Digital Maps - Beta - Frequently Asked Questions

"Digital Maps - Beta"

Frequently Asked Questions

For ease of finding topics, the questions and answers are grouped in the following sections:

Mapping Program
Product Access and Download
Product Format
Product Content
Product Use

If the following Frequently Asked Questions do not answer your specific issue, contact us at http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map/digitalmap_feedback.html

Mapping Program

Question: What are the USGS’s plans for the topographic maps?

Answer: You can learn more about the future of the USGS's topographic maps and mapping program at http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map. Further information about The National Map is available at http://nationalmap.gov

Question: What is the plan for the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute topographic map series?

Answer: See the "Information Sheet (.PDF)" link at http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map

Question: Where can I find more information about 1:24,000-scale "Digital Maps – Beta"?

Answer: More information is available at http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map

Question: How can I find out more about the USGS's program to make these new maps?

Answer: Call 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747). You may also read the Information Sheet on the program at http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map. You also may send your questions to: http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map/digitalmap_feedback.html

Question: What does the "Beta" mean in "Digital Map – Beta"?

Answer: "Beta" means that these maps are an initial release of a new product; this product does not yet contain all of the traditional content of the USGS topographic quadrangle maps. As the product evolves, additional data layers will be added. When contours are added, the "Beta" term will be dropped.

Question: When will maps be available for each State?

Answer: Following is a list of States that the USGS plans to map in 2009. (The 2010 plan of work is under development and a status graphic will be posted later this year to this web page.)

Alabama
Arizona
California
Connecticut
Florida
Illinois
Kansas

Louisiana
Maine
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire

Oklahoma
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Vermont
Wyoming

Question: When will they become available for the whole country, or an area specific to my need?

Answer: The production of "Digital Maps - Beta" will follow the 3-year U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) As envisioned, the conterminous United States should be mapped once every 3 years. Plans to map Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Territories will be addressed in 2010 after the production processes have been established and stabilized for the production of the conterminous United States.

Question: When can I expect to see the ultimate version of the "Digital Map – Beta"?

Answer: The USGS has a vision for the "Digital Map - Beta" of continual improvement with new enhancements of data and functionality. Within this vision is the plan that data contained in The National Map's eight data themes will be incorporated on the maps. The vision extends to giving the users the option to add other data beyond those data contained within The National Map.

Question: Will USGS maps of other scales be updated?

Answer: Yes, the USGS intends to update smaller-scale maps (1:100,000; 1:250,000) from The National Map data after completing large-scale coverage for the Nation and developing capabilities to make intermediate and small-scale maps from The National Map data.

Product Access and Download

Question: How do I download the new "Digital Map - Beta?"

Answer: Please see the "Digital Map - Beta" Users Guide - Quickstart

Question: Can I still get the older topographic maps?

Answer: Yes, the legacy topographic maps are being scanned and will be available for free download through http://store.usgs.gov. Or, you may purchase plots of the scanned map files.

Product Format

Question: What is a GeoPDF?

Answer: GeoPDF® is a TerraGo Technologies published extension to the Adobe® Reader® PDF file format. Further information about the GeoPDF format is available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeoPDF and at http://www.terragotech.com/.

Question: Why was the GeoPDF file format selected for "Digital Maps – Beta"?

Answer: This format is designed for the efficient communication of rich spatial data and supports viewing, reviewing, verifying, updating, and printing functions. Further information about the GeoPDF format is available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeoPDF and at http://www.terragotech.com/.

Question: What can I do with a GeoPDF format file?

Answer: The GeoPDF "Digital Map - Beta" file allows the user to interact with the map on a computer screen or print/plot the map on hard-copy media. Further information about using the GeoPDF format is available at the user's guide on http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map, or http://www.terragotech.com/.

Question: How can I get Adobe Reader?

Answer: You can download the Reader free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/.

Question: What versions of Adobe Reader do I need to work with GeoPDF files?

