Archives
08/09
USGS Conversion to Electronic Geospatial Data Distribution
The USGS is transitioning to an all-digital, all-free, all-Internet data distribution for all data in its archives including aerial and satellite film collections. Data products which were offered in the past on media such as CD and DVDs will no longer be available.
From July 1st until sometime after October the USGS will be in the process of transitioning to new scanning and ordering systems. During this time customers will be unable to order scans of aerial or Declassified satellite photography. However, all other data in the archive, including the medium resolution digitized (400 dpi) aerial photography are available for free downloads.
The USGS aerial film archive collections will be systematically scanned to a standard format high resolution 25 micron digital image and offered to the public at no charge. A scanning schedule will be posted on the EROS web page.
To satisfy user needs for certain aerial or satellite film images in the archive that are not scanned and available for free download, the USGS will be providing a limited, fee-based capability for customers to request selected images for scanning at 25, 14 and 7 microns. When scanned the images will be posted for electronic download by them and by any subsequent users. User requests for scans will be completed on a “first-in first-out basis” for an anticipated $30 per image (TBD). No priority service will be offered.
National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) and National High Altitude Photography (NHAP) will not be initially included in the high resolution scan requests. If High Resolution Scanned images are required for those data sets, we encourage customers to contact the USDA’s Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO) for information on their products, prices, and services (http://www.apfo.usda.gov).
The service of providing individual letters that certify the authenticity of specific records in the EROS archive will no longer be available. Instead, users may access the Certification Citation tab on the EROS web page. This link will contain a citation in a downloadable Portable Document Format (PDF) file stating the USGS certifies that the image data requested and downloaded from the archive are authentic reproductions of official records of the Government that are in the legal custody of the United States Geological Survey at EROS.
Samples of the new 25 micron standard product will be posted on-line on the EROS web page for users to evaluate and assess.
Only imagery with frame level coordinates; retrievable from an EarthExplorer query; and that have corresponding browse are candidates for scanning and distributable from the archive.
The USGS/EROS aerial film archive contains collections of original and duplicate copies of photography owned by the USGS and many other federal agencies. The USGS has the responsibility to protect and preserve its holdings through Public Law 102-555 that defines the mission of the USGS remote sensing data archive. Distribution of data from this archive is provided through free data down loads over the Internet via Earth Explorer (earthexplorer.usgs.gov) and GloVis (glovis.usgs.gov). The primary responsibility of the USGS is to take care of its records first. Consequently, full access to other non-USGS film collections are limited at this time due to higher priority data preservation activities. EROS is committed to a three to four year schedule to provide high resolution data products from the six million frames of USGS photography associated with its long term archive mission. If you are interested in any non-USGS data you will need to contact that specific agency concerning access to their data holdings.
USGS "Digital Map - Beta" Coming to Indiana in 2010/2011
The "Digital Map - Beta" is the quadrangle map of the future. Although it is not a true GIS product, it is a new kind of georeferenced map that is a synthesis of National Map Vector data layers, NAIP raster imagery, and scanned historic Digital Raster Graphics (DRG) maps all delivered in the traditional 7.5 minute quadrangle format.
Ultimately, in addition to a image base, the "Digital Map" will include layers for contours; water, transportation, boundaries, and structure features; geographic names; and vegetative surface cover or land cover.
When contours are added, the "Beta" designation will be dropped. Accompanying each "Digital Map" will be scanned files of previous editions of that topographic map. The quality and accuracy of the map depends on The National Map data that was used to make it.
The digital file format is a georeferenced GeoPDF. The user can interact with the features on the map using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader with the free TerraGo GeoPDF toolbar.
The USGS will follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) 3-year cycle to make these maps, thus covering the lower 48-States once every 3 years using the latest NAIP imagery as the base layer. The map files will be available, at no cost, for digital download from the USGS Store. To learn more about tne new USGS Digital Map product go to http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map/.
The USGS is transitioning to an all-digital, all-free, all-Internet data distribution for all data in its archives including aerial and satellite film collections. Data products which were offered in the past on media such as CD and DVDs will no longer be available.
From July 1st until sometime after October the USGS will be in the process of transitioning to new scanning and ordering systems. During this time customers will be unable to order scans of aerial or Declassified satellite photography. However, all other data in the archive, including the medium resolution digitized (400 dpi) aerial photography are available for free downloads.
The USGS aerial film archive collections will be systematically scanned to a standard format high resolution 25 micron digital image and offered to the public at no charge. A scanning schedule will be posted on the EROS web page.
To satisfy user needs for certain aerial or satellite film images in the archive that are not scanned and available for free download, the USGS will be providing a limited, fee-based capability for customers to request selected images for scanning at 25, 14 and 7 microns. When scanned the images will be posted for electronic download by them and by any subsequent users. User requests for scans will be completed on a “first-in first-out basis” for an anticipated $30 per image (TBD). No priority service will be offered.
National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) and National High Altitude Photography (NHAP) will not be initially included in the high resolution scan requests. If High Resolution Scanned images are required for those data sets, we encourage customers to contact the USDA’s Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO) for information on their products, prices, and services (http://www.apfo.usda.gov).
The service of providing individual letters that certify the authenticity of specific records in the EROS archive will no longer be available. Instead, users may access the Certification Citation tab on the EROS web page. This link will contain a citation in a downloadable Portable Document Format (PDF) file stating the USGS certifies that the image data requested and downloaded from the archive are authentic reproductions of official records of the Government that are in the legal custody of the United States Geological Survey at EROS.
Samples of the new 25 micron standard product will be posted on-line on the EROS web page for users to evaluate and assess.
Only imagery with frame level coordinates; retrievable from an EarthExplorer query; and that have corresponding browse are candidates for scanning and distributable from the archive.
The USGS/EROS aerial film archive contains collections of original and duplicate copies of photography owned by the USGS and many other federal agencies. The USGS has the responsibility to protect and preserve its holdings through Public Law 102-555 that defines the mission of the USGS remote sensing data archive. Distribution of data from this archive is provided through free data down loads over the Internet via Earth Explorer (earthexplorer.usgs.gov) and GloVis (glovis.usgs.gov). The primary responsibility of the USGS is to take care of its records first. Consequently, full access to other non-USGS film collections are limited at this time due to higher priority data preservation activities. EROS is committed to a three to four year schedule to provide high resolution data products from the six million frames of USGS photography associated with its long term archive mission. If you are interested in any non-USGS data you will need to contact that specific agency concerning access to their data holdings.
USGS "Digital Map - Beta" Coming to Indiana in 2010/2011
The "Digital Map - Beta" is the quadrangle map of the future. Although it is not a true GIS product, it is a new kind of georeferenced map that is a synthesis of National Map Vector data layers, NAIP raster imagery, and scanned historic Digital Raster Graphics (DRG) maps all delivered in the traditional 7.5 minute quadrangle format.
Ultimately, in addition to a image base, the "Digital Map" will include layers for contours; water, transportation, boundaries, and structure features; geographic names; and vegetative surface cover or land cover.
When contours are added, the "Beta" designation will be dropped. Accompanying each "Digital Map" will be scanned files of previous editions of that topographic map. The quality and accuracy of the map depends on The National Map data that was used to make it.
The digital file format is a georeferenced GeoPDF. The user can interact with the features on the map using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader with the free TerraGo GeoPDF toolbar.
The USGS will follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) 3-year cycle to make these maps, thus covering the lower 48-States once every 3 years using the latest NAIP imagery as the base layer. The map files will be available, at no cost, for digital download from the USGS Store. To learn more about tne new USGS Digital Map product go to http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map/.