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Core Science Systems Mission Area

USGS CSS serves as the primary national civilian mapping agency, including topographic and geologic mapping for Federal and State requirements, national geospatial coordination, satellite operations and remote sensing. Our products and data are necessary to understand, monitor, and detect changes that affect the Nation’s natural and agricultural resources, the economy, public safety, and security.

News

Farms to Faucet: The Hidden Connection

Farms to Faucet: The Hidden Connection

EROS History: Archive Unveils Earth’s Secrets

EROS History: Archive Unveils Earth’s Secrets

USGS announces elevation and hydrography data acquisition partnership opportunities for fiscal year 2025.

USGS announces elevation and hydrography data acquisition partnership opportunities for fiscal year 2025.

Publications

Evaluation of classified ground points from National Agriculture Imagery program photogrammetrically derived point clouds

Studies have shown that digital surface models and point clouds generated by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) can measure basic forest parameters such as canopy height. However, all measured forest parameters from these studies are evaluated using the differences between NAIP digital surface models (DSMs) and available lidar digital terrain
Authors
Jung-Kuan (Ernie) Liu, Samantha Arundel, Ethan J. Shavers

Assessing the utility of uncrewed aerial system photogrammetrically derived point clouds for land cover classification in the Alaska North Slope

Uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) have been used to collect “pseudo field plot” data in the form of large-scale stereo imagery to supplement and bolster direct field observations to monitor areas in Alaska. These data supplement field data that is difficult to collect in such a vast landscape with a relatively short field season. Dense photogrammetrically derived point clouds are created and are faci
Authors
Jung-Kuan (Ernie) Liu, Rongjun Qin, Samantha Arundel

Landsat Next

Landsat Next's launch in the early 2030s will ensure continuity of the longest space-based record of Earth’s land surfaces. The mission will substantially increase the breadth and quality of Earth observation data available to scientists, land managers, and others responsible for managing Earth's natural resources. Landsat Next’s constellation of three satellites will carry sensors that improve bo

Science

Eyes on Earth Episode 122 – EROS Interns, 2024

What can you learn during an internship at the USGS EROS Center? A lot! Several interns talk about their experience working a summer internship at EROS.
link

Eyes on Earth Episode 122 – EROS Interns, 2024

What can you learn during an internship at the USGS EROS Center? A lot! Several interns talk about their experience working a summer internship at EROS.
Learn More

Eyes on Earth Episode 121 – Mapping the Australia Coastline

Landsat’s deep archive can reveal where coastlines are changing, even for an entire continent, especially with some clever coding to make it useful to researchers.
link

Eyes on Earth Episode 121 – Mapping the Australia Coastline

Landsat’s deep archive can reveal where coastlines are changing, even for an entire continent, especially with some clever coding to make it useful to researchers.
Learn More

Eyes on Earth Episode 120 – Mapping the California Coastline

Coastline erosion can change your favorite beach. But it can also affect highways and buildings. Landsat, along with high-resolution data, can be used to model the past and predict the future of changes caused by sea level rise and coastal erosion.
link

Eyes on Earth Episode 120 – Mapping the California Coastline

Coastline erosion can change your favorite beach. But it can also affect highways and buildings. Landsat, along with high-resolution data, can be used to model the past and predict the future of changes caused by sea level rise and coastal erosion.
Learn More
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