Geography and USGS

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) should take a leadership role in several important areas of geography, according to a new report by the U.S. National Research Council. The report calls for the survey to expand its Geography Discipline beyond the current function of largely producing maps and images. Instead, it should be “an engine for research;” using tools such as GIS and remote sensing to produce spatial data bases and other scientific products that will improve the capacity to solve problems involving society's interactions with “the Earth's surface and near‐surface environments.” To facilitate achieving this goal, the report—titled “Research Opportunities in Geography at the U.S. Geological Survey”—also recommends that USGS geography personnel strengthen their connections to the academic and other useful communities.