The National Map Corps

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has historically sponsored volunteer data collection projects to enhance its topographic paper and digital map products, but these activities were suspended in 2006 due to budget concerns. Since then, new Internet technologies have made it easy for citizens to georeference and share many different types of data via online mapping platforms and social networking sites. These data have been referred to as volunteered geographic information (VGI). As a result of these developments, the USGS has reinstated the volunteer data-collection program for The National Map (http://nationalmap.gov). Using crowd-sourcing techniques, the USGS VGI project known as "The National Map Corps" encourages citizen volunteers to collect data about manmade structures in an effort to provide accurate and authoritative spatial map data for the USGS National Geospatial Program's web-based The National Map. Citizens collect and/or improve structures data by adding new features, removing obsolete points, and correcting existing data using a web-based mapping platform. Points edited become part of the National Structures Database, and include schools, hospitals, post offices, police stations and other important public buildings. Through their participation, volunteers are able to make significant contributions to the USGS's ability to provide the Nation with accurate mapping information to support response planning for natural hazards and to provide critical data for sustaining and improving the quality of life and economic vitality of the Nation. Volunteer efforts are recognized through a program that awards "virtual" badges based on the number of contributions submitted. Each edit that is submitted is worth one point towards the badge level. The badges consist of a series of antique surveying instruments ranging from the Order of the Surveyor's Chain (25 – 50 points) to the Theodolite Assemblage (2000+ points). Additionally, volunteers are publicly acknowledged (with their consent) via the USGS's Twitter (https://twitter.com/USGSTNM), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/USGeologicalSurvey), and Google+ (http://bit.ly/1kGmBeD) social media sites. Volunteers need nothing but access to a computer and the Internet to participate. The National Map Corps' website explains how volunteers can edit any area, regardless of their familiarity with the selected structures. Registration is simple and requires only an email address and self-selected username to facilitate on-going participation. No other personally identifiable information is collected.

The latest form for The National Map Corps expires 2021-04-30 and can be found here.

Screenshots of the editing instrument

Federal Enterprise Architecture: General Science and Innovation - Scientific and Technological Research and Innovation

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