GNIS

Slide1: 

Scott Van Hoff USGS Geospatial Liaison U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior USGS Geographic Names Introduction Native Names Training Indigenous mapping network gathering 19 Aug 2007

Agenda: 

Agenda Why Names Standardization Role of U.S. Board on Geographic Names Overview Geographic Names Information System

Need for Names Standardization: 

Need for Names Standardization Before 19th Century—numerous scientific and exploration expeditions recorded conflicting geographic feature names, resulting in significant confusion and difficulty Today Geographic names are a key component of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure And a base layer of The National Map Always Consistency is a key attribute of base geographic information

U.S. Board on Geographic Names: 

U.S. Board on Geographic Names 4 September 1890 – Established by Presidential Executive Order 25 July 1947 – Re-established by Public Law 80-242 Representatives of Federal agencies concerned with geographic information, population, ecology, and management of public lands. http://geonames.usgs.gov/

U.S. Board on Geographic Names: 

U.S. Board on Geographic Names Ensures uniformity in geographic nomenclature and orthography throughout the Federal government Formulates principles, policies, and procedures for domestic feature names standardization. Serves as Federal authority to which name problems, name inquiries, name changes, and new name proposals are directed Promulgates Decisions with respect to geographic names and locations Publishes official feature names and locations

Policies: 

Policies U.S. Government policy: Only official (Board approved) geographic names and locations shall be used in Federal products Board policies: Geographic Names Information System is the only official Federal vehicle, i.e., gazetteer source, for domestic geographic names and locations Names and locations of most features are determined by the authoritative source, not subject to formal Board review and decision Exceptions: natural features, canals, reservoirs. Subject to principles, policies, and procedures

Standardization not Regulation: 

Standardization not Regulation National Security Emergency Preparedness & Response Regional & Local Planning Site Selection & Analysis Cartographic Application Environmental Problem-solving Tourism All Levels of Communication The implications of incorrect, inaccurate, or contradictory feature data appearing simultaneously in multiple Internet applications are serious and potentially catastrophic. Why Standardize Geographic Names and Locations?

Geographic Names Information System: 

Geographic Names Information System Official Federal source for feature names and locations Authoritative A16 database for geographic names Conforms to BGN principles, policies, guidelines 30 Years of Data from authoritative sources Stable, mature geographic information system Full national coverage, consistent, seamless Quality assured, prevents duplication Feature based – All named features Except roads & Highways Open, interoperable, available, web services Functioning partner base – Federal, State, Local, Tribal Large user community of long standing

Slide9: 

GNIS – Names are us….. Elevation Transportation Hydrography Structures Boundaries Geographic names Orthorectified imagery Land cover

Slide10: 

Names – A Key Component of Geographic Knowledge Webster Groves, MO-IL 7.5-minute topographic map

Two Million Features–And Growing: 

Two Million Features–And Growing 502,000 hydrographic features – Synchronized with NHD 395,000 cultural features – Mostly structures Cemetery, Dam, Locale, Mine, Military (historical), Oilfield, Tower, Trail, Well 376,000 structural features Airport, Building, Church, Hospital, School, Post Office 257,000 landforms – In no other layer of The National Map (Other than hydrographic features in NHD) 170,000 populated places 100,000 admin features Civil, Forest, Park, Reserve 97,000 historical features – In no other layer 14,000 transportation point features Bridge, Crossing, Tunnel (14,000 Antarctica features) Thousands added per month. If its not in GNIS, it should be.

GNIS Supports (among others):: 

GNIS Supports (among others): Geospatial One-Stop – Geographic Names Community The National Map – Names layers & Find Place Query The National Atlas – GNIS Provides names data National Hydrography Dataset – Uses only GNIS Names National Elevation Dataset – Query elevation in GNIS USGS Seamless Database – Includes Names layers FGDC – GNIS supports standards development

GNIS Attributes As Standards: 

GNIS Attributes As Standards Draft ANSI Standard in development Feature ID, Official Feature Name, Official Feature Location In DHS Geospatial Data Model Top level optional attributes (next version sprint 2007) Referenced In draft FGDC Address Standard GNIS Feature ID superseded FIPS55 Place Code Draft MOU with Census to manage the transition Coordinating with other agencies and organizations National Gazetteer Project (Sandia Labs/Patton Alliance) GNIS the Authoritative source for domestic names and locations MOU with GSA/OPM to maintain Federal agency geolocation codes with relationship to Feature ID

GOS Geographic Names Community: 

GOS Geographic Names Community http://gos2.geodata.gov/wps/portal/gos

GNIS in The National Map: 

GNIS in The National Map http://nmviewogc.cr.usgs.gov/viewer.htm

GNIS Web Site: 

GNIS Web Site http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/

GNIS Features: 

GNIS Features Feature ID Name Location Feature Class Other Attributes A feature is an entity on the landscape with: Minimum Identifying Attributes

GNIS Feature ID: 

GNIS Feature ID Single, unique, permanent, national record identifier System assigned number—no information content Add to local data sets for reference & data maintenance Immediately assigned upon web data entry For comparing, reconciling, merging data sets Eliminates need for difficult attribute matching from multiple, overlapping, & contradictory sources Assures national feature record uniqueness Available to all levels of government and the public

GNIS Official Name: 

GNIS Official Name As specified by data owner/authoritative source In all but a few cases, mostly natural features Sources authorized and verified Federal, State, local agencies, contractors Data validated & QA’d Within standards of the Board on Geographic Names Names complete, standard, nationally consistent Regardless of source or mechanism of access & display Available to all levels of Government & the public

GNIS Official Feature Location: 

GNIS Official Feature Location As specified by data owner/authoritative source Within Board guidelines Single representative point – The primary point Official point to which official name is attached Identifies & locates features. Ensures uniqueness. Independent of size, extent, other spatial representations Easily added, corrected, or modified Boundaries not reliable as official feature location Multiple versions, varying resolutions, differing precision Many features have no definable, official, recognized, or agreed upon boundaries

Feature Class – Defined Functionally: 

Feature Class – Defined Functionally No Official Feature Classification Schemas

Contacts: 

Contacts Louis Yost Acting, Executive Secretary U.S. Board on Geographic Names (703) 648-4552 lyost@usgs.gov Jennifer Runyon Board on Geographic Names Senior Researcher (703) 648-4550 jrunyon@usgs.gov Joan Helmrich Names Coordinator (703) 648-4622 jhelmrich@usgs.gov Dwight Hughes Sr. Software Engineer (703) 648-5793 dshughes@usgs.gov

The End: 

Thank you for your interest! Questions? The End Scott Van Hoff USGS Geospatial Liaison svanhoff@usgs.gov 208-387-1351