Science Strategy for Core Science Systems 

in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2013–2023— 

Public Review Release

By R. Sky Bristol, Ned H. Euliss, Jr., Nathaniel L. Booth, Nina Burkardt, 

Jay E. Diffendorfer, Dean B. Gesch, Brian E. McCallum, David M. Miller, 

Suzette A. Morman, Barbara S. Poore, Richard P. Signell, and Roland J. Viger

Open-File Report 2012–1093

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living 

resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS.

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visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

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U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Bristol, R.S., Euliss, N.H., Jr., Booth, N.L., Burkardt, Nina, Diffendorfer, J.E., Gesch, D.B., McCallum, B.E., Miller, D.M., 

Morman, S.A., Poore, B.S., Signell, R.P., and Viger, R.J., 2012, Science strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. 

Geological Survey, 2013–2023: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1093, 29 p.
iii

Foreword

In 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) published a Bureau Science Strategy Facing Tomorrow’s 

Challenges—U.S. Geological Survey Science in the Decade 2007–2017. It provided a view of the future, 

establishing science goals that reflected the USGS’s fundamental mission in areas of societal impact such 

as energy and minerals, climate and land use change, ecosystems, natural hazards, environmental health, 

and water. Intended to inform long-term program planning, the strategy emphasizes how USGS science 

can make substantial contributions to the well-being of the Nation and the world. 

In 2010, I realigned the USGS management and budget structure, changing it from a structure associated 

with scientific disciplines—Geography, Geology, Biology and Hydrology—to an issue-based organization 

along the lines of the Science Strategy. My aim was to align our management structure with our mission, our science priorities, our metrics for success, and our budget. An added benefit was that the USGS 

immediately appeared relevant to more Americans and it became easier for those outside the agency to 

navigate our organizational structure to find where within the USGS they would find the solution to their 

problem. External partners rarely approached us with a problem in “geology,” but they might need help 

with an issue in climate change or energy research. 

The new organization is focused on seven science mission areas:

•	Climate and Land Use Change

•	Core Science Systems

•	Ecosystems

•	Energy and Minerals

•	Environmental Health

•	Natural Hazards

•	Water

The scope of each of these new mission areas is broader than the science directions outlined in the USGS 

Science Strategy and together cover the scope of USGS science activities. 

In 2010, I also commissioned seven Strategic Science Planning Teams (SSPTs) to draft science strategies 

for each USGS mission area. Although the existing Bureau Science Strategy could be a starting point for 

this exercise, the SSPTs had to go well beyond the scope of the existing document. What is of value and 

enduring from the work of the programs that existed under the former science disciplines needed to be 

reframed and reinterpreted under the new organization of the science mission areas. In addition, new 

opportunities for research directions have emerged in the five years since the Bureau Science Strategy 

was drafted, and exciting possibilities for cooperating and collaborating in new ways are enabled by the 

new mission focus of the organization.

Scientists from across the Bureau were selected for these SSPTs for their experience in strategic planning, broad range of experience and expertise, and knowledge of stakeholder needs and relationships. 

Each SSPT was charged with developing a long-term (10-year) science strategy that encompasses the 

portfolio of USGS science in the respective mission area. Each science strategy will reinforce others 

because scientific knowledge inherently has significance to multiple issues. Leadership of the USGS and 

the Department of the Interior will use the science vision and priorities developed in these strategies 

for program guidance, implementation planning, accountability reporting, and resource allocation. These 

strategies will guide science and technology investment and workforce and human capital strategies. 

They will inform our partners regarding opportunities for communication, collaboration, and coordination.

The USGS has taken a significant step toward demonstrating that we are ready to collaborate on the most 

pressing natural science issues of our day and the future. I believe a leadership aligned to support these 

issue-based science directions and equipped with the guidance provided in these new science strategies 

in the capable hands of our scientists will create a new era for USGS of which we can all be proud.

Marcia McNutt 

 Director
iv

Contents

Foreword ........................................................................................................................................................iii

Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................................1

Overview: Science for a Changing World—Evolving a Science Paradigm for the 

21st Century.......................................................................................................................................1

Introducing the Core Science Systems Mission ......................................................................................6

Vision for Core Science Systems ................................................................................................................6

Guiding Concepts.........................................................................................................................................10

Start With Science .............................................................................................................................10

Inherent Integration and Interdependence....................................................................................10

Audience ..............................................................................................................................................10

Workforce Evolution...........................................................................................................................10

Cultural Evolution................................................................................................................................10

Interdisciplinary Science ..................................................................................................................11

Goals, Objectives, and Actions..................................................................................................................11

Goal 1: Provide Research to Characterize, Understand, and Map the Critical Zone ..............12

Objective 1.1: Improve Characterization and Understanding of Geologic 

Framework To Inform Studies of the Earth’s Complex Processes .......................13

Strategic Actions ..............................................................................................................13

Objective 1.2: Improve Land Surface Data To Better Characterize and 

Understand Relationships Between Anthropogenic Influence and 

Natural Earth Surface Processes..............................................................................13

Strategic Actions ..............................................................................................................13

Objective 1.3: Increase Understanding of the Natural and Socio-Cultural 

Implications of Biological Diversity...........................................................................15

Strategic Actions ..............................................................................................................15

Goal 2: Expand Applications of USGS Research Through Scientific Services ........................16

Objective 2.1: Modernize Information Management and Publication ..............................18

Strategic Actions ..............................................................................................................19

Objective 2.2: Research and Develop Technological Services That Support

 Advanced Research, Data Analysis, Visualization, and Information 

Processing.....................................................................................................................19

Strategic Actions ..............................................................................................................19

Objective 2.3: Design and Implement a Robust Suite of Professional Services 

To Aid in Implementation and Use of the Modular Science Framework ............20

Strategic Actions ..............................................................................................................21

Goal 3: Conduct Scientific Analysis and Synthesis To Improve Coverage, Scientific 

Quality, Usability, and Timeliness of Information .............................................................22

Objective 3.1: Accelerate Use of Data-Driven Science for New Synthesis 

Products and To Identify New Hypotheses of the Earth System..........................24

Strategic Actions ..............................................................................................................24

Objective 3.2: Develop a Workplace Model for Interdisciplinary Science ......................26

Strategic Actions ..............................................................................................................26
v

Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................................27

Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................................27

References....................................................................................................................................................27

Figures

1. Map showing biomass density—a proxy measure of the amount of organic 

carbon—stored in the woody components of trees...............................................................3

2. Map showing areas in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument determined, 

through a “fuzzy system” model, to predict favorable environments for the 

growth of Coccidioides immitis ..................................................................................................4

3. Photographs showing the Rio Grande near Bosque del Apache National 

Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.....................................................................................................5

4. Diagram illustrating the Critical Zone........................................................................................7

5. Illustration of the Core Science Systems vision for a Modular Science 

Framework is illustrated as distinct and integrated modules stacked in their 

natural order based on a vertical slice of an ecosystem.......................................................8

6. Conceptual model for how the Modular Science Framework envisioned for 

the Core Science Systems mission is developed through core sciences and 

informatics research and development..................................................................................11

Highlights

What is the Distribution of Forest Biomass Across the Nation? ...........................................................3

Where Does Valley Fever Pose Serious Disease Threats to Humans?................................................4

Why is an Invasive Species Successful in Taking Over Native Habitat? .............................................5

Core Sciences ................................................................................................................................................6

Modules Defined............................................................................................................................................7

Digital Earth.....................................................................................................................................................8

Geologic Maps Used To Delineate Ecosystems and Critical Habitat..................................................12

The National Enhanced Elevation Assessment (NEEA) ........................................................................14

Biodiversity Serving Our Nation................................................................................................................15

Services Defined..........................................................................................................................................16

ScienceBase.................................................................................................................................................17

Research and Decisionmaking Scenario ................................................................................................18

National Groundwater Monitoring Network ...........................................................................................20

USA National Phenology Network............................................................................................................21

Flood Inundation Mapping..........................................................................................................................22

Cascadia Subduction Zone: Insights into Active Faults Above the Cascadia Subduction 

Zone from Integrated Study..........................................................................................................23

Cottonwood Lake Study Area (CLSA).......................................................................................................24

Synthesis Scenarios....................................................................................................................................25

Synthesis Centers........................................................................................................................................26

Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the 

U.S. Geological Survey, 2013–2023

By R. Sky Bristol, Ned H. Euliss, Jr., Nathaniel L. Booth, Nina Burkardt, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Dean B. Gesch, 

Brian E. McCallum, David M. Miller, Suzette A. Morman, Barbara S. Poore, Richard P. Signell, 

and Roland J. Viger 

Executive Summary

Core Science Systems is a new mission of the U.S. 

Geological Survey (USGS) that grew out of the 2007 Science 

Strategy, “Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges: U.S. Geological Survey Science in the Decade 2007-2017.” This report 

describes the vision for this USGS mission and outlines a 

strategy for Core Science Systems to facilitate integrated characterization and understanding of the complex earth system. 

