Skip Links

USGS - science for a changing world

Fact Sheet 2009–3022

Web-Based Geospatial Tools to Address Hazard Mitigation, Natural Resource Management, and Other Societal Issues

By Paul P. Hearn, Jr.

Thumbnail of and link to Fact Sheet 2009-3022 PDF (1,206 KB)

Summary

Federal, State, and local government agencies in the United States face a broad range of issues on a daily basis. Among these are natural hazard mitigation, homeland security, emergency response, economic and community development, water supply, and health and safety services. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) helps decision makers address these issues by providing natural hazard assessments, information on energy, mineral, water and biological resources, maps, and other geospatial information.

Increasingly, decision makers at all levels are challenged not by the lack of information, but by the absence of effective tools to synthesize the large volume of data available, and to utilize the data to frame policy options in a straightforward and understandable manner. While geographic information system (GIS) technology has been widely applied to this end, systems with the necessary analytical power have been usable only by trained operators. The USGS is addressing the need for more accessible, manageable data tools by developing a suite of Web-based geospatial applications that will incorporate USGS and cooperating partner data into the decision making process for a variety of critical issues. Examples of Web-based geospatial tools being used to address societal issues follow.

Posted June 2009

For additional information contact:

EMMMA, LCAT, and the Memphis LUPM
U.S. Geological Survey
Eastern Geographic Science Center
Mail Stop 521, National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192
Phone: (703) 648–6287
phearn@usgs.gov

Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Acrobat® Reader, free of charge.


Suggested citation:

Hearn, P.P., Jr., 2009, Web-based geospatial tools to address hazard mitigation, natural resource management, and other societal issues: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2009–3022, 4 p., available online at https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2009/3022.


Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
[an error occurred while processing this directive] URL: https://pubsdata.usgs.gov
Page Contact Information: Contact USGS
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, November 29 2016, 05:33:14 PM