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Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey (2002) / Chapter Skim
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6 Conclusions and Recommendations
Pages 99-106

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From page 99...
... · The Geography Discipline should develop partnerships within the agency and with the broad field of geography outside the agency. · The Geography Discipline should develop a long-term core research agenda that includes several projects of the magnitude of The National Map.
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From page 100...
... Geography's interests in hazards research, resource analysis, connections between social and natural science, and integrative spatial methods make the discipline vital to the future success of the Survey. A summary of the committee's conclusions and recommendations to achieve these contributions is organized according to the original charge to the committee.
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From page 101...
... These connections will be improved when Survey personnel participate in national geographic organizations and present USGS geographic research at professional geography meetings and in professional joumals. Conclusion: The USGS's influence is weak in advancing the state of knowledge in general geography because geographers at the Survey are limited to cartographic, geographic information systems (GIS)
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From page 102...
... Even though the academic field of geography is a significant contributor to the understanding of environmental processes and natural hazards, the Survey does not contribute greatly to the understanding of the vital connection between nature and society through scientific research focused on hazards (Chapter 5~. Recommendation: The USGS should continue to exercise national leadership in applied hazards research (including natural, technical, and security hazards)
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From page 103...
... Historic data allow the interpretation of present data, but use of the historic information is restricted by several unsolved problems related to access, processing, and analysis (Chapter 34. Recommendation: The USGS should develop projects focused on historic data to address basic geographic research questions related to the accuracy, availability, quality, and scale issues for historical spatial data.
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From page 104...
... Recommendation: Because of their importance to The National Map, the following datasets should be assigned the highest priority in distribution of resources and in establishing and improving intera~encv exchanges: orthorectif~ed imagery; digital elevation data; land cover data; biogeographic data; hydrographic data; transportation feature data; and geographic place names. _O ~ _ ~ ~ _~~ _ _ ~ Conclusion: The USGS is effective at creating and managing spatial data, but its role in GIScience is limited and does not include cutting-edge research in geographic information systems or the analysis of the data that the Survey provides to others.
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From page 105...
... BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SCIENCE, POLICY MAKING, AND MANAGEMENT The mission of the USGS includes investigations in the Critical Zone to enhance and protect the quality of life, and contribute to wise development. The Survey already provides valuable service to its partners and clients by supplying spatial data and information, but the appropriate role of the Survey in general and the Geography Discipline in particular includes fundamental research.
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From page 106...
... improving citizen involvement in decision making for issues related to natural sciences by creating citizen-friendly geographic interfaces with all the Survey's primary spatial datasets; · expanding the utility and application of place-based science by conducting integrative place-specific research in addition to topical research in individual disciplines; and · enhancing the effectiveness of decision-support systems win increased geographic input and more effective map-like products as output. SUMMARY The USGS is reforming and incorporating missions that emphasize its role as one of the nation's most important natural science research agencies.
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Key Terms

  • spatial data
  • national map
  • geographic research
  • critical zone
  • usgs manages

  • historic data
  • natural science
  • undertake basic
  • technical hazards
  • hazards research

  • geospatial data
  • wise development
  • environmental processes
  • geographic analysis
  • survey personnel

  • spatial analysis
  • managing spatial
  • citizen involvement
  • basic geographic
  • integrative power

  • improving management
  • defined biologic
  • strong geography
  • sufficiently engaged
  • broad field

  • spatial datasets
  • includes fundamental
  • substantially enhanced
  • funding commensurate
  • associate directors


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