The vision and suggested actions are bold and far-reaching, 

describing a conceptual model and framework to enhance the 

ability of USGS to bring its core strengths to bear on pressing societal problems through data integration and scientific 

synthesis across the breadth of science.

The context of this report is inspired by a direction set 

forth in the 2007 Science Strategy. Specifically, ecosystembased approaches provide the underpinnings for essentially 

all science themes that define the USGS. Every point on earth 

falls within a specific ecosystem where data, other information 

assets, and the expertise of USGS and its many partners can 

be employed to quantitatively understand how that ecosystem 

functions and how it responds to natural and anthropogenic 

disturbances. Every benefit society obtains from the planet—

food, water, raw materials to build infrastructure, homes and 

automobiles, fuel to heat homes and cities, and many others, 

are derived from or effect ecosystems.

The vision for Core Science Systems builds on core 

strengths of the USGS in characterizing and understanding complex earth and biological systems through research, 

modeling, mapping, and the production of high quality data 

on the nation’s natural resource infrastructure. Together, these 

research activities provide a foundation for ecosystem-based 

approaches through geologic mapping, topographic mapping, 

and biodiversity mapping. The vision describes a framework 

founded on these core mapping strengths that makes it easier 

for USGS scientists to discover critical information, share 

and publish results, and identify potential collaborations that 

transcend all USGS missions. The framework is designed to 

improve the efficiency of scientific work within USGS by 

establishing a means to preserve and recall data for future 

applications, organizing existing scientific knowledge and data 

to facilitate new use of older information, and establishing a 

future workflow that naturally integrates new data, applications, and other science products to make it easier and more 

efficient to conduct interdisciplinary research over time. Given 

the increasing need for integrated data and interdisciplinary 

approaches to solve modern problems, leadership by the Core 

Science Systems mission will facilitate problem solving by all 

USGS missions in ways not formerly possible.

The report lays out a strategy to achieve this vision 

through three goals with accompanying objectives and actions. 

The first goal builds on and enhances the strengths of the Core 

Science Systems mission in characterizing and understanding 

the earth system from the geologic framework to the topographic characteristics of the land surface and biodiversity 

across the nation. The second goal enhances and develops 

new strengths in computer and information science to make 

it easier for USGS scientists to discover data and models, 

share and publish results, and discover connections between 

scientific information and knowledge. The third goal brings 

additional focus to research and development methods to 

address complex issues affecting society that require integration of knowledge and new methods for synthesizing scientific 

information. Collectively, the report lays out a strategy to 

create a seamless connection between all USGS activities to 

accelerate and make USGS science more efficient by fully 

integrating disciplinary expertise within a new and evolving 

science paradigm for a changing world in the 21st century.

Overview: Science for a Changing 

World—Evolving a Science Paradigm 

for the 21st Century

Many problems affecting the nation and the increasingly interconnected world are consequences of anthropogenic change. Humanity’s growing planetary footprint is 

having unintended but negative effects on basic earth system 
2 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

processes. These changes cross-cut many human interests and 

scientific disciplines, threaten human welfare, and sustainability of the planet. The relation between humans and the 

earth has changed markedly over evolutionary history, from 

being minor components of ecosystems to being major drivers 

of ecosystems and change on a global scale. The geologist 

A.P. Pavlov (1854–1929) was perhaps the first to recognize 

the magnitude of human influence on global ecosystems, 

referencing his contemporary time as the “anthropogenic era” 

(Vernadsky, 2005); many years later, the “Anthropocene” has 

been proposed as a new geologic epoch (Zalasiewicz, 2008). 

During this period of human influence, the USGS and others 

have documented that climate change is intertwined in such a 

way that the complexity of most modern problems is without 

historical precedent. For the USGS to be successful in solving 

the problems affecting the nation, it is essential that two core 

science needs come together, which include characterizing 

and understanding complex earth system processes fundamental to all science disciplines and integration across scientific 

disciplines to generate new interdisciplinary knowledge and 

approaches to solve modern problems.

This document describes a decadal vision for Core 

Science Systems, a mission of the USGS to collaboratively 

pursue the evolving paradigm for how greater quantity and 

complexity of scientific information can be linked to a deeper 

understanding of component earth system processes to answer 

some of the most difficult challenges facing the nation. The 

report begins with three examples to illustrate the unique 

strengths the USGS can bring to science in the 21st century. 

Specifically, the examples describe modern data-intensive 

techniques used to integrate large and disparate data sets 

to produce new interdisciplinary synthesis products and an 

interdisciplinary approach to developing the process-based 

understanding needed to solve complex problems. The stories 

illustrate the connected nature of the USGS science missions 

and the role Core Science Systems fulfills in providing critical 

characterization and understanding of complex earth systems.

In these examples, situations are highlighted that required 

the expertise of USGS and partners to illustrate the value 

and relevancy of interdisciplinary and often interagency 

approaches to solve problems. Each story illustrates unique 

challenges that science in the 21st century must address to be 

successful—specifically “what” is happening on the planet, 

“where” is it happening, and “why” is it happening. All three 

types of questions are needed to properly frame modern 

problems and identify effective solutions. The remainder of 

the report describes a framework for Core Science Systems 

that will accelerate the identification and understanding of 

“the what, where and why” questions at increasing scale and 

complexity.
Overview: Science for a Changing World—Evolving a Science Paradigm for the 21st Century 3

What is the Distribution of Forest Biomass Across the Nation?

Josef Kellndorfer and Wayne Walker, two researchers 

at the Woods Hole Research Center, created the National 

Biomass and Carbon Dataset. The dataset was used to build 

a 30-meter resolution map of the forest structure and carbon 

storage for the continental US, the highest resolution ever 

assembled for any country (fig. 1). This product provided 

the ability to understand forests down to the scale at which 

parking lots, developments, and deforested regions are 

visible—resource managers have critical information to 

begin asking questions about why certain phenomena are 

being observed and how better management scenarios can 

be pursued. With this baseline data, the nation can monitor 

and predict how important carbon resources will respond to 

changes induced by humans and climate.

To generate the National Biomass and Carbon Dataset, 

the researchers took advantage of what most scientists considered noise in the data. They used the difference between 

the NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital 

terrain model and the USGS National Elevation Dataset 

to estimate forest canopy height. The resulting data were 

then merged with the USGS National Land Cover Dataset 

to create a model for forest biomass that was calibrated 

and groundtruthed using information provided by the U.S. 

Forest Service. Their scientific creativity, combined with 

access to and understanding of datasets from multiple agencies, allowed them to create an entirely new synthesized 

data asset. Their work created a tool for understanding the 

role that trees play in the global carbon cycle, and a visual 

product that raises questions about occurrences of forest distribution patterns and how they may change in the 

future.

The next major scientific breakthrough and its source 

are as yet unknown, but fostering these breakthroughs can 

rapidly advance scientific understanding in the 21st century 

and beyond. The Core Science Systems mission is focused 

on activities that facilitate this type of synthesis, from 

development of authoritative data, to providing services 

that make data accessible, interoperable and usable, to 

fostering development of new synthesis products demanded 

by Science for a Changing World.

Figure 1. The map depicts the biomass density—a proxy measure of the amount of organic carbon—stored in the woody 

components of trees. The darkest green and red colors show areas with the largest biomass and carbon values. The map was 

built from the National Biomass and Carbon Dataset (J. Kellndorfer, written commun., March 15, 2012).
4 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

Coccidioides habitat modeling

Data used in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument analysis

• Geology

• Elevation [30-meter digital 

elevation model (DEM)]

• Slope/aspect

• Thematic Mapper clay map

• Thematic Mapper biological 

soil crust map

• Soil texture

• Soil salinity

• Soil water holding capacity

• Digital othophoto quarter 

quandrangle (DOQQ) vegetation density

• AVIRIS clay mineralogy

• AVIRIS borate mineralogy

Figure 2. This map shows areas in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (outlined in blue boxes) determined, through a 

“fuzzy system” model by USGS scientist Mark Bultman, to predict favorable environments for the growth of Coccidioides immitis

(Bultman, 2008). Model input included geology, elevation, slope, salinity, vegetation density through Digital Orthoimagery Quarter 

Quadrangles (DOQQ), and clay and borate mineralogy through the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) sensor. 

The red line shows the property boundary for Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

Where Does Valley Fever Pose Serious Disease Threats to Humans?

Public health officials are concerned about the increasing rates of Coccidioidomycosis or Valley Fever, a fungal 

disease that infects more than 100,000 people and animals 

annually in the southwestern United States. One of several 

emerging or reemerging zoonotic or vector borne diseases 

of concern, coccidioidomycosis is a systemic infection 

caused by the inhalation of the airborne fungal spores of 

Coccidioides immitis. In most cases of acute Coccidioidomycosis, the body’s own immune system, if it is not 

impaired, is sufficient for recovery. However, about 10 

percent of cases are severe enough to require hospitalization and may progress to chronic or disseminated Coccidioidomycosis and sometimes death. In the past decade 

several states have seen increased rates of Coccidioidomycosis. In California, for example, reported cases have more 

than doubled (from 1483 in 2001 to 4508 in 2010; Bultman, 2008). As the organism is found only in the dry desert 

soil of the United States, Mexico, and Central and South 

America, defining factors such as soil type, temperature and 

salinity that encourage its growth could aid researchers in 

identifying areas of risk. 

