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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2002. Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10486.
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RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN GEOGRAPHY AT THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Committee on Research Priorities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey

Board on Earth Sciences and Resources Division on Earth and Life Studies

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2002. Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10486.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
500 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by Cooperative Agreement No. 00HQAG0217 between the National Academy of Sciences and U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

International Standard Book Number is 0-309-08516-0

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Front and back covers: The Geographic Face of the Nation (land cover), 2001. SOURCE: U.S. Geological Survey.

Cover designed by: Van Nguyen

Copyright 2002 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2002. Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10486.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M.Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A.Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M.Alberts and Dr. Wm. A.Wulf are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.

www.national-academies.org

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2002. Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10486.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2002. Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10486.
×

COMMITTEE ON RESEARCH PRIORITIES IN GEOGRAPHY AT THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

WILLIAM L.GRAF, Chair,

University of South Carolina, Columbia

BARBARA P.BUTTENFIELD,

University of Colorado, Boulder

CAROL P.HARDEN,

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

JOHN R.JENSEN,

University of South Carolina, Columbia

GEORGE P.MALANSON,

University of Iowa, Iowa City

PATRICIA F.MCDOWELL,

University of Oregon, Eugene

SARA McLAFFERTY,

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

RISA I.PALM,

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

NORBERT P.PSUTY,

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey

HENRY J.VAUX, JR.,

University of California, Riverside

National Research Council Staff

ANTHONY R.DE SOUZA, Director,

Board on Earth Sciences and Resources

LISA M.VANDEMARK, Study Director

MONICA R.LIPSCOMB, Research Assistant

TERESIA K.WILMORE, Project Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2002. Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10486.
×

COMMITTEE ON GEOGRAPHY

BILLIE L.TURNER II, Chair,

Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts

BERNARD O.BAUER,

University of Southern California, Los Angeles

RUTH S.DEFRIES,

University of Maryland, College Park

ROGER M.DOWNS,

Pennsylvania State University, University Park

MICHAEL F.GOODCHILD,

University of California, Santa Barbara

SUSAN HANSON,

Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts

SARA L.McLAFFERTY,

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

ELLEN S.MOSLEY-THOMPSON,

Ohio State University, Columbus

ERIC S.SHEPPARD,

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

National Research Council Staff

KRISTEN L.KRAPF, Program Officer

MONICA R.LIPSCOMB, Research Assistant

VERNA J.BOWEN, Administrative Associate

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2002. Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10486.
×

BOARD ON EARTH SCIENCES AND RESOURCES

RAYMOND JEANLOZ, Chair,

University of California, Berkeley

JILL BANFIELD,

University of California, Berkeley

STEVEN R.BOHLEN,

Joint Oceanographic Institutions, Washington, D.C.

VICKI J.COWART,

Colorado Geological Survey, Denver

DAVID L.DILCHER,

University of Florida, Gainesville

ADAM M.DZIEWONSKI,

Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

WILLIAM L.GRAF,

University of South Carolina, Columbia

RHEA GRAHAM,

New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, Albuquerque

GEORGE M.HORNBERGER,

University of Virginia, Charlottesville

DIANNE R.NIELSON,

Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Salt Lake City

MARK SCHAEFER,

NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia

BILLIE L.TURNER II,

Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts

THOMAS J.WILBANKS,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee

National Research Council Staff

ANTHONY R.DE SOUZA, Director

TAMARA L.DICKINSON, Senior Program Officer

DAVID A.FEARY, Senior Program Officer

ANNE M.LINN, Senior Program Officer

PAUL M.CUTLER, Program Officer

KRISTEN L.KRAPF, Program Officer

KERIH. MOORE, Program Officer

LISA M.VANDEMARK, Program Officer

YVONNE P.FORSBERGH, Research Assistant

MONICA R.LIPSCOMB, Research Assistant

EILEEN McTAGUE, Research Assistant

VERNA J.BOWEN, Administrative Associate

JENNIFER T.ESTEP, Administrative Associate

RADHIKA CHARI, Senior Project Assistant

KAREN L.IMHOF, Senior Project Assistant

SHANNON L.RUDDY, Senior Project Assistant

TERESIA K.WILMORE, Project Assistant

WINFIELD SWANSON, Editor

Page viii Cite
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2002. Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10486.
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Acknowledgments