Answer: The latest three versions of either Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat® will work. You can download Adobe Reader free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/.

Product Content

Question: What data are used in the production of the "Digital Map - Beta"?

Answer: The "Digital Map - Beta" will eventually be made with all data themes from The National Map. The geospatial data available from The National Map includes orthoimagery (scale-corrected aerial photographs), elevation, geographic names, hydrography, boundaries, transportation, structures, and land cover. These data are acquired through partnerships with States, local, tribal, and Federal agencies. It is anticipated that more local and State data will be used as it is made available and integrated into The National Map data holdings. Links to each data theme are available at The National Map home page http://nationalmap.gov under the Product and Services Tab.

Question: Will the best and latest data be used to compile these maps?

Answer: Yes. The USGS is committed to producing a quality product from quality data provided in part from our partners.

Question: How current will these maps be?

Answer: These maps will be remade every three years as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) aerial imagery is reflown and new Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles (DOQ) are made. The features shown on the maps will be revised or renewed from the latest The National Map data.

Question: How can I find the source and vintage of each data layer?

Answer: Not only will the credit legend, in the lower left-hand corner of the map, list the date and source of the data, but metadata will contain this information as well. The quadrangle-specific metadata are embedded in the GeoPDF. Metadata can be opened by clicking on the paper clip icon in the lower left corner of the table of contents. This will open a folder containing one metadata file. Double click on the file to open it. Accept your web browser’s warning and click on the title of the metadata file to display the black metadata text. Metadata contains a citation naming the originators of the map and types of data in the map. Placeholders for the originator’s publication dates currently (2009) are not populated. Both the credit legend and the metadata give the date of the data layers as a beginning and ending set of dates, when known.

Question: Why are there no contours on these maps?

Answer: Elevation data will be added to these maps starting in late 2009. Until then, the USGS will be improving the quality of the elevation data and improving the fit to water features [the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)]. When contours are added, the designation “Beta” will be dropped.

Question: Why is there no accuracy statement on these maps?

Answer: The accuracy statement is left off these maps because the accuracy of the map and of the data used to make the map will be written in the metadata statement. These maps are as accurate as The National Map data used to make them. See the metadata for The National Map or call: 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747).

Product Use

Question: How do I use these maps on my personal computer?

Answer: You will find a Quickstart User's Guide at http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map/quickstart.pdf. For additional information on using these maps, see http://www.terragotech.com/tutorials.php or call: 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747).

Question: Are "Digital Maps - Beta" copyrighted?

Answer: No, these maps have no copyright and may be reproduced freely. USGS always appreciates receiving credit whenever their products are used.

Question: What is GeoMark and will the GeoPDF's be GeoMark Enabled?

Answer: If a GeoPDF was created with GeoMark function enabled then the users could use tools provided by TerraGo Desktop to add text and/or annotations such as points, lines, and polygons to the map. USGS is investigating licensing issues with the GeoMark Enabling software. Further information about GeoMark is available at http://www.terragotech.com/solutions/pdfs/Map2PDF Bundle.pdf

Question: How do I print the map on my desktop printer?

Answer: Refer to the Quickstart User’s Guide at http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map/quickstart.pdf.

Question: How do I get a full-scale plot of the 1:24,000-scale map?

Answer: There are three ways to get full-scale plots of the 1:24,000-scale map:
1) Request the plot from the USGS Store after selecting the map you want plotted.
2) Download and send the GeoPDF map file to a local business that can plot it for you.
3) Download and plot the GeoPDF map file on your own large-format plotter.

Caution – on options two and three, check the plot to make sure the symbols, text fonts, and the map scale were replicated correctly.

Further information about printing is available at http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map/quickstart.pdf.

If the above Frequently Asked Questions do not answer your specific issue, contact us at http://nationalmap.gov/digital_map/digitalmap_feedback.html

Last update: July 5, 2009

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Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.