Metadata for Geographic Names Information System

These metadata describe the Geographic Names Information System holdings of the USGS for the conterminous United States. This is a data-set level implementation of the Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata.

Table of Contents

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
Spatial_Reference_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Distribution_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

       Citation:
           Citation_Information:
               Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
               Publication_Date: 19810501
               Title: Geographic Names Information System
               Publication_Information:
                  Publication_Place: Reston, VA
                  Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

       Description:
           Abstract:
               An automated inventory of the names and locations of physical
               and cultural geographic features located throughout the United States
           Purpose:
               To promote geographic feature name standardization and to serve
               as the Federal Government's repository of information regarding feature name spellings
               and applications for features in U.S. The names listed in the inventory can be published
               on Federal maps, charts, and in other documents.  The feature locative information has
               been used in emergency preparedness, marketing, site-selection and analysis, genealogical
               and historical research, and transportation routing applications.

       Time_Period_of_Content:
           Time_Period_Information:
               Range_of_Dates/Times:
                  Beginning_Date: Unknown
                  Ending_Date: Present
           Currentness_Reference: ground condition

       Status:
           Progress: In work.
           Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed.

       Spatial_Domain:
           Bounding_Coordinates:
               West_Bounding_Coordinate: -180.00
               East_Bounding_Coordinate: 172.00
               North_Bounding_Coordinate: 72.00
               South_Bounding_Coordinate: -12.00

       Keywords:
           Theme:
               Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None.
               Theme_Keyword: geographic feature
               Theme_Keyword: feature name
               Theme_Keyword: place name
           Place:
               Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None.
               Place_Keyword: United States
               Place_Keyword: Territories
               Place_Keyword: Outlying Areas

       Access_Constraints: None

       Use_Constraints: None

       Point_of_Contact:
           Contact_Information:
               Contact_Person_Primary:
                  Contact_Person: Roger L. Payne
                  Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
               Contact_Position: Chief, Branch of Geographic Names
               Contact_Address:
                  Address_Type: mailing address
                  Address: 523 National Center
                  City: Reston
                  State_or_Province: Virginia
                  Postal_Code: 22092
               Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1 703 648 4544
               Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: rpayne@usgs.gov
               Hours_of_Service: 0730-1700

       Data_Set_Credit:
           The Geographic Names Information System was developed
           by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic
           Names.

       Native_Data_Set_Environment:
           The Geographic Names Information System  was developed in Oracle and
           operates in a client/server environment on a Data General Aviion computer.
           The GNIS database contains approximately 1.5 million records, averaging
           200 bytes in length.

Data_Quality_Information:

       Attribute_Accuracy:
           Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
               A random sample of 10% of the entries in the system were visually
               verified against the compilation source data (large-scale USGS
               topographic maps) to ensure an accuracy rate of at least 95%.

       Logical_Consistency_Report:
           Locative references (geographic coordinates, topographic map, and county)
           are cross-checked for logical consistency.

       Completeness_Report:
           This dataset contains information about physical and cultural geographic
           features identified by a proper name, with the exception of most roads
           and highways.

       Positional_Accuracy:
           Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
               Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
                  Accuracy of these digital data is based upon the use of source
                  graphics which are compiled to meet National Map Accuracy Standards.
                  Comparision to the graphic source is used as control to assess
                  digital positional accuracy.

