Publications
Here you will find publications, reports and articles produced by the National Geospatial Program (NGP) scientists. For a comprehensive listing of all USGS publications please click the button below.
Filter Total Items: 185
Volunteer map data collection at the USGS
Since 1994, citizen volunteers have helped the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) improve its topographic maps. Through the Earth Science Corps program, citizens were able to "adopt a quad" and collect new information and update existing map features. Until its conclusion in 2001, as many as 300 volunteers annotated paper maps which were incorporated into the USGS topographic-map revision process.
Authors
B. Wolf Eric, Barbara S. Poore, Holly K. Caro, Greg D. Matthews
Scanning and georeferencing historical USGS quadrangles
The USGS Historical Quadrangle Scanning Project (HQSP) is scanning all scales and all editions of approximately 250,000 topographic maps published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) since the inception of the topographic mapping program in 1884. This scanning will provide a comprehensive digital repository of USGS topographic maps, available to the public at no cost. This project serves the dual
Authors
Larry R. Davis, G. J. Allord
Introduction to papers from the AutoCarto 2010 Conference
No abstract available.
Authors
E. Lynn Usery
Topographic mapping data semantics through data conversion and enhancement
This paper presents research on the semantics of topographic data for triples and ontologies to blend the capabilities of the Semantic Web and The National Map of the U.S. Geological Survey. Automated conversion of relational topographic data of several geographic sample areas to the triple data model standard resulted in relatively poor semantic associations. Further research employed vocabularie
Authors
Dalia Varanka, Jonathan Carter, E. Lynn Usery, Thomas Shoberg
US Topo - A new national map series
In the second half of the 20th century, the foundation of the U.S. Geological Survey's national map series was the handcrafted 7.5-minute topographic map. Times change, budgets get squeezed and currency expectations become ever more challenging. The USGS's Larry Moore, who oversees data production operations at two National Geospatial Technical Operations Centers, provides an introduction to the n
Authors
Laurence R. Moore
Performance of map symbol and label design with format and display resolution options through scale for the national map
Symbol and label design for U.S. topographic mapping using data from The National Map has been progressing, partly in support of research by Buttenfield and Stanislawski on hydrographic generalization, and is sponsored by CEGIS, the USGS Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science. The work also seeks to make the best use of GIS for map design that requires no hand-work to make custom
Authors
C. A. Brewer, C. L. Hanchett, B. P. Butterfield, E. Lynn Usery
Star crossings and stone monuments-Field astronomy by the Wheeler Survey in 1870s Colorado
The decade of the 1870s was a time of extensive exploration and surveying in the American West. The nation needed knowledge of the cultural features, topography, natural resources, and geology of this land to promote and aid the 'rapid development of an empire.' The need was particularly acute in the region that still was known in the early 1870s as Colorado Territory. There, cities and towns were
Authors
William E. Wilson
Ontological Issues for national topographic mapping
No abstract available.
Authors
Dalia E. Varanka, E. Lynn Usery
Proceedings of preparing for a significant central United States earthquake: Science needs of the response and recovery community
Imagine waking up at 2 o'clock in the morning by a violent rumbling that causes ceilings to fall, furniture to topple over, and windows to break. Your home is crumbling, it is dark, and by the time you realize what is going on the shaking stops. You quickly determine that your family members are okay, but you also realize your power is out, all the windows are broken, and there is substantial dama
Authors
Emitt C. Witt
Geospatial Information Response Team
Extreme emergency events of national significance that include manmade and natural disasters seem to have become more frequent during the past two decades. The Nation is becoming more resilient to these emergencies through better preparedness, reduced duplication, and establishing better communications so every response and recovery effort saves lives and mitigates the long-term social and economi
Authors
Emitt C. Witt
History of the topographic branch (division)
From a very early period of the world's existence, man has endeavored to represent the earth's surface in a graphic form for the information of his fellow men, realizing that no oral or written description is capable of setting forth topographic facts so vividly and so clearly as a map.
Mapping of the areas of the United States began with the charting of portions of its coast line by early explor
Authors
Richard T. Evans, Helen M. Frye