Purpose of the U.S. GeoFramework Initiative

Surface (2D) and subsurface (3D) geologic data are critical for resource management, infrastructure design, hazards characterization, and basic earth science research. To meet these needs in a digital landscape, geologic maps must transition from static publications to machine-readable and discoverable digital databases that enable spatial analyses and queries. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program’s (NCGMP) U.S. GeoFramework Initiative (USGI) responds to the Congressional direction (U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, 2019) to implement the National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB) Phase Three. The USGI aims to create and deliver a new digital geologic framework of the United States by 2030. Constructing the USGI requires the involvement of various partners and stakeholders—most prominently State Geological Surveys.

The USGI will leverage geologic mapping by State Geological Surveys and the USGS to populate a distributed database of geologic map information and to construct a new geologic map and 3D model of the United States, providing geologic syntheses and supporting digital databases to enable 21st century applications of geologic maps. The USGI will encourage multi-disciplinary scientific discovery and informed decision making. The resulting USGI products will contribute flexible and data-driven solutions to a breadth of earth science problems, including drinking water protection, hazard identification (for example, 3D fault mapping), infrastructure design, natural resource management, and climate change resilience (for example, supporting reservoir characterization for geologic carbon sequestration).

Who is building the U.S. GeoFramework?

Federal scientists, State Geological Surveys, and academic institutions will all contribute to building the 2D and 3D GeoFramework (fig. 1). At the Federal level, USGI activities are conducted within two core projects—the National Geologic Map Database Project (NGMDB) and the National Geologic Synthesis (NGS) Project—and numerous supporting projects as needed. State Geological Surveys will contribute to the 2D and 3D activities of the GeoFramework via expanded opportunities within the NCGMP’s STATEMAP Program. Academic Institutions can contribute towards the USGI via the EDMAP Program, which strives to train the next generation of geologic mappers.

How will we accomplish the goals of the U.S. GeoFramework Initiative?

To construct the national geologic map and 3D model, USGI scientists are expanding and updating the NCGMP’s catalog of existing and in progress geologic maps and 3D data, identifying data appropriate for the NGS synthesis, and highlighting areas where new mapping or 3D models are needed for seamless national coverage (fig. 2). NCGMP is soliciting targeted mapping projects where new data are needed, while State Geological Surveys will contribute new mapping and other state-level datasets via the expanded STATEMAP Program. Appropriate state and federal datasets are being assimilated, standardized, and synthesized to begin building national coverage. Existing national map layers are being updated and made available to the public as new, relevant data are produced by the USGS and State Geological Surveys.

What will the U.S. GeoFramework Initiative achieve?

The resulting geologic map and 3D geologic model of the nation constructed by the USGI will support scientific discovery and informed decision-making in critical arenas of human health, safety, infrastructure development, and climate change. The USGI will optimize and highlight the relevance of geologic mapping activities and geologic information through synthesizing digital data to be accessible and analysis-ready for a multitude of stakeholder and end-user groups (for example, scientists, professional geologists, city planners, educators, and engineers). All data collection and management will abide by the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) Guiding Principles and USGS Fundamental Science Practices.