Developing new map products that identify where 

humans are at greatest risk has far reaching public health 

implications. Mark Bultman, a USGS researcher, teamed 

with university and other USGS researchers to identify the 

factors that affect the growth of the fungus to determine 

if sufficient information was available to model favorable 

habitat for Coccidioides immitis. Mark was able to locate 

the data resources he needed for his model from the USGS 

and other federal agencies. He used many sources of spatial 

data, including USGS map products (Geologic Maps, 

National Elevation Dataset), soils from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and mineralogy information from 

NASA’s Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer 

(AVIRIS) satellite. The resultant maps show an entirely 

new and innovative way for USGS to inform public health 

decisions by identifying where soils and other conditions 

interact to create ideal conditions for propagation of the 

disease organism (fig. 2). As rate increases have been 

associated with environmental factors such as climate, and 

earthquake triggered landslides (Jibson, 2002), maps such 

as Mark’s could be correlated with other USGS products 

such as those produced by the Earthquakes Hazards Program. The USGS is positioned to leverage its existing data 

to enable public health officials to elucidate critical environmental factors such as habitat and natural dissemination 

processes (landslides) that contribute to emerging zoonotic 

and vector borne diseases. This is a high priority for the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2011) 

as they partner with public health communities to modernize disease surveillance for emerging zoonotic and vector 

borne diseases such as Coccidioidomycosis.
Overview: Science for a Changing World—Evolving a Science Paradigm for the 21st Century 5

Figure 3. The Rio Grande near Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. Photograph on left shows typical 

dense invasive salt cedar, while photograph on right shows native cottonwood/willow habitat (photographs by Joydeep 

Bhattacharjee).

Why is an Invasive Species Successful in Taking Over Native Habitat?

Land managers are often faced with objectives that are 

especially difficult to achieve and are often met with limited or poor success. Salt cedar (Tamarix ramosissima) is an 

invasive species that often replaces native vegetation along 

southwestern rivers and riparian areas (fig. 3). The plant 

has reduced the value of vast expanses of arid riparian areas 

valuable for extensive provisioning of ecosystem services 

such as wildlife habitat, including public lands managed by 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Traditional 

methods of controlling salt cedar, such as removing vegetation with heavy equipment followed with herbicide application, did not provide lasting results because salt cedar often 

reinvaded areas and it was extremely expensive.

In the early 1990s, John Taylor, a USFWS Biologist 

at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge teamed 

with university researchers David Wester and Loren Smith 

to identify a more effective solution (Taylor and others, 

1999). Using their knowledge of local river dynamics, the 

team hypothesized that upstream dams had interrupted 

spring flooding and overbanking events that were a common process before the river was impounded. Working with 

the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers, an experiment was conducted to raise the 

river flow during a time of year when the desired vegetation, native willows and cottonwoods, were most likely to 

be established. The team and other partners demonstrated 

how hydrological processes could be manipulated to promote the life history of desired vegetation and sustain the 

desired ecosystem (Taylor and others, 1999). The USGS 

provided water flow gauging information and hydrographs 

to ensure that adequate water was delivered to the ecological target without damaging human infrastructure.

Following this experiment, the practice of simulating 

the hydrological environmental stimulus and thus giving 

the desired native plant community a competitive advantage over the invasive salt cedar has developed in other 

areas. This direct application illustrates the importance of 

how modern data can be evaluated in new ways spanning 

many scientific disciplines to gain an understanding of why 

salt cedar became invasive and how management practices applied to ecosystem processes could achieve desired 

outcomes. The solution to controlling salt cedar using a 

process-based ecosystem approach is a good example of 

how integrated scientific measurements can help to address 

the cause of the issue, answering the question of why is 

something happening in this location, instead of merely 

identifying the issue. Other issues affecting society are 

far more complex and will require greater integration of 

knowledge and new methods of synthesizing information.
6 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

Introducing the Core Science Systems 

Mission

As discussed in the foreword, the USGS report, “Facing 

Tomorrow’s Challenges—U.S. Geological Survey Science 

in the Decade 2007–2017,” hereafter referred to as Science 

Strategy, helped to focus the organization toward a coherent approach to addressing major societal issues and resulted 

in creation of seven science missions. The USGS collects, 

monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding of 

natural resource conditions, issues, and problems. For more 

than a century, the diversity of scientific expertise in USGS 

science programs has enabled the Bureau to carry out largescale, multi-disciplinary investigations and provide impartial 

scientific information to resource managers, planners, policymakers, and the public. As part of the Nation’s largest water, 

earth, and biological science and civilian mapping agency, the 

Core Science Systems mission provides science to understand 

the earth’s geologic framework and to characterize the nation’s 

land surface and biodiversity. The Core Science Systems 

mission conducts core sciences (see highlight “Core Sciences”) across a broad range of fields from structural geology, 

geomorphology, and geophysics to geography and remote 

sensing, evolutionary biology and biogeography, supported 

by computer and information science. The Core Science 

Systems mission focus on delivering and interpreting high 

resolution, comprehensive maps and other forms of data and 

information for scientists, resource managers, and the public 

brings together not only research scientists but specialists in 

data analytics, software engineering, library science, and data 

management. Through its research and development programs, 

Core Science Systems provides scientific data, information, 

and knowledge that function as an underpinning for all USGS 

contributions to a broad base of scientific knowledge serving 

the world.

One of the critical functions of the USGS is to provide unbiased scientific expertise and information to help 

address the nation’s complex challenges in managing natural 

resources, preparing for and responding to natural hazards, and 

maintaining and enhance quality of life. As the nation’s earth 

and natural science agency, the USGS provides accurate and 

timely scientific information and knowledge based on a characterization of the earth system from the underlying geologic 

structure to complete ecological systems, both natural and 

anthropogenic. The Critical Zone concept, introduced by the 

National Research Council in 2001, is useful for visualizing 

and discussing the USGS area of interest encompassing the 

earth system with which humans directly interact and is used 

to discuss the Core Science Systems mission (fig. 4).

The USGS motto, “Science for a Changing World,” 

describes society’s interactions with a complex earth system, 

which necessitates a swift pace of scientific and technological 

discovery. The Science Strategy suggested a vision for a new 

mission in data integration and new methods of investigation 

and discovery. The core sciences associated with geologic 

mapping, topographic mapping, and biological analytics were 

brought together to advance the USGS motto and form the 

Core Science Systems mission. The mission organization 

includes geologic, geographic, and biologic science along with 

research capabilities in informatics, the combination of computer and information science needed to enable data intensive 

research in an era of increasingly large and complex information systems. The Core Science Systems mission also includes 

data and information management and archiving capabilities 

of the USGS Library and a data preservation capacity charged 

with ensuring long-term access to the nation’s treasure of 

physical geoscience sample collections.

The complexity of processes sustaining ecosystems 

and the need to answer critical questions of immediate and 

future societal import, demands a framework where scientific 

research, regardless of disciplinary focus, can be organized to 

characterize, understand, and synthesize knowledge of physical and biological processes. The remainder of this document 

lays out a vision and identifies strategic actions for Core Science Systems to accelerate a global movement to create and 

sustain this framework.

Vision for Core Science Systems

This report describes a new and bold vision for the 

Core Science Systems mission to construct a framework 

that enables the seamless integration across all USGS missions to more effectively tackle 21st century problems. This 

framework will allow diverse science knowledge, products, 

and capabilities (for instance protocols, data assets, scenarios, 

methods, publications, projects, and scientists) to be organized into logical, fluid, and integratable modules (refer to 

“Modules Defined” highlight). The framework envisioned 

will accommodate the complete spectrum of USGS scientific 

assets to enable quick and efficient deployment of scientific 

resources and focus on specific complex problems facing the 

nation in the next decade and beyond. While the framework 

The Core Science Systems mission is founded on 

basic and applied research into the earth’s complex 

geologic structure, a comprehensive and high resolution characterization of the nation’s land surface, and 

analytical methods of understanding and characterizing biological habitats and biodiversity. These three 

core sciences, referred to in this manner throughout 

the strategy, span the Critical Zone (fig. 4) and provide context for nearly all other earth system science 

conducted by the USGS and many partners around the 

world.

Core Sciences
Vision for Core Science Systems 7

is inherently a vision of Core Science Systems, it is designed 

to serve the broad needs of the bureau and our partners 

in the larger scientific and natural resource management 

communities.

The Critical Zone represents a seamless collection of 

ecosystems that sustain life on the planet, and defines the area 

where humans interact with and often conflict with ecosystem 

functions. The Critical Zone recognizes that ecosystems are 

the result of and are sustained by unique spatial characteristics 

and temporal processes at specific geographic locales. Using 

Bailey’s conceptual model (Bailey, 1996) as a guide, figure 5 

illustrates how the features of ecosystems could be characterized as specific modules that both correspond to how much 

of the earth systems science research is organized, but also 

account for unique site-specific features that drive functions 

of ecosystems through time. The modules include a great 

diversity of science and scientific assets, ranging from data 

to protocols. Moreover, the stack of modules groups unique 

ecosystem features, mimic how they occur and function in the 

Critical Zone. In this view, there is no single module that is 

more important than another because all are essential features 

that drive ecosystem functions sustaining the Critical Zone. 