       Lineage:
           Source_Information:
               Source_Citation:
                  Citation_Information:
                      Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
                      Publication_Date: unknown
                      Title: 1:24,000-scale topographic maps
                      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
                      Publication_Information:
                          Publication_Place: Reston, VA
                          Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
               Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
               Type_of_Source_Media: paper
               Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
                  Time_Period_Information:
                      Range_of_Dates/Times:
                          Beginning_Date: unknown
                          Ending_Date: present
                  Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date
               Source_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS
               Source_Contribution: Feature names and attribute information
           Source_Information:
               Source_Citation:
                  Citation_Information:
                      Originator: U.S. Board on Geographic Names
                      Publication_Date: Unpublished material
                      Title: Records of the U.S. BGN
               Type_of_Source_Media: card files
               Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
                  Time_Period_Information:
                      Range_of_Dates/Times:
                          Beginning_Date: 1932
                          Ending_Date: present
                  Source_Currentness_Reference: creation date
               Source_Citation_Abbreviation: USBGN
               Source_Contribution: Feature names and attribute information
           Source_Information:
               Source_Citation:
                  Citation_Information:
                      Originator: U.S. Forest Service
                      Publication_Date: unknown
                      Title: U.S. Forest Service 1:24,000-scale topographic maps
               Type_of_Source_Media: paper
               Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
                  Time_Period_Information:
                      Range_of_Dates/Times:
                          Beginning_Date: unknown
                          Ending_Date: present
                  Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date
               Source_Citation_Abbreviation: USFS
               Source_Contribution: Feature names and attribute information
           Process_Step:
               Process_Description:
                  GNIS Phase I data compilation and edit--Feature name and attribute
                  data are collected from the largest-scale USGS topographic maps
                  available.  These data are compared to the records of the U.S. Board
                  on Geographic Names.
               Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS , USBGN
               Process_Date: 198105
               Process_Contact:
                  Contact_Information:
                      Contact_Person_Primary:
                          Contact_Person: Roger L. Payne
               Process_Date: not complete
               Process_Contact:
                  Contact_Information:
                      Contact_Person_Primary:
                          Contact_Person: Robin D. Worcester
                          Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
                      Contact_Position: Chief, Geographic Names Information Section
                      Contact_Address:
                          Address_Type: mailing address
                          Address: 523 National Center
                          City: Reston
                          State_or_Province: Virginia
                          Postal_Code: 22092
                      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1 703 648 4551
                      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: rwrocest@usgs.gov
           Process_Step:
               Process_Description:
                  GNIS Maintenance program--Maintenance cooperators feed GNIS
                  new names and corrections discovered in the course of new
                  mapping and revision activities and implementation of the
                  national geographic names standarization program.
               Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USBGN, USGS, USFS
               Process_Date: ongoing
               Process_Contact:
                  Contact_Information:
                      Contact_Person_Primary:
                          Contact_Person: Robin D. Worcester
                          Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
                      Contact_Position: Chief, Geographic Names Information Section
                      Contact_Address:
                          Address_Type: mailing address
                          Address: 523 National Center
                          City: Reston
                          State_or_Province: Virginia
                          Postal_Code: 22092
                      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1 703 648 4551
                      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: rworcest@usgs.gov
                      Hours_of_Service: 0900-1700

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

       Indirect_Spatial_Reference:
           Features are located by State and county, and related to the USGS topographic
           map on which the feature is shown.

       Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: point

       Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
           SDTS_Terms_Description:
               SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: point

Spatial_Reference_Information:

       Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
           Geographic:
               Latitude_Resolution: 1
               Longitude_Resolution: 1
               Geographic_Coordinate_Units: degrees, minutes, and decimal seconds

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

       Overview_Description:
           Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
               The dataset contains records for named geographic features located in the
               United States, its Territories and Outlying Areas.  The records are organized
               by State (or State equivalent).  Each record includes: the official name of
               the feature; the feature type; the county(s) in which the feature is located;
               the name(s) of the USGS 1:24,000-scale topographic map(s) on which the feature
               is shown; geographic coordinates locating the mouth of linear features and the
               approximate center of areal features, and coordinates locating the feature on
               each additional (if any) USGS 1:24,000-scale map on which the feature is shown;
               a bibliographic code referring to the source of information for each record,
               and other names by which the feature may be or may have been known.  Some
               records include information about the history of the feature or the origin
               of the feature name.
           Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
               U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, 1987
               Geographic Names Information System--Data Users Guide 6;
               Reston, Virginia
               Softcopy in hypertext format is available at:
               <URL:http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www/ti/GNIS/gnis_users_guide_toc.html>

               Softcopy in ASCII format is available at:
               <URL:ftp://www-nmd.usgs.gov/pub/ti/GNIS/gnisguide/gnisdug.txt>

