USGS distributes its physical, chemical, and biological information in databases, maps, scientific and general interest publications, CD-ROMs, and over the Internet. The strength of USGS information, often representing partnerships with other agencies, lies in its breadth, consistency, long-term maintenance, and use of the latest technology to meet the American people's needs.

The U.S. Geological Survey is not only a scientific agency. The USGS is also an information agency, striving to make a real difference in people's lives by providing unbiased scientific observations on conditions ranging from the ocean depths to planetary frontiers. People, industry, and governments need this information to alert them to hazards, to help them restore the environment and intelligently use natural resources, to help them make sound policy decisions, and to improve the Nation's economy.

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Topographic Field Trip of Washington, D.C.

A Topographic Field Trip of Washington, D.C. is a multimedia CD-ROM product developed by the USGS to teach map-reading skills by using topographic maps in a game-like tour of the U.S. capital. Running on either Macintosh or Windows platforms, it uses digital map data to teach middle-school students how to read and interpret spatial information. By providing stimulating and amusing methods to teach abstract concepts such as coordinate systems, scale, and terrain representation, this work addresses the 1994 National Geography Standards. The project was started under a Department of the Interior Human Resources Initiatives grant to develop "Excellence in Education" products.

This CD allows non-traditional USGS audiences to become familiar with topographic maps. It uses geographic information system technology, scanned photographs, recorded and commercially available sound bytes, and digital cartographic data. These multimedia sources relate the topographic maps to real-world features by employing sounds, graphics, text, animation, and interactivity.

Ten thousand of these CDs have already been distributed to educators who are now incorporating them into school geography and earth science lessons. The product continues to generate enthusiasm as more teachers and students discover its potential. As a 10-year-old student at USGS Science camp noted, "This makes geography fun!"

Students see map features like this one of the Lincoln Memorial on the USGS multi-media CD-ROM, A Topographic Field Trip of Washington, D.C.