Speakers Bio & Abstract

Biography
Dr. Michael Tischler is the Director of the National Geospatial Program (NGP) at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The NGP is the component of the USGS responsible for designing, planning, and executing the national topographic mapping program. Dr. Tischler provides management oversight and direction to the NGP including The National Map, the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center, the 3D Elevation Program, the National Hydrography Dataset, the US Topo Map Series, and geospatial data and information in response to natural disasters. Dr. Tischler also serves as the Department of the Interior representative to the Domestic Names Committee of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. Dr. Tischler earned his B.S. in Soil Science from North Dakota State University (2000), his M.S. in Soil and Water Science from the University of Florida (2003), and his Ph.D in Earth Systems and GeoInformation Science at George Mason University. Abstract
U.S. National Geospatial ProgramThe National Geospatial Program (NGP) within the United States Geological Survey provides the digital geospatial foundation in the United States as their National Mapping Organization. The NGP oversees the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), an initiative to accelerate the rate of 3D Elevation Data collection across the Nation. 3DEP began in response to the findings of the National Enhanced Elevation Assessment (NEAA). The NEAA study, commissioned by the NGP, canvassed Federal, State, Local, and Tribal governments to detail more than 600 requirements for enhanced elevation data. The NEAA study not only systematically determined and aggregated the range of societal and industrial benefits from enhanced elevation data, but also quantified a total return on investment of $690 Million annually to the public. In addition, the study evaluated several possible program scenarios with varying resolution and revisit frequencies to determine the scenario providing the most robust return on investment for the largest group of constituents. The approach and findings served as the foundation for the 3DEP program, outlined the most beneficial dataset to collect, and provided an evidence-based study upon which to build an ambitious, highly-visible project. This presentation will discuss the methods and generation of the NEAA study, the current status and challenges of the 3DEP program, and proposed efforts for enhanced hydrography data.