This report has been reviewed by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the NRC’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the authors and the NRC in making their published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The content of the review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this report:

Brian J.L.Berry, University of Texas, Dallas

Vicki Cowart, Colorado Geological Survey, Denver

Michael F.Goodchild, University of California, Santa Barbara

Judy Olson, Michigan State University, East Lansing

Dallas L.Peck, USGS emeritus, Reston, Virginia

Stanley W.Trimble, University of California, Los Angeles

Thomas J.Wilbanks, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Although the individuals listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Freeman Gilbert, University of California, San Diego. Appointed by the National Research Council, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2002. Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10486.
×

report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the NRC.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2002. Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10486.
×

Preface

Geography plays an increasingly important role in education, science, policy making, and government operations. The inclusion of geography in public school curricula has produced a generation of young people who are better trained in the subject than in previous years (NRC, 1997). Geography has also become a more prominent component of science as described by the recent National Research Council (NRC) report Rediscovering Geography: New Relevance for Science and Society. New recognition by decision makers of the local to global context of the issues they face has brought geography into play at every level. The refinement of geographic technology, including geographic information systems and remote sensing, has given powerful tools to analysts and decision makers that actuate fundamental geographic principles in experimental research and applied problem solving.

In the twenty-first century the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) should take advantage of geographic theory and techniques, including electronic databases, new maps (to replace the original topographic maps) and application of remote sensing to resource and hazards management. In this spirit, John Kelmelis, Chief Scientist for Geography at the USGS, requested that the NRC conduct a study for multiple audiences about geography at the USGS. The Committee on Research Priorities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey was charged to identify high-priority basic and applied research opportunities in geography as they relate to the science goals and responsibilities of the USGS. Generally, the committee was asked to address the following areas of concern to the Geography Discipline (the portion of the agency once known as the National Mapping Division) of the USGS: (1) the role of the USGS in advancing the state of geographic knowledge of the discipline (geography, cartography, and geographic information sciences), (2)

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2002. Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10486.
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the role of the USGS in improving the understanding of the dynamic connections between the land surface and human interactions with it, (3) the role of the USGS in maintaining and enhancing the tools and methods for conducting and applying geographic research, and (4) the role of the USGS in bridging the gap between geographic science, policy making, and management. The committee included members from a range of sub-disciplines in geography, including geomorphology, policy for public land and water, cartography, geographic information systems, hydrology, remote sensing, biogeography, landscape ecology, hazards, urban systems, social geography, and economics.

The committee met four times in Washington, D.C., and visited the USGS headquarters and its Eastern Regional Center in Reston, Virginia. Sub-groups of the committee also visited the USGS Regional Center in Denver, Colorado, as well as the USGS EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As input to the study the committee reviewed the scientific literature and data, and materials from the Survey and other federal agencies. The committee also greatly benefited from discussions with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA).

The committee acknowledges the many individuals who gave briefings or provided input during the course of the study (see Appendix B). The committee was most fortunate to work in a supportive NRC environment. Lisa Vandemark managed the many details that surfaced along the way. Monica Lipscomb was exceptionally helpful in this project, particularly in the assembly of the final manuscript. Anthony de Souza, director of the Board on Earth Sciences, contributed important ideas and insights, and he was a marvelous collaborator in refining the report.

William L.Graf

Chair

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Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides perspective and guidance to the geography discipline about its future research and strategic directions. The report makes specific recommendations about scientific research priorities and partnerships within and outside the agency, and outlines a long-term core research agenda for the USGS.

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