation in southern Utah. It is home to a large number of hoodoos, which are oddly shaped pillars of rock that formed due to different erosion rates for the dolomite that caps them and the sandstone that forms their base.
A USGS elevation benchmark in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Bryce Canyon is a unique sandstone formation in southern Utah. It is home to a large number of hoodoos, which are oddly shaped pillars of rock that formed due to different erosion rates for the dolomite that caps them and the sandstone that forms their base.
PubTalk 11/2004 — From Plane Tables to Pixels
The Revolution in Mapping at the U.S. Geological Survey
by Susan P. Benjamin, Research Geographer
The Revolution in Mapping at the U.S. Geological Survey
by Susan P. Benjamin, Research Geographer
Updated Date: November 27, 2024