Digital USGS Quads Now Available from The National Map - Beta

When last we heard from USGS (February, at the NSGIC mid-year, APB post), the plan was to use The National Map as the engine to produce digital geoPDF quads. Well, the beta of this workflow is now available. It went up quietly last week. Luckily, Gary Price at Resource Shelf let me know when he found it. The latest news from USGS is from May 8. (Just sayin’; I know the USGS folks work very hard!)

Today, if you visit the Digital Map page of the TMN you’ll learn of this beta. Basic info:

The “Digital Map - Beta” is the first step toward a new generation of digital topographic maps delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey. These maps are built from The National Map data, which are integrated from local, State, Federal, and other sources. The initial version of the “Digital Map – Beta” includes orthoimagery plus roads and geographic names in the traditional 7.5 minute quadrangle format. “Digital Maps - Beta” are available free on the Web in the GeoPDF format. File size is about 15 to 20 Megabytes.

Tools are available free for download. Users can turn data layers on and off, zoom in and out, and print the maps. As the “Digital Map - Beta” evolves, the USGS will add historical versions of the topographic maps and will incorporate other data layers including hydrography and contours. Use of the term “Beta” signifies that these maps are initial versions that do not yet contain the full content of the traditional USGS topographic quadrangle maps.

The USGS values your comments and suggestions about the new “Digital Map - Beta”.

The page also describes how these electronic maps are different from others. Another key resource: A quickstart guide. (pdf)

Here some things I learned testing out the system:

Click for larger image.

- Free download from TerraGo Tech requires registration and is Windows only (regular PDF readers can view the files; they can’t do all the neat tricks…)
- You download the available quads from the USGS store for free
- You use a Google Maps tool to select your area of interest, and if I understand the interface correctly, for now just quads in Arizona are available
- You can either “order” a selected quad or “download” it. I chose download and the 5 Mb file downloaded an opened in Preview on my Mac. If you select order, you will be charged $8 for a paper version.
- USGS requests feedback! Online form.