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

1. Geographic Names In the United States The National Map & Other Applications FGDC Briefing Roger L. Payne U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. U.S. Board on Geographic Names • Principles • Policies • Procedures

9. 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.

10. 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

11. The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) & The National Map One of the Eight Layers of The National Map • Data Content • Goal - complete in every category • More complete than any topographic map or any individual product, digital or conventional

12. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) • 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Names in The National Map Viewer http://nationalmap.usgs.gov Names/GNIS

18. Names in The National Map Viewer

19. GNIS Data Submission • Online data entry & Edit • For authorized users and partners • Batch file submission • Most standard formats • Partner tools for direct submission • Developed in coordination with partner • Using web services and tools

20. Partnerships NamesDesign Team & (GNIS) Maintenance Begun 1987 BGN Develop Further State/Local GISAuthorities Maintenance Begun 1997 Long Standing Interdepartmental Body Federal Agencies State NamesAuthorities Develop Further

21. GNIS - Integrating Partner Data Web Maintenance Forms Temporary Table Commit to Database Quality Assurance (Staff)

22. GNIS - Integrating Partner Data Data Foundations Team Other State & Local Partners Partner Files Resolution Algorithms

23. GNIS - Integrating Partner Data Exception List (no match) Match Rookie Toponymists New Names (not in GNIS) Apply GNIS ID To Partner Data Rookie Resolve Conflict (Requires Training & Experience) Add to GNIS (Staff) Referred to Staff (Resolution) Assign GNIS ID Return ID to Partner Reject Partner Data