Standardizing Geographic Names for Consistency and Accuracy

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

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

3. 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

4. U.S. Board on Geographic Names • 4 September 1890 – Established byPresidential 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/

5. U.S. Board on Geographic Names • Ensures uniformity in geographic nomenclature and orthography throughout the Federal government • Formulates principles, policies, and proceduresfor 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

6. 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

7. Standardization not Regulation Why Standardize Geographic Names and Locations? • 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.

8. 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

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

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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

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

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

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

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. Feature Class – Defined Functionally No Official Feature Classification Schemas

22. Contacts • Louis YostActing, Executive SecretaryU.S. Board on Geographic Names • (703) 648-4552 • lyost@usgs.gov • Jennifer RunyonBoard on Geographic Names Senior Researcher • (703) 648-4550 • jrunyon@usgs.gov • Joan HelmrichNames Coordinator • (703) 648-4622 • jhelmrich@usgs.gov • Dwight HughesSr. Software Engineer • (703) 648-5793 • dshughes@usgs.gov

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