               Softcopy in WordPerfect format is available at:
               <URL:ftp://www-nmd.usgs.gov/pub/ti/GNIS/gnisguide/gnisdug.wp5>

               Softcopy in Postscript format is available at:
               <URL:ftp://www-nmd.usgs.gov/pub/ti/GNIS/gnisguide/gnisdug.ps>
  


Distribution_Information:

       Distributor:
           Contact_Information:
               Contact_Organization_Primary:
                  Contact_Organization: Earth Science Information Center, U.S.Geological Survey
               Contact_Address:
                  Address_Type: mailing address
                  Address: 507 National Center
                  City: Reston
                  State_or_Province: Virginia
                  Postal_Code: 22092
               Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1 800 USA MAPS
               Hours_of_Service:
                  In addition to the address above there are  other ESIC offices
                  throughout the country.  A full list of these offices is at:
                  <URL:http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/esic/esic_index.html>

       Resource_Description: Geographic Names Information System

       Distribution_Liability:
           Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the
           U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the USGS
           regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of
           distribution constitute any such warranty. The Geological Survey will warrant the
           delivery of this product in computer-readable format, and will offer appropriate
           adjustment of credit when the product is determined unreadable by correctly adjusted
           computer input peripherals, or when the physical medium is delivered in damaged
           condition.  Requests for adjustment of credit must be made within 90 day from the date
           of this shipment from the ordering site.

       Standard_Order_Process:
           Non-digital_Form:
               A standard abbreviated version of this dataset can be
               obtained in a bound 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper report.  The
               report is in alphabetical order by State and then feature name.
               Customized reports from this dataset can also be obtained.
           Fees: Standard non-digital report--$1,487.00
                 A $3.50 handling charge is applied to all mail orders.

       Standard_Order_Process:
           Digital_Form:
               Digital_Transfer_Information:
                  Format_Name: ASCII
                  File_Decompression_Technique: No compression applied
                  Transfer_Size: 4500
               Digital_Transfer_Option:
                 Online_Option:
                   Computer_Contact_Information:
                     Network_Address:
                       Network_Resource_Name:
                         <URL:http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisftp.html>

                 Online_Option:
                   Computer_Contact_Information:
                     Network_Address:
                       Network_Resource_Name:
                         <URL:ftp://edcftp.cr.usgs.gov/pub/data/gnis/>

                  Offline_Option:
                      Offline_Media: 9-track tape
                      Recording_Capacity:
                          Recording_Density: 1600
                          Recording_Density: 6250
                          Recording_Density_Units: bits per inch
                      Recording_Format:
                          ASCII or EBCDIC character codes with or
                          without standard ANSI or IBM labels.
                  Offline_Option:
                      Offline_Media: CD-ROM
                      Recording_Format: ISO 9660
                      Compatibility_Information:
                          Requires an IBM PC-XT-AT or compatible microcomputer
                          with 512 kilobytes of memory, with DOS operating system version
                          3.0 or greater; one 20 megabyte hard disk drive; and a CD-ROM
                          reader with software drivers that read ISO-9660 formatted CD-ROMs.
                          The CD-ROM contains software for searching, sorting, displaying,
                          printing, and exporting the data.  The software must be installed
                          onto a hard disk before the data can be used. The CD-ROM is
                          accompanied by a users manual entitled the GNIS Digital Gazetteer.
           Fees:
               Standard digital dataset--$482.00.
               The charge is $57 for the CD-ROM
               A $3.50 handling charge is applied to all mail orders.

       Custom_Order_Process:
           Customized orders derived from this dataset can be obtained on a
           cost recovery basis.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

       Metadata_Date: 19950121
       Metadata_Contact:
           Contact_Information:
               Contact_Organization_Primary:
                  Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
               Contact_Address:
                  Address_Type: mailing address
                  Address: 508 National Center
                  City: Reston
                  State_or_Province: Virginia
                  Postal_Code: 22092
               Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1 703 648 4543
       Metadata_Standard_Name: Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
       Metadata_Standard_Version: 19940608