U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Geographic NamesIn the United StatesGeographic NamesIn the United States

The National Map & Other Applications

The National Map & Other Applications

FGDC BriefingRoger L. Payne

BLM/USFS GIS Symposium 2005

• Agenda – Standardization

U.S. Board on Geographic Names

Geographic Names Information System

Support for The National Map & Other Applications; Partner Data

Standardization not Regulation

Why Standardize Geographic Names?• National Security• Emergency Preparedness & Response• Regional & Local Planning• Site Selection & Analysis• Cartographic Application• Environmental Problem-solving• Tourism• All Levels of Communication

Need for Names Standardization

• In the 1800’s, there were numerous scientific and exploration expeditions of the United States by the Federal Government

• Many agencies recorded different names, resulting in confusion

• Geographic names is a key component of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure for the United States

• Consistency is a key attribute of a common set of base geographic information

The Solution

• 4 September 1890 – U.S. Board on Geographic Names established by Presidential Executive Order

• 25 July 1947 – Board re-established by Public Law

U.S. Board on Geographic Names

• Provides for uniformity in geographic nomenclature and orthography throughout the Federal government

• Formulates principles, policies, and procedures to be followed with reference to both domestic and foreign geographic names

• Promulgates in the name of the Board…, decisions with respect to geographic names and principles of geographic nomenclature and orthography

U.S. Board on Geographic Names

• No Federal agency may CHANGE or ADD unilaterally any name on any product for any reason without BGN approval

• An agency may choose

to leave the name off a map or out of a publication

U.S. Board on Geographic Names

• Principles

• Policies

• Procedures

U.S. Board on Geographic Names

• Some Committees are Empowered by the Board to Set Policy and Establish Procedures

The Domestic Names Committee (DNC) processes names for the United States.

The Foreign Names Committee (FNC) processes names for all other countries for use by the United States.

U.S. Board on Geographic Names

• Advisory Committees Make Only Recommendations to the Board for Decision

Advisory Committee on Antarctica (ACAN)

Advisory Committee on Undersea Features (ACUF)

Advisory Committee on Extraterrestrial Features (ACEF) – not active

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) & The National Map

One of the Eight Layers of The National Map

• Data ContentGoal - complete in every categoryMore complete than any topographic map or

any individual product, digital or conventional

• In 1987, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names designated the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) as the only official vehicle for domestic geographic names used by the Federal government

• Therefore, GNIS is the only source for applying geographic names to Federal maps and other products depicting areas under U.S. jurisdiction

Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

Electronic Maintenance Program Since 1987 U.S. Board on Geographic Names U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Forest Service (1997) Office of Coast Survey (1997) National Hydrographic Data Set Partners – synchronized

(NHD – 1997) National Park Service (1999) Bureau of Land Management (Monday, April 18, 2005) Fish & Wildlife Service (soon) GNIS staff processed updates regularly from other agencies

Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

• Maintenance by States Delaware (2002) Hawaii (2003) West Virginia (2004) North Carolina (2004) Florida (2005) Oregon (2005) Nevada (startup) New Mexico (not yet active) Missouri (pending) More Agreements in Discussion

Names Standards – Partners:

• Submit names data for approval & entry into GNIS prior to registration in the Catalog Non-natural feature names & coords accepted from

responsible source Natural features, canals, reservoirs reviewed

• Include as a minimum feature name, primary point May include feature geometry/boundary Encouraged to submit secondary attributes

• Secondary points, variants, history, description• Include the GNIS Feature ID in source databases

To synchronize and maintain names data in GNIS

GNIS Website

• http://geonames.usgs.gov/

• Approximately 40,000 accesses per day or more than 1,000,000 per month

• Approximately 100 gazetteers downloaded per day

Names in The National Map Viewer

http://nationalmap.usgs.govNames/GNIS

Names in The National Map Viewer

GNIS Data Submission

• Online data entry & EditFor authorized users and partners

• Batch file submissionMost standard formats

• Partner tools for direct submission Developed in coordination with

partnerUsing web services and tools

Partnerships

NamesDesign Team

&(GNIS)

NamesDesign Team

&(GNIS)

State NamesAuthorities

State NamesAuthorities

State/Local GISAuthorities

State/Local GISAuthoritiesLong Standing

Develop

Further

Develop

Further

BGNBGN

Federal AgenciesFederal Agencies

Mai

nten

ance

Beg

un 1

997

Maintenance Begun 1987

Inte

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GNIS - Integrating Partner Data

Web Maintenance Forms

Temporary Table

Quality Assurance(Staff)

Commit to Database

GNIS - Integrating Partner Data

Data Foundations Team

Partner Files

Other State & Local Partners

Resolution Algorithms

GNIS - Integrating Partner Data

Match

Apply GNIS IDTo Partner Data

Return ID to Partner

New Names(not in GNIS)

Assign GNIS ID

Exception List(no match)

Rookie Toponymists

Rookie Resolve Conflict(Requires Training & Experience)

Referred to Staff(Resolution)

Add to GNIS(Staff)

Reject Partner Data