The modules construct thus recognizes and respects the valuable disciplinary work conducted by scientists, utilizing their 

expertise and stresses that interdisciplinary collaborative studies are required to understand the entire system. Collectively, 

the complete set of modules represents a Modular Science 

Framework, where each module and the scientific work it represents are essential system components that contribute to the 

The Modular Science Framework described for the Core 

Science Systems vision is a framework consisting of 

distinct units, called modules in this report, where like 

protocols, data assets, scenarios, methods, publications, projects, and even scientists can be organized to 

facilitate interdisciplinary Science for a Changing World. 

The “Modular” term is used because of its many meanings in science and mathematics. In general, modularity 

is the degree to which a system’s components may be 

separated and recombined. In biology, this may refer to 

linking organisms or metabolic pathways; in ecology, it 

refers to diversity and feedback among ecosystem drivers 

responsible for resilience and sustainability; in cognitive 

science, it refers to the idea that the mind is composed of 

independent, closed, domain-specific processing modules that are linked to form complex thought; in architecture, it refers objects that can be joined together to form 

larger objects; and in computer science, it refers to individual self-contained electronic components that can be 

linked to form a larger system. Modular Science Framework, as used in this report, has meaning in each of these 

areas plus the many specialized scientific disciplines the 

USGS represents and may often need to link together 

as part of a larger system to better understand complex 

modern problems and develop effective solutions.

Modules Defined

Figure 4. The Critical Zone

is the seamless collection of 

all ecosystems that sustain 

life on the planet and it is the 

area where humans interact 

with and often compromise 

ecosystem functions. The 

figure depicts the key 

elements of the Core Science 

Systems mission.
8 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

Figure 5. The Core 

Science Systems vision 

for a Modular Science 

Framework is illustrated 

as distinct and integrated 

modules stacked in their 

natural order based on 

a vertical slice of an 

ecosystem (Bailey, 1996). 

The Framework organizes 

data, scientific and 

technological methods, 

models into relevant 

temporal and spatial scales 

(Euliss and others, 2004) 

to facilitate increased 

scientific understanding 

and decision support within 

the Critical Zone.

development of lasting solutions to societal challenges. More 

importantly, organizing scientific assets within the Modular 

Science Framework will make it easier for USGS scientists 

to discover data and models, share and publish results, and 

discover new interdisciplinary connections and research 

opportunities.

Every scientific discipline and activity of the USGS can 

be fit into one or more modules. Research conducted within 

the distinct and fluid modules is often single disciplinary 

and highly focused to produce base data, information, and 

knowledge of site-specific features, such as soil development 

and chemical and hydrologic characteristics, and temporal 

processes sustaining specific ecosystems, such as natural 

drought and deluge cycles. The Modular Science Framework 

provides a context whereby the USGS can contribute to the 

Digital Earth, a vision being pursued by the global scientific 

community (refer to “Digital Earth” highlight). While the 

organization of the modules is just as they occur in the Critical 

Zone, the Modular Science Framework provides a means to 

define where current programs exist and where they need to be 

developed in the future to maintain USGS science relevancy. 

The Modular Science Framework thus provides a construct 

for developing integrated and interdisciplinary approaches to 

study, visualize, and evaluate ecosystem function and sustainability in a changing world while recognizing valuable 

disciplinary science and how it contributes to a more holistic 

understanding of the Critical Zone.

The stack of modules in figure 5 is simplified to illustrate how scientific knowledge and synthesis expressed 

and delivered as analyzable products can be arranged to 

Digital Earth is a concept that has been pursued by the 

global science community since 1998 (Gore, 1998). It 

began as a vision to develop a virtual representation 

of the Earth where georeferenced locations would be 

collaboratively linked with digital knowledge archives 

from around the globe to help understand the entire 

Earth system and the influence of human activities. This 

report uses the term digital knowledge to refer collectively to digital forms of data, information, and knowledge 

developed through scientific research. While there is 

much work to do, many aspects of this vision have been 

realized with Google Earth and growing sources of linked 

geospatial data applications serving as prime examples. 

However, the original vision describing a truly global system where collaborative linking of scientific and cultural 

information systems provide three-dimensional virtual 

views of the globe to improve understanding of the Earth 

and human social influences has not been accomplished. 

The Modular Science Framework described in this report 

provides the requisite framework for the USGS to organize it’s scientific assets to better understand the complex 

processes affecting the Earth system while providing 

leadership within the scientific community to help achieve 

the larger vision of Digital Earth.

Digital Earth
Vision for Core Science Systems 9

examine and understand the complex relationships within 

a given ecosystem across spatial and temporal dimensions. 

The disciplinary modules can be examined individually or 

may be collaboratively linked to understand complex functions of natural and impaired ecosystems, asking the types of 

“why is what has been observed happening here” questions 

described in the story of salt cedar controls in the Rio Grande 

Bosque discussed in the Overview section. Sufficient scientific understanding across the modules can lead to the creation 

of synthesis products that facilitate new understanding and 

support resource management uses, hazards preparedness and 

mitigation, policy making, and many other purposes. Figure 5 

represents several example synthesis products, including 

Biotic Interactions (Hanson and others, 2005), Geochemical 

Landscapes (Smith and others, 2009), Hydrologic Landscapes 

(Winter, 2001), Gap Analysis (Edwards and others, 1993), 

and two national scale products—the National Map and the 

National Geologic Map. By consistently and systematically 

looking across the breadth of USGS digital knowledge and 

working to bring focus within the Modular Science Framework, the USGS can capitalize on new syntheses of its core 

assets to innovate understanding. 

The Modular Science Framework described here provides 

a useful way for the USGS to pursue, contribute to, and integrate analyses that explore and characterize the whole earth 

system. Moreover, it provides a means for scientists to identify 

new areas of fruitful work by examining within and across 

the modules for gaps in critical understanding. For instance, 

targeted social science research is needed to model social, 

economic, and institutional variables to provide insights into 

the dynamics of social-ecological systems (Berkes and Folke, 

1998; Holling, 2001). The Modular Science Framework provides a tool to identify important gaps in knowledge needed 

to solve current problems through cataloging existing digital 

knowledge from both the USGS and partners around the world 

and systematically exploring the possibility of new synthesis 

products.

Using the Modular Science Framework as a conceptual 

structure to organize data assets and other products of scientific research provides a unique opportunity and the requisite 

structure to facilitate exploration and development of new 

analysis and synthesis methods in data intensive science. 

The story about the National Biomass and Carbon Dataset 

highlighted in the Overview section illustrates how science 

benefits from new techniques and capabilities. It also represents how the USGS can help rapidly advance evolution of 

the Digital Earth through development of the Modular Science 

Framework and application to core mission responsibilities 

of the USGS. To generate the National Biomass and Carbon 

Dataset, several billion digital biodiversity records were used 

(J. Kellndorfer, personal commun., March 15, 2012), which 

greatly exceeds the computing capacity of many contemporary 

investigations. Other potential uses of the envisioned Modular Science Framework would include digital data assets that 

may be many orders of magnitude larger than in the National 

Biomass and Carbon Dataset story. While digital approaches 

do not replace traditional methods in scientific discovery, they 

can complement, inform, and improve them (Kell and Oliver, 

2004).

The massive quantity of data that has been and will 

continue to be collected is enabling a paradigmatic shift to 

new kinds of science (Hey and others, 2009), but it is also 

creating a problem because data are often located in disparate 

and disconnected locations, in incompatible formats, and with 

incomplete information needed to make them seamless and 

interoperable. To answer more complex questions, the Modular Science Framework must be continually examined and 

augmented with finer spatial scale, increased temporal context, 

and greater detail in attribution, measurements, and simulation. This growing quantity and complexity of data, sometimes 

referred to as Big Data (White, 2010), results in data larger 

than can be reasonably handled by smaller data management 

systems and techniques. The Core Science Systems mission 

provides leadership in USGS use of and contributions to this 

new paradigm in scientific process and discovery. Data intensive science is becoming common and it will become larger 

and more important in scientific investigation in the future. 

Participation and leadership in this field, within the USGS and 

the larger scientific community, can greatly advance knowledge of the Critical Zone and inform decisions affecting the 

planet’s sustainability. An evolving cyberinfrastructure across 

science agencies, academic institutions, and commercial 

industries is available to advance and evolve the new scientific 

paradigm and develop new opportunities for collaboration, 

communication and translation of complex phenomena affecting ecosystems.

