USGS

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the U.S. government within the Department of the Interior. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, it operates field offices and research staff across the United States. Founded in 1879, its original mandate was to classify public lands and examine geological structure and mineral resources; its scope has since broadened to natural hazards, biology, hydrology, geography, and mapping.

USGS conducts research, monitoring, and data collection to provide information that supports public safety, resource management, and policy decisions at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as for researchers and the public. Core activities include monitoring earthquakes and volcanic activity, studying weather, climate, and water resources, surveying ecosystems and biodiversity, and producing topographic maps and geospatial data.

The agency maintains networks for real-time monitoring and historical data, and hosts data repositories and analytics platforms such as ScienceBase and The National Map. It collaborates with NASA on remote sensing programs like Landsat, and partnerships extend to other federal agencies, academia, and international organizations.

Organization and leadership: USGS is led by a Director and organized into mission areas and centers that cover geology, hydrology, biology, geography, and geographic analysis. Its work is conducted through partnerships and multidisciplinary teams across disciplines and regions.

Impact and role: USGS information informs hazard preparedness, infrastructure planning, natural resource management, and environmental stewardship. It serves as a national scientific resource, providing objective data and analyses while not functioning as a regulatory authority nor managing public lands.