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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
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WEAVING A NATIONAL MAP

Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of The National Map

Committee to Review the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of
The National Map

Mapping Science Committee

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. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×

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 sponsored by Award No. 02HQGR0114 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Geological Survey. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.

International Standard Book Number: 0-309-08747-3

Library of Congress Control Number: 2003104244

Copies of this report are available from:
The National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001 Lockbox 285 800–624–6242 202–334–3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area) http://www.nap.edu

Cover: Layers of geographic information represented as a blanket (upper layer) and quilt (lower layer) covering the conterminous United States. The study committee uses the blanket and quilt metaphor to distinguish components of the USGS National Map concept. SOURCE: Susanna Baumgart, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Cover designed by Van Nguyen

Copyright 2003 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×

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 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. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×

COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE U.S.GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CONCEPT OF THE NATIONAL MAP

KEITH C.CLARKE, Chair,

University of California, Santa Barbara

MICHAEL R.ARMSTRONG,

City of Des Moines, Iowa

DAVID J.COWEN,

University of South Carolina, Columbia

DONNA P.KOEPP,

Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

XAVIER LOPEZ,

Oracle Corporation, Nashua, New Hampshire

RICHARD D.MILLER,

Kansas Information Technology Office, Topeka

GALE W.TESELLE,

USDA/NRCS (retired), Mitchellville, Maryland

WALDO R.TOBLER,

University of California, Santa Barbara

NANCY VON MEYER,

Fairview Industries, Pendleton, South Carolina

National Research Council Staff

PAUL M.CUTLER, Study Director

EILEEN M.MCTAGUE, Research Assistant

RADHIKA S.CHARI, Senior Project Assistant

MOHAN SEETHARAM, Intern (Until August, 2002)

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×

MAPPING SCIENCE COMMITTEE

DAVID J.COWEN, Chair,

University of South Carolina, Columbia

KATHRINE CARGO,

New Orleans Geographic Information System, Louisiana

WILLIAM J.CRAIG,

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

SHOREH ELHAMI,

Delaware County, Ohio

JAMES GERINGER,

State of Wyoming, Wheatland

MARK MONMONIER,

Syracuse University, New York

JOEL MORRISON,

Ohio State University, Columbus

HARLAN J.ONSRUD,

University of Maine, Orono

C.STEPHEN SMYTH,

MobileGIS, Ltd., Bellevue, Washington

JAMES V.TARANIK,

University of Nevada, Reno

NANCY TOSTA,

Ross & Associates Environmental Consulting, Ltd., Seattle, Washington

REX W.TRACY,

Consultant, San Diego, California

A.KEITH TURNER,

Colorado School of Mines, Golden

National Research Council Staff

PAUL M.CUTLER, Program Officer

EILEEN M.MCTAGUE, Research Assistant

RADHIKA S.CHARI, Senior Project Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×

BOARD ON EARTH SCIENCES AND RESOURCES

GEORGE M.HORNBERGER, Chair,

University of Virginia, Charlottesville

JILL BANFIELD,

University of California, Berkeley

STEVEN R.BOHLEN,

Joint Oceanographic Institutions, Washington, D.C.

VICKI J.COWART,

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, Denver, Colorado

DAVID L.DILCHER,

University of Florida, Gainesville

ADAM M.DZIEWONSKI,

Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

WILLIAM L.GRAF,

Arizona State University, Tempe

RHEA GRAHAM,

New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, Albuquerque

V.RAMA MURTHY,

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

DIANNE R.NIELSON,

Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Salt Lake City

RAYMOND A.PRICE,

Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada

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

KERI H.MOORE, Program Officer

LISA M.VANDEMARK, Program Officer

YVONNE P.FORSBERGH, Research Assistant

MONICA R.LIPSCOMB, Research Assistant

EILEEN M.MCTAGUE, Research Assistant

JENNIFER T.ESTEP, Administrative Associate

VERNA J.BOWEN, Administrative Assistant

RADHIKA S.CHARI, Senior Project Assistant

KAREN L.IMHOF, Senior Project Assistant

SHANNON L.RUDDY, Senior Project Assistant

Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×

TERESIA K.WILMORE, Project Assistant

WINFIELD SWANSON, Editor

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×

Acknowledgments

This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its 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 review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report:

Chaitan Baru, University of California, San Diego

Donald Cooke, Geographic Data Technology, Lebanon, New Hampshire

Michael Furlough, University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Mary Gunnels, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C.

Alan Leidner, New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, New York

Mark Schaefer, NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia

Nancy Tosta, Ross & Associates Environmental Consulting, Seattle, Washington.

Eugene Trobia, Arizona State Cartographer, Phoenix, Arizona

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×

Although the reviewers 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 draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Debra Knopman, RAND. Appointed by the National Research Council, she was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this 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 institution.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
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Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2003. Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of 'The National Map'. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10606.
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Weaving a National Map draws on contributions to a September 2002 workshop and the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) "vision" document for The National Map, envisioned by the USGS as a database providing "public domain core geographic data about the United States and its territories that other agencies can extend, enhance, and reference as they concentrate on maintaining other data that are unique to their needs." The demand for up-to-date information in real time for public welfare and safety informs this need to update an aging paper map series that is, on average, 23 years old. The NRC report describes how The National Map initiative would gain from improved definition so that the unprecedented number of partners needed for success will become energized to participate. The challenges faced by USGS in implementing The National Map are more organizational than technical. To succeed, the USGS will need to continue to learn from challenges encountered in its ongoing pilot studies as well as from other federal-led programs that have partnered with multiple sectors.

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