The pursuit of Digital Earth will benefit from the Modular Science Framework because it is inherently interdisciplinary, interorganizational, and international. The USGS is part 

of a much larger international scientific community working 

toward systems that will allow earth science digital knowledge to be rapidly assembled from sources across disciplines 

and from around the world. The USGS is in a unique position 

to make significant contributions to realize the Digital Earth 

vision by providing critical scientific understanding and data, 

developing essential services, and creating new scientific 

synthesis applications and products. The USGS will provide 

leadership and scientific content to the rapidly developing 

comprehensive virtual environment being created by scientists 

across the world that supports earth sciences during the next 

decade and beyond.

A Digital Earth concept connected with a Modular Science Framework will enable scientists and decisionmakers 

to better understand, communicate, assemble, and integrate 

disparate research, knowledge, data assets, and technology. 

An established Modular Science Framework will provide a 

centralized, easily accessible platform, allowing sharing and 

advancing of scientific information. With a robust Modular 

Science Framework, the National Biomass and Carbon Dataset 

could be developed in 6 months, instead of 6 years, and automatically updated as new satellite imagery becomes available. 

Furthermore, rapidly accessible knowledge will allow why 
10 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

questions, or finding effective solutions to problems, such as 

water management for salt cedar control, to be rapidly discovered and used by decisionmakers in other arenas.

Guiding Concepts

While formulating the Core Science Systems strategy, a 

number of essential concepts emerged as part of the vision to 

help guide the development of goals, objectives, and actions. 

These concepts were discussed regularly in listening sessions 

and meetings with USGS scientists and other stakeholders. The concepts are provided here as an important guide 

to understand the drivers behind the goals, objectives, and 

actions based on their recurrence throughout the document.

Start With Science

“Start with Science” is an emerging USGS theme that 

developed during the course of the science strategy planning process. The significance to Core Science Systems in 

particular is twofold: 1) the foundation for the Core Science 

Systems Mission Area is the scientific research conducted by 

its programs and projects, and 2) the services provided by the 

Core Science Systems Mission Area to the USGS as a whole 

need to be conducted as part of a scientific program, using 

the scientific method to develop and improve services and 

capabilities. The stack of modules in the Modular Science 

Framework represent the science conducted within various 

USGS disciplines and focus areas, and the Framework provides a set of methods whereby the science represented by the 

modules can be integrated and synthesized toward answering 

difficult and increasingly complex earth system science questions. The Modular Science Framework represents a scientific 

pursuit, founded in research programs needed to characterize, 

understand, and synthesize the earth’s complex structure and 

function and to conduct necessary research and development 

in informatics and cyberinfrastructure required by the Framework itself.

Inherent Integration and Interdependence

This report provides goals, objectives, and actions for 

improving core components of the overall USGS mission as 

described in the 2007 Science Strategy. Like all missions of 

the USGS, Core Science Systems crosses organizational unit 

boundaries through necessary interdependence and a need 

for tight integration across programs and projects. The Core 

Science Systems mission is ultimately a USGS-wide responsibility and not fully within the domain of any one program or 

organizational unit. This strategy also makes no presumptions 

about implementation strategies and other details from organizational units outside the USGS but it is written to facilitate 

and encourage broad collaboration with many partners. The 

text is written deliberately to allow for the creative process in 

how the mission strategy will be implemented while providing specific examples to help readers connect to more tangible 

activities.

Audience

The 10-year nature of the science strategy process introduced a challenge in addressing multiple audiences at different 

scales of complexity and detail. Much attention is focused 

toward USGS scientists and other staff of the programs in 

the Core Science Systems organization. The Core Science Systems strategy outlines a mission to provide both primary earth 

systems science data, such as mapping of topography, geology and biota, and capacity to integrate much broader USGS 

data and information. The latter comes with the responsibility 

for application of advanced technologies across all USGS 

missions. For this reason, the full USGS workforce is recognized as an important stakeholder and participant in the Core 

Science Systems vision. Yet, aspects of the Modular Science 

Framework and strategy that include delivery of data, services, and synthesis to specific partners such as DOI resource 

managers requires a focus on audiences across the broader scientific and resource management communities. Stakeholders 

provide critical philosophical, political, and financial support 

to the USGS; and members of the public and industry groups 

reap financial benefit from research and development in the 

USGS. Feedback from each of these audiences sometimes varied greatly, resulting in a very broad perspective for the Core 

Science Systems strategic vision.

Workforce Evolution

The vision described in the science strategy plans will 

only be realized through an evolving USGS workforce. The 

goals, objectives, and actions in the Core Science Systems 

vision are all founded on the history of USGS as an organization committed deeply to developing its workforce, 

through deliberate and calculated recruitment of new skills 

and abilities and through continuing education of its workforce throughout full careers. The rapid pace of technological 

advancement and the importance placed on wise applications of technology to science described in the Core Science 

Systems vision demand investment in continual learning and 

workforce modernization.

Cultural Evolution

Successful implementation of this strategy is dependent 

on the continued evolution of cultural norms within USGS that 

emphasize improved data management, archival, and access 

techniques in the context of interdisciplinary approaches 

to earth science studies. This evolution places a burden on 

USGS researchers. However, individual scientists are part of 

a much larger worldwide network of researchers, and scientists themselves form the most critical aspect of the emerging 
Goals, Objectives, and Actions 11

Modular Science Framework described in this document. 

The use of scientific programming, software development as 

part of scientific publication, articulating science stories with 

advanced visualization tools, and integration of mobile computer technology are rapidly becoming the norm for scientists 

today and must be an integral part of the USGS of the future. 

Several actions within the Core Science Systems strategy 

point out areas where new norms can be influenced, studied, 

and evaluated.

Interdisciplinary Science

As emphasized in the 2007 Science Strategy and in this 

report, the problems facing the DOI, the nation, and the world 

are extremely complex and are the result of numerous interacting factors. As a consequence, interdisciplinary science must 

continue to grow as a way to address these complex problems 

(see Gunderson and Holling, 2002; Dietz and others, 2007; 

Liu and others, 2007). Interdisciplinary research and scientific 

synthesis are both required for and an outcome from the Modular Science Framework. The Modular Science Framework 

relies upon a foundation of modules (fig. 5), wherein both 

disciplinary and interdisciplinary science occur to produce the 

fundamental understanding of its elements and the preparation of data and information resources such that integration is 

possible. Realizing the full benefits of integrated science will 

require a dedicated effort to ensure that the necessary workforce ingredients are in place to achieve the full potential of 

the USGS as an integrated science agency. The USGS must 

actively shift its data resources, 

knowledge resources, workforce, 

and tools toward a new paradigm 

of integrated science. While 

requiring active organizational 

methods to counter the drift 

toward balkanization in science 

(Van Alstyne and Brynjolfsson, 1996), integrated science is 

ultimately driven by integrated 

science questions that arise at the 

edges of disciplines represented 

by modules in the Framework.

Goals, Objectives, and Actions

The following goals, objectives, and strategic actions 

provide an outline for program and project activities in the 

coming decade to develop the Modular Science Framework. 

Although the goals reflect fundamental strategic requirements 

to achieve the Modular Science Framework, implementation 

methods and other details will evolve through more detailed 

program and project plans. The goals, objectives, and strategic 

actions reflect the vision and guiding concepts described in 

the preceding Guiding Concepts in the Strategy Development 

section. They are not meant to be pursued in sequential order 

as written here, but the top three actions for each objective are 

considered of highest priority.

Figure 6 provides a conceptual model to serve as a guide 

in fitting the goals, objectives, and actions into the overall 

vision for the Modular Science Framework. At the top of 

figure 6, the Digital Earth concept discussed in the Vision for 

Core Science Systems section illustrates the large scientific 

and worldwide community to which USGS contributes digital 

knowledge and from which USGS extracts data, information, 

and knowledge resources developed in the broader science 

community. The research process engaged across the sciences 

in the USGS intersects with the Modular Science Framework, drawing digital knowledge from the framework and 

contributing new understanding and products of research to 

the framework. Steps are outlined at which research teams 

and individual scientists connect with the Modular Science 

Framework.

Figure 6. Conceptual model 

for how the Modular Science 

Framework envisioned for the 

Core Science Systems mission is 

developed through core sciences 

and informatics research. The 

development of the Modular 

Science Framework interfaces 

with the USGS research process, 

and both draws from and 

contributes to the larger pursuit of 

the Digital Earth.
12 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

Goal 1: Provide Research to Characterize, 

Understand, and Map the Critical Zone

Conduct research to produce timely, nationwide, seamless, 

authoritative, open-access digital knowledge for processes 

sustaining the Critical Zone.

Humanity’s rapidly expanding environmental footprint requires continually evolving Critical Zone research to 

characterize and understand the earth’s complex processes. 

