U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names In the United States Geographic Names In the United States The National Map & Other Applications The National Map & Other Applications FGDC Briefing Roger 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 Content Goal - complete in every category More 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)

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 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 Names/GNIS

Names in The National Map Viewer

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

Partnerships Names Design Team & (GNIS) Names Design Team & (GNIS) State Names Authorities State/Local GIS Authorities Long Standing Develop Further BGN Federal Agencies Maintenance Begun 1997 Maintenance Begun 1987 Interdepartmental Body

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 ID To 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