West Virginia
Geographic Names in
The National Map
May 12, 2004
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
Geographic Names Information System
• Official vehicle for geographic names use by the
Federal Government
• Source for applying geographic names nationwide
to Federal maps & other products
• Supports the U.S. Board on Geographic Names
• Provides feature names data to government
agencies and to the public
• Provides names geospatial data layers to The
National Map and the public
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Names in The National Map Viewer
Names/GNIS
http://nationalmap.usgs.gov
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Find Place
All Names Must be in GNIS
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Names Data Standards
• All names displayed in The National Map shall be in GNIS
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Accept most feature names and coords from authorized source
Exceptions: Natural features, canals, reservoirs
• Include as a minimum feature name, primary point
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May include feature geometry, particularly for natural features
Encouraged to submit secondary attributes, e.g., secondary points,
variants, history, description
• All names comply with BGN policies
• Partners add GNIS Feature ID to their databases
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Synchronize with and maintain names data in GNIS
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Names Data Partnerships
1. Submit GIS data with names to Names Project
2. Names Project compare data with GNIS
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Some names/coordinates match
 Some features not in GNIS – Enter into GNIS
 Some names need correction – Resolve with partner
 Establish baseline – All partner names in GNIS
3. Names Project submit Feature IDs to partner
4. Partner add Feature IDs to State/local data
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Unique identifier – For future data maintenance
5. Establish processes for maintaining data
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Submitting new and revised data to GNIS
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Names Data Maintenance
• Fast Processing
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Any Federal/State/local agency with names data
Let us know if you wish to participate
• Web data entry & edit forms
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Available now for authorized partners
• Batch file submission
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Most standard formats
• Partner tools for direct submission
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Will coordinate with partner
Using web services and tools
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Names Data Services
• GNIS Public Web Query

http://geonames.usgs.gov/
• XML Service – Sample query:
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http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnis/x?fname=&state='west
virginia'&cnty='kanawha'&cell=&ftype='school'
Returns 212 schools in Kanawha County, WV in XML
Customizable
• Map Service – Get Capabilities:

http://ergwms.er.usgs.gov:80/servlet/com.esri.wms.Esrimap?
ServiceName=us_gnis&request=GetCapabilities&service=WMS
• Customized data extracts as requested
• Questions?

Dwight Hughes 703 648-5793, dshughes@usgs.gov
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The West Virginia Partnership
• Partner Organizations: USGS Geographic Names
Project, USGS Liaison, WV Office of State GIS
Coordinator, WV GIS Technical Center, other WV
coordinating bodies.
• One of the first comprehensive state programs for
names data maintenance
• Partnership Proposal in progress
• Actively entering feature names data
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Using web edit and entry forms
• Coordinating to reconcile batch names files
• Committed to complete and accurate West Virginia
names data in GNIS and The National Map
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Contacts
• Roger Payne
(703) 648-4544
rpayne@usgs.gov
• Louis Yost
(703) 648-4552
lyost@usgs.gov
• Robin Worcester
(703) 648-4551
rworcest@usgs.gov
• Jennifer Runyon
(703) 648-4550
jrunyon@usgs.gov
• Eve Edwards
(703) 648-4548
eedwards@usgs.gov
• Dwight Hughes
(703) 648-5793
dshughes@usgs.gov
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The End
Thank you for your interest!
Questions?
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Back up slides below
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Data Entry/Edit –Transactional
Authorized
Contributor
www
Web Forms
Record Request for Edit
Current Record
GNIS
Temp
New or Edited Record
Names Office validate and commit data
• Available now to authorized users
• Contact Names Project if you wish to participate
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Data Entry/Edit – Batch
Authorized
Contributor
New record
files
HTTP Client
(Browser)
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•
•
•
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Temp
GNIS
Names Office load, validate, and commit data
Multiple file formats – ASCII, Txt, Shape, etc.
Multiple media – FTP, diskette, cartridge tape, etc.
Any source authorized by Names Office & State
Names Office load, validate and commit data
Procedures and formats to be decided case by case
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