One of the distinguishing characteristics of the USGS is 

its long-term commitment, arising from its geologic, water 

resource and land survey roots, to the collection, maintenance, 

and provision of high quality data that spans a wide range of 

spatial and temporal scales. The Core Science Systems mission fulfills an important role in the USGS, providing core 

scientific data within several modules of the Modular Science 

Framework along with synthesis products such as the National 

Map, several national and continental geologic maps, and 

Gap Analysis Products depicted in figure 5. For more than 

130 years, the USGS and its partners have led development of 

a geologic, geographic, and hydrographic framework of the 

nation. Long before the Critical Zone concept came into wide 

use, the USGS has been characterizing the earth’s near-surface 

environment through its geologic and topographic maps and 

stream gaging network. These maps and other data provide a 

basic foundation for models that inform ecosystem studies at 

multiple scales. With the introduction of biological science 

to the USGS in the last century, biogeographic modeling and 

mapping of species distribution and habitat through time has 

been added to the store of Critical Zone data. 

Goal 1 highlights three core sciences that are integral 

to the Core Science Systems mission: geologic mapping, 

topographic mapping, and biodiversity mapping. Each of 

these components of the Modular Science Framework can be 

directed to better focus on challenges and strengthened to take 

advantage of emerging technologies. The goal is to both provide outstanding map and other data products and to facilitate 

integration with other modules as a part of the overall framework that encompasses ecosystems in the Critical Zone and 

helps to bring context to other modules.

New technology and evolving societal needs demand 

that science delivers knowledge in a form that can be directly 

applied to forecasts of how the earth and its living systems, 

Geologic Maps Used To Delineate Ecosystems and Critical Habitat

In the Potomac Gorge region near the nation’s capitol, study of bedrock geology by Southworth and Denenny (2004), 

funded by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping (NCGM) Program, showed that the geology has a direct and predictable relation to rare plants, critical habitat, and plant communities. The bedrock controls these ecological attributes 

in several ways, such as the rocks that are more resistant to erosion forming topographic highs that have characteristic 

soils, and the less resistant rocks tending to host 

thicker sediment as well as 

more advanced soil development. In addition, the 

chemistry of specific rock 

formations lends a basic or 

acidic chemistry to the soil, 

further partitioning plant 

communities and animal 

habitat. In addition to controlling aspects of physical 

evolution of a watershed 

and river systems, the bedrock has a major influence 

on plant communities. 

This map of the bedrock 

and others of surficial 

geology developed by the 

NCGM Program provides 

a framework that aids with 

developing predictive ecohydrology models such as 

plant community patterns 

and wildlife habitat.
Goals, Objectives, and Actions 13

including humans, influence and react to change. Improving 

the ability to map, model and analyze information across both 

space and time within individual modules will enhance the 

understanding of geologic, hydrologic, human, and biologic 

processes and their changes through time and in varying 

environmental conditions. The resulting characterization and 

understanding of processes will improve timely and accurate 

response to environmental and hazard challenges and better 

inform decisions, whether the challenges can be addressed 

with information from a single module or are better addressed 

through integration of knowledge across modules. An overall focus for the core sciences in the next decade will be to 

increase both spatial and temporal resolution through research 

and development of products such as a full four-dimensional 

geologic map, showing how the complex geologic structure of 

the earth has changed through time.

Objective 1.1: Improve Characterization and 

Understanding of Geologic Framework To Inform 

Studies of the Earth’s Complex Processes

The recently published strategy for geology research in 

the USGS (Gundersen and others, 2011) provides the following statement in a goal that closely aligns with Goal 1 in this 

plan and this objective:

A comprehensive understanding of the Earth’s 

geologic framework is needed to inform the critical 

decisions the Nation and the world will make about 

resource utilization, environmental quality, and 

hazard mitigation.

The Core Science Systems mission is responsible for the 

research that results in characterizing and understanding the 

Earth’s geologic framework. Geologic maps represent multidisciplinary investigations that constrain evolving models of 

the earth’s structure, its evolutionary history, and its response 

to and interactions with humans. The geology in these models 

describes the history of geologic processes in a given area, 

that is, processes that represent temporal evolution of the area. 

As such, geologic models represented by maps present four 

dimensions, a three-dimensional volume of the earth plus 

the fourth dimension of time. Mapping the earth systems has 

moved to an era that improves the ability to deliver knowledge 

in a form that can be directly applied to forecasts of how the 

earth and its living systems both drive and react to change. 

Next generation studies will generate three dimensional earth 

system models representing understanding of the geologic processes in the Critical Zone, and their alterations through time. 

The resulting understanding of processes will improve timely 

and accurate response to environmental and hazard challenges.

Strategic Actions

1. Develop three- and four-dimensional models of crustal 

characteristics and processes through expanded field 

investigations and improved laboratory and remote sensing technology.

2. Use improved elevation data and landscape analytical 

techniques to advance geomorphology and active tectonic 

research.

3. Employ advanced microanalytical techniques for dating 

and analyzing the composition of rocks and sediment, 

including measures of past environmental conditions, to 

refine the mapping of surface and near-surface geologic 

materials of the Critical Zone.

4. In collaboration with State Geological Surveys and other 

partners, create a common geologic map data model for 

the nation through analysis and interpretation to correlate 

rock units and properly convey spatial resolution and map 

characteristics.

5. Apply geoinformatics to deliver seamless geologic maps 

for the nation that honor scale and content requirements.

6. Improve understanding of deep geologic basin processes 

with cutting edge geophysical and geologic studies, 

employing three-dimensional modeling.

7. Expand understanding of dynamic crustal processes as 

they relate to sediment transport and landscape evolution.

Objective 1.2: Improve Land Surface Data 

To Better Characterize and Understand 

Relationships Between Anthropogenic Influence 

and Natural Earth Surface Processes

Geospatial land surface data are primary resources 

required for earth science research and applications. Since its 

inception, the USGS has collected, produced, and published 

geospatial data in the form of hardcopy topographic maps. As 

the USGS transitioned into the digital realm, the categories for 

features portrayed on a topographic map became segmented 

into data layers or themes, which were digitized into separate databases. Not only were these data layers maintained 

separately, but being derived from older topographic maps, 

were often out of date. Fundamental research in geographical information science is necessary to update these data and 

provide the foundation required for collaborative, integrated 

earth science. These scientific advances will ensure that USGS 

can improve reliable, ready access to high-quality, authoritative, integrated, up-to-date, spatially-consistent geospatial data 

that fully support the interdisciplinary science called for in the 

USGS Science Strategy. By meeting the needs of USGS interdisciplinary science for base geospatial data, the requirements 

of other Federal, state, local agencies, and tribal nations, as 

well as non-governmental and private entities and the general 

public, are also met.
14 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

The NEEA project is led by National Geospatial Program 

(NGP) and the Land Remote Sensing Program in the Climate 

and Land Use Change mission area. The NEEA was recently 

completed, and provides key information about requirements for a national program for enhanced elevation data. 

The NEEA was sponsored by member agencies of the 

National Digital Elevation Program (NDEP), an interagency 

consortium dedicated to the collection, dissemination, and 

use of digital elevation data products. A primary objective 

accomplished in the NEEA is the documentation of technical requirements and business cases for development of a 

new national program focused on collection and provision 

of enhanced high-resolution, high-accuracy elevation data. 

The study also identifies national program implementation alternatives, costs, and benefits that meet the priority 

needs of Federal, state, and other stakeholders. The study 

results indicate the broad, mission-critical requirements 

for enhanced elevation data, literally hundreds of functional programmatic applications from 34 Federal agencies, 

50 states, territories, tribes, local governments, and representatives from non-profit groups and private industry.

NGP has a lead role in pursuing the follow-on steps, and current activities include formalizing program recommendations, 

intensifying outreach and coordination with potential partner agencies, and developing a funding strategy and implementation timeline. All the implementation scenarios for an enhanced national elevation program include recognition of the 

information technology infrastructure required to manage the massive amounts of data in this foundational earth science 

dataset. Geoinformatics research through the Core Science Systems mission could make substantial contributions toward 

the information management practices that will be needed to efficiently administer the data and products in a new national 

elevation initiative.

The availability of significantly enhanced base elevation data will facilitate numerous developments and improvements in 

other core data assets and research activities that use those datasets. For instance, new consistently-collected, high-resolution, high-accuracy elevation data would allow for development of significantly improved hydrography data to upgrade 

the National Hydrography Dataset, a key USGS data resource for distributed hydrologic modeling research. Such a development would eliminate the current condition with base elevation and hydrography layers in which users often need to 

account for the lack of precise vertical integration between the datasets. The availability of newer types of elevation products, such as full return waveform light detection and ranging (lidar) data, will also facilitate innovative applications across 

the USGS. Scientific investigations require more than just high-quality bare-earth elevations, such as the characterization of 

vegetation canopy habitats or mapping of human built structures in forest fire prone areas along the wildland-urban fringe. 

The Modular Science Framework will play a key role in developing and demonstrating these new applications of remote 

sensing based elevation products for interdisciplinary science, particularly through the Center of Excellence for Geospatial 

Information Science (CEGIS).

The National Enhanced Elevation Assessment (NEEA)

Strategic Actions

1. Produce enhanced elevation data of higher resolution 

and accuracy for three-dimensional measurement of the 

earth’s land and coastal submerged topography and its 

natural and human-constructed features.

2. Conduct research on data structures and analytical methods for making these new types of geospatial content 

readily usable by scientists.

