WASHINGTON, DC—The Geospatial Technology and Applications Center would like to introduce the Forest Service Base Map. The Forest Service Base Map is a seamless coast-to-coast map, covering the contiguous States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Geographic Information System data, templates and maps can be downloaded and used by forest and regions as a foundation for mapping needs. Pre-generated PDF maps covering Forest Service lands, in a variety of scales, can be downloaded by anyone in the Forest Service from the Forest Service Base Map Experience website.

This project serves a diverse audience, from the natural resource manager on forests to fire, LEI and more. The pre-generated maps can be downloaded for print or put on mobile devices. GIS data and templates can be downloaded and used for custom forest or regional based maps. These maps can be used for navigation, plan projects and make decision at all levels in the agency.

The Forest Service Base Map products are developed from agency corporate data, which is data stewarded by the forests and regions in the Natural Resource Management database. It is stored in the USDA data center and served through the Enterprise Data Warehouse. NRM/EDW data include recreation, facilities, roads and trails, and boundaries. Non-agency data is also used in the Forest Service Base Map, including National Hydrographic Data, contours, PAD-US (land ownership) and geographic names. This non-agency data is maintained by GTAC in the Enterprise Data Warehouse with annual and bi-annual updates.

Updates to tools, templates and maps will continue to be posted to the  Base Map Experience, so check back often. Please contact Randy Vreeke, DDC program lead, for any questions or leave a comment in the feedback section on the website.