House Approves Additional $10M for Geospatial Mapping to Address Water Quality, Hazard Resilience

Washington, D.C. (June 10, 2019) – The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has approved an additional $10 million above FY19 funding of $37.6 million as part its U.S. Department of Interior Fiscal Year 2020 bill for fundamental mapping work to be managed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These funds, described as an essential underpinning of the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), will support and enhance drinking water protection, hazards resilience, infrastructure design, natural resource management and fundamental research applications.

Of this funding, the Committee allocated $5 million for 3DEP to accelerate the achievement of 100% coverage of the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes have nearly 11,000 miles of coastline and, with associated lakes and tributaries, make up the largest surface freshwater system on Earth. Environmental impacts like urbanization, industrialization, chemical runoff and pollutants have led to contamination of drinking water, algae blooms, oxygen depletion, habitat degradation, colonization of invasive species and a host of other toxic issues. The 3DEP initiative will provide data that will enable scientists to address these critically advancing concerns.

The Committee report emphasized the House's support for the continued collaboration with partners to leverage resources provided for 3DEP to achieve the goal of national coverage by 2026, highlighting the "importance of this mission area to conduct detailed surveys and distribute the resulting high-quality and highly accurate topographic, geologic, hydrographic and biographic maps and remotely sensed data to the public."

The Committee also acknowledged the USGS National Geospatial Program's interest in any technology, systems or partners that can accelerate or meet 3DEP requirements, regardless of the source.

Association Background:

MAPPS – As the nonprofit association of private sector geospatial firms in the United States, MAPPS advocates to Congress for sound geospatial policy and program funding in Washington D.C. MAPPS members provide professional geospatial, surveying and mapping services to practically all Federal agencies, as well as, deliver innovative sensors and technology solutions to the profession.

NSGIC - A nonprofit organization led by state government geospatial information officers and coordinators, the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) promotes the coordinated, impactful, and cost-efficient application of geographic information systems (GIS) and other location-based information and analytics to best serve the nation, with emphasis on the power of initiatives and public policy that connect across local, state, tribal, federal, and private sector partners.

ACEC - The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of the nation's engineering industry. ACEC member firms drive the design of America's infrastructure and built environment. Founded in 1906, ACEC is a national federation of 52 state and regional organizations representing more than 5,600 engineering firms and 600,000+ engineers, surveyors, architects, and other specialists nationwide.

AAG - The American Association of Geographers (AAG), founded in 1904, is a nonprofit scientific and educational society established to advance geographic research, education, and applications. Its overt 12,000 members from more than 60 countries share interests in the theory, methods, and practice of geography, which they cultivate through the AAG's Annual Meeting, four scholarly journals (Annals of the Association of American Geographers, The Professional Geographer, GeoHumanities, and the AAG Review of Books), and extensive research and outreach projects around the world.

About the Management Association of Private Photogrammetric Surveyors: MAPPS is exclusively a private sector organization focused on the needs of the membership by providing a forum for the mutual benefit of its members. It invites the participation of government employees, academicians, and technical papers only that directly support the objectives of MAPPS members. As a business association, MAPPS is dedicated to developing the growth and improving the bottom line profitability of its member firms. MAPPS provides valuable interaction with, but does not duplicate or compete with the technical programs of ACSM, ASPRS, URISA, GITA and other professional organizations. To learn more www.mapps.org