3. Ensure that all foundational geospatial data exhibit precise 

vertical integration. For instance, a waterbody, stream 

channel, or ocean shoreline should be exactly the same 

when extracted from elevation, land cover, boundaries, 

and hydrography layers.

4. Conduct studies to fully characterize, quantify, and document the data quality and uncertainty of foundational 

topographic data, including both locational (coordinate) 

and attribute accuracy.
Goals, Objectives, and Actions 15

5. Research methods for instituting spatial/temporal data 

models so that the vast store of historical maps, aerial 

photography, and satellite imagery possessed by the 

USGS can be readily used for retrospective analyses.

6. Research and establish production methods for nationwide seamless, vertically integrated, high resolution data 

for topographic, geologic, biologic, and hydrologic applications and processes.

7. Research, develop, and implement new models for geospatial processing, data mining, exploration, management, 

archiving, and storage.

Objective 1.3: Increase Understanding of the 

Natural and Socio-Cultural Implications of 

Biological Diversity

Biogeographic information—biological information on 

species and when and where they occur on earth—are basic 

requirements for understanding fundamental questions in 

ecology and conservation science. Biodiversity on Earth is not 

completely cataloged or quantified. Mapping and modeling of 

species and habitats are based on current knowledge of species 

and species assemblages, as well as classification systems and 

related information management. Current theories of speciation and community ecology recognize a temporal aspect to 

species relationships. Major drivers of landscape modification, 

including climate change, highlight the temporal dynamic 

in characterizing and understanding biodiversity, but current 

data are not adequate to understand and predict how species 

assemblages and species-habitat relationships might change. 

Given the importance of biodiversity to ecosystem studies and 

the social and natural values that underlie current efforts to 

understand the biological diversity, it is necessary to advance 

knowledge and capacity in this area.

Strategic Actions

1. Enhance mapping of plant communities and animal habitats on a regular cycle in sufficient detail with thoughtful, detailed data organization to be flexible and adaptive 

given long-term change.

2. Determine the critical information necessary to confidently determine the status and condition of biological 

diversity through time.

3. Model species distributions across their full extent 

through studies that are comprehensive in terms of understanding biological diversity and adaptable with respect to 

data management.

4. Refine vegetation classification and mapping with new 

observations and improved integration methods to 

increase both spatial and temporal resolution.

5. Improve biological occurrence data in both terrestrial and 

marine environments through data integration of additional trusted source data.

6. Continue to develop taxonomic data, expertise, and an 

accessible standardized nomenclature.

7. Improve methods for modeling, mapping, and understanding how biodiversity varies across space and through 

time.

BISON is a comprehensive view of biological occurrences in the United States with more than 82 million 

records generated by approximately three-fourths of 

a million professional and citizen scientists across the 

nation. A portal to one agency’s data is useful but a 

resource that facilitates visualization and geospatially 

query and analysis of occurrence data from all federal 

agencies combined with data from across the public and 

private sectors is transformative for science and society. 

BISON synthesizes the primary occurrence data (a species or other taxon, the location at which it was observed 

or collected, who made the scientific observation, and on 

what date). These points are then linked back to extended 

ancillary data and metadata in the original data set. The 

primary occurrences are viewable in an interactive geospatial environment for query, analysis, and downloading. 

Synthesis occurs through adherence to global standards 

such as Darwin Core, taxonomic integration through the 

International Taxonomic Information System, and integrated high resolution geospatial layers. BISON also has 

access to some of the biggest supercomputing resources 

on earth, so computed layers can be developed and 

made available to answer questions that were previously 

beyond the capability of most scientists.

Biodiversity Serving Our Nation
16 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

Goal 2: Expand Applications of USGS Research 

Through Scientific Services

Improve the application and impact of USGS research 

products through development and testing of services, software, tools, and participatory frameworks that both build 

and apply the Modular Science Framework.

One of the driving concepts in the 2007 Science Strategy 

and the aim of the Modular Science Framework is to provide 

increased capacity to answer more complex science questions 

related to societal challenges through digital knowledge. The 

Modular Science Framework needs to be a functioning system, 

able to be applied to science questions and management challenges to better inform decisions impacting society. Coupled 

with the core sciences described in Goal 1, the Modular Science Framework requires sustained and focused research and 

development in computer and information science to apply 

evolving theories of distributed complex scientific information 

networks to USGS digital knowledge. The Modular Science 

Framework is not envisioned as a monolithic software or data 

system; rather it provides a method of tying together many different data systems across the USGS and around the world.

Technological services include digital methods by which 

data and information are discovered, accessed, processed, 

and applied to various types of applications such as simulations and analytical systems. As in any technical field, there 

are broad-ranging debates about the efficacy of one service 

approach or another, and it is anticipated that debate in the 

field of technological services will carry on for many decades 

to come. The USGS is a leader in the development of services 

for its products such as the National Map data services (http://

services.nationalmap.gov/), the National Water Information System web services for streamflow and water quality 

(http://waterdata.usgs.gov/), and the suite of services from the 

National Earthquake Information Center providing information about earthquakes across the earth (http://earthquake.

usgs.gov/). These example applications were initiated with the 

purpose of serving a particular application need and a specific 

group of stakeholders, but have resulted in many new innovative applications created by USGS and non-USGS scientists and developers. Whether directly or indirectly, services 

providing data in forms that can be used broadly by a multitude of applications are a core part of the Modular Science 

Framework.

Professional services in this goal refer to the ways in 

which people and organizations contribute to the functionality 

and ongoing development of the Modular Science Framework. A prime example of a service for the Modular Science 

Framework is the role of the USGS Library in the data mining 

and archiving processes described in the conceptual model 

(fig. 6). As data and other scientific products and tools are used 

to populate the Modular Science Framework, an archival and 

notification system, leveraging human-assisted technology, 

can constantly monitor the framework, keeping users aware 

of new data holdings, new techniques being employed, new 

The concept of services within and from the Modular Science Framework is used to discuss how the framework is 

interacted with, either conducting research and organizing subsequent digital knowledge within the framework, 

or interfacing with the framework to address a societal 

challenge. Services may be used elsewhere in this report 

with concepts such as ecosystem services, but in this 

context they refer specifically to both technological 

services, that provide interfaces to the digital knowledge 

brought together in the Modular Science Framework. 

Professional services, work conducted by people and 

organizations to grow and maintain the Modular Science 

Framework and its applications to science and decisionmaking, are critical. The terms, services and service 

orientation, are used in this goal in a broad sense to 

describe the applications of the Modular Science Framework to scientific research and addressing societal challenges. The fundamental point raised here is that pursuing service orientation, whether used in the technological 

sense (Erl, 2005) or the professional services sense (Teng 

and Barrows, 2009), forces the development of capabilities and resources that can be examined individually, 

quantitatively measured and analyzed for effectiveness, 

and improved incrementally.

Services Defined

scientific publications, and new research projects in a way 

never before possible. Professional services provided as components of the conceptual model can be evaluated and tested 

for effectiveness using empirical methods to measure and analyze everything from the effectiveness of tools to the recorded 

comments about interactions with people and organizations 

providing services.

Access to and incorporation of digital knowledge external 

to the USGS, data and partner researchers, are vitally important to the continued evolution of both technological and 

professional services. The connection of the Modular Science Framework to the larger Digital Earth is illustrative of 

a complex challenge requiring research and development of 

services. To be effective, users must have access to the wealth 

of data, tools, and capabilities from other science agencies, 

academic institutions, resource management organizations, 

and monitoring networks. Technological services provide part 

of the pathway to seamless integration with these resources. 

However, there are many other aspects that require development and maintenance of research partnerships, data access 

agreements, and targeted research and development into new 

ways of tapping remote data streams. An overall focus for the 

informatics research of Core Science Systems is to continually test whether USGS digital knowledge is being served to 

the rest of the world in a way that supports both anticipated 

and unanticipated but valid uses. USGS researchers must have 
Goals, Objectives, and Actions 17

Much more science is conducted in the USGS and many more products are produced than ever see the full light of day in 

scientific publications and USGS reports. Library scientists have begun calling this type of research information “dark data,” 

with the library community around the world working toward ways of managing, curating, archiving, and exposing these 

data for broader use (Heidorn, 2008). One USGS strategy to address this problem is the ScienceBase platform for scientific 

data and information management (http://www.sciencebase.gov/). ScienceBase takes the approach of providing 1) a data 

management platform for use by individual scientists and science teams early enough in the research lifecycle that project 

data are identified and posted online sooner rather than later, 2) professional and technological services that transform 

and expose data in ways that they can be accessed by a broad range of applications, and 3) open methods of accessing 

ScienceBase data and documentation (metadata) so that they can be easily incorporated into other outlets such as Science 

Center web sites. Two parts of the Core Science Systems mission, a group focused on scientific data management at the 

project level and the USGS Library focused on long-term management and archiving of the USGS data record, are teaming 

together to extend the ScienceBase platform for broad use across the spectrum of formal USGS data publications and the 

so called, “long tail” of dark data. By collaborating with other projects who are also tackling this problem such as DataONE 

(http://dataone.org/), the USGS is both contributing to and taking advantage of research activities such as formal data citation processes (http://datacite.org/), all part of the global pursuit of Digital Earth.

