General Info

Established in 1879, U.S. Geological Survey, also known as USGS, is a multidisciplinary science organization that focuses on the areas of biology, geography, geology and geospatial information. It collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues and problems. The agency is one of the largest water, earth, and biological science and civilian mapping agency throughout the United States. U.S. Geological Survey provides scientific information to describe and understand earth, minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters, and manage water, biological, energy and mineral resources. The agency supports a program for conservation of terrestrial and endangered resources. In addition, it administers a biological informatics program that specifically addresses to natural data and information related to wildlife and environment. U.S. Geological Survey supports several programs for earthquake, landslide and volcano hazards, data preservation and astrogeology. In addition, the agency operates the National Geospatial Program Office, which facilitates the development of key standards and data models. It maintains a location in Portland, Ore.