ScienceBase

Search and Discover ScientiÞc 

Data and Information

Explore Data

Get Data in 

Different Ways
18 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

access to the broadest possible base of digital knowledge from 

the rest of the world.

Objective 2.1: Modernize Information 

Management and Publication

The global pursuit of a Digital Earth by many organizations and the possibilities for creating new forms of interactive scientific content has launched many large and small 

scale efforts to transform the scholarly publishing paradigm 

(Attwood and others, 2009). Efforts include digitizing previously analog information into new archives accessible to 

digital analysis, improving information management throughout duration of science projects, and establishing formal 

publication of data alongside traditional scientific publications. As the USGS is part of this global scientific community, 

the data produced and published by USGS scientists have 

a long-lasting scientific impact beyond an existing study or 

even the career of an individual scientist. Although many 

major USGS programs with coordinated, long-term observation or monitoring programs have well established methods 

for publishing and managing data, adapting and improving 

methods to promote use and ultimate impact of data should 

be a major focus across the USGS. The conceptual model 

for the Modular Science Framework (fig. 6) shows several 

steps where the research process intersects through data and 

information management to the framework—data mining, 

data publishing and archiving, scientific workflows, and final 

publishing. Each of these steps requires both facilitation that 

can be provided through the Core Science Systems mission 

and also direct investment from all USGS missions, programs, 

science centers, and individual scientists. Figure 6 indicates 

that all steps in the science lifecycle conducted within USGS 

should be examined critically for how they can both contribute 

to and take advantage of the data and information aspects of 

the Modular Science Framework.

Strategic Actions

1. Facilitate more rapid and incremental release of quality 

scientific data and associated materials both prior to and 

associated with final interpretive publications.

John is a USGS researcher who specializes in sediment transport modeling in the coastal ocean. An interagency team 

addressing harmful algal blooms in the Gulf of Maine suspects that summer toxicity events are strongly affected by redistribution of cyst-laden sediment during the winter months and asks John to investigate with a numerical simulation. A decade 

ago, he would have started by asking his immediate colleagues if they had forcing models and parameterizations he might 

be able to use. Now he can quickly discover and review available scientific workflows in the Gulf of Maine involving wave 

modeling through discovery applications written within the Modular Science Framework and finds that National Aviation 

and Space Administration has forcing and parameterizations that he can adapt for his study in the Gulf of Maine.

A decade ago he would have run the simulation on his local computer cluster, after writing custom scripts to download 

additional forcing data he identified from various FTP sites, data portals, and Web services. Now he simply selects components and parameters in a cloud-based environment used by the entire geosciences modeling community. Metadata are 

generated automatically for John’s new workflow, including both his model configuration parameters and quality information, indicating that this is an experimental product that has not been validated. John then publishes his new data and 

workflow to a repository within the Modular Science Framework.

Subsequently, Amy, a researcher from Boston University studying contaminated sediment in Boston Harbor, is notified that 

new model data meeting criteria she has specified are available from John’s work. She uses his workflow with standardized components to interpolate the gridded model results for comparison with sediment profiles she has collected, with 

model output to her preferred spreadsheet. She finds that John’s experimental model product matches her data better than 

any previously available simulation and adds this information to the metadata associated with John’s dataset. Through a 

“subscription” to the Modular Science Framework, John is notified of Amy’s use and change to the dataset and then uses 

her profile data to help quality control his final published model data product. While John is writing his scientific paper on 

harmful algal blooms, a Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning team in Maine uses bottom stress data from the model to help 

locate sites for submerged aquatic vegetation restoration. 

A decade ago, John spent most of his time on routine tasks to produce data that were used almost exclusively by himself 

and his immediate colleagues. Now, based on the innovative data and tools provided by the Modular Science Framework, 

he spends less of his time on routine tasks and has substantially increased his scientific output while contributing to the 

efficiency of other scientific work.

Research and Decisionmaking Scenario
Goals, Objectives, and Actions 19

2. Increase the use of data citation methods across the 

breadth of USGS science in coordination with international standards bodies such as DataCite (http://datacite.

org), and incorporate data citation into the official 

research record of USGS scientists through automated 

methods wherever possible.

3. Improve rescue and curation of historical data and physical specimens and samples throughout the USGS into 

robust archives that can be used for new research.

4. Research new methods of describing data, scientific workflows, and research such as videos published alongside a 

scientific paper that present a more nuanced understanding of research.

5. Continue to develop and implement data documentation 

standards and new methods for computer-assisted metadata creation and maintenance.

Objective 2.2: Research and Develop 

Technological Services That Support Advanced 

Research, Data Analysis, Visualization, and 

Information Processing

Scientific data search, access, analysis and visualization tools and techniques have become critically important 

for the execution of science. To lead integrated study of 

earth systems, the USGS must ensure that software tools 

and techniques are state of the art, interface smoothly with 

infrastructure developed by various science communities, and 

are fully accessible to USGS scientists. In addition to speeding 

development and ultimate performance of software, the USGS 

can drastically improve the capacity for individual researchers 

to pursue science at a scale that has not been previously accessible to them. In addition to reducing time needed to conduct 

an analysis, visualize data, or develop a simulation model, 

applying software engineering rigor to the development of 

scientific software such as models, visualization systems, and 

analysis tools will improve sustainability and adaptability 

of scientific software. Synthesis across the Modular Science 

Framework will depend on the ability to integrate data and 

information among modules. The core sciences discussed in 

Goal 1 will provide an important aspect of contextualization 

in the geologic, topographic, and biogeographic framework. 

Comprehensive data integration services for the Modular 

Science Framework will depend on capturing and modeling 

data semantics or meaning across the breadth of information 

represented in the modules (the semantic Web; Berners-Lee 

and others, 2001).

The following list of actions provides a broad view of 

the type of computer and information science work needed to 

advance the Modular Science Framework. Far more detailed 

research and development are required than may be articulated 

in this report or conducted in the USGS. Though often not 

considered within traditional views of the USGS scientific 

portfolio, it is vital for the Core Science Systems mission to 

lead in developing informatics as a research discipline. This 

will enable the USGS to participate in and take advantage of 

the tremendous pace of this research from academic and commercial sectors along with other government agencies.

Strategic Actions

1. Capture the knowledge of how data layers interact into 

services that describe how to negotiate interrelationships 

between data themes for models and other analyses that 

explore pathways (for instance, contaminant pathways).

2. Enhance and publish methods of producing scientific 

software that facilitates repeatability of results to transfer 

application to other situations (also known as scientific 

workflows).

3. Exploit and further develop simulation modeling frameworks and other methods of coupling to explore how different earth processes can be analyzed in novel combinations to address more complex earth science questions.

4. Conduct research into methods and techniques for embedding data quality metrics and uncertainty information 

within derived and processed data at a sufficient level to 

aid in usage and application selection through both automated and human-assisted means.

5. Develop a technological and methodological framework 

for incorporation of observations of physical and biological phenomena from public data networks.

6. Design and improve scientific computing systems, such as 

modeling frameworks, to allow computationally intensive 

operations to run through state-of-the-art technology platforms, from cloud-based resources to high-performance 

computing centers.

7. Conduct research into the development of ontologies 

specific to the fields of earth systems science conducted 

by the USGS to aid in the interrogation of data assets and 

integration of disparate resources.

8. Conduct research into methods and techniques for 

monitoring data usage across disparate ways that data are 

accessed to facilitate comprehensive analyses of data use 

in distributed networks.
20 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

As part of its role of providing leadership to communities of which the USGS is a part, there are important opportunities to 

coordinate federation of data networks of partner organizations into common, nationally consistent networks. The National 

Groundwater Monitoring Network is complementary to the National Map vision of a seamless data product comprising individual State and local contributions. To create this federation of state groundwater monitoring networks of water quantity 

and quality, the USGS has developed a portal to pull these data together in real time and mediate local formats so content 

is expressed according to international standards and terminology. This portal allows users to interact with the disparate 

state networks as though they were a single information system to evaluate historical and current conditions of the nation’s 

groundwater resources. This interaction enables analysis across a range of external data resources that would not be 

easily completed without the network. Additional examples in the USGS that demonstrate capacity to produce a seamless 

experience with all manner of data should form critical building blocks for the Modular Science Framework.

National Groundwater Monitoring Network

Objective 2.3: Design and Implement a Robust 

Suite of Professional Services To Aid in 

Implementation and Use of the Modular Science 

Framework

The Core Science Systems mission includes responsibilities for scientific data and information management, curation, archiving, preservation, and long term availability. This 

mission is evident across the spectrum of direct data holdings 

of geologic maps, topographic maps, biogeographic maps, and 

supporting data systems that make up the core of the Modular 

Science Framework. The USGS Library has been steadily 

growing from a physical resource of paper holdings, public 

spaces, and their curation to include a digital library at its 

core, which is part of an evolution in library systems around 

the world toward more holistic agents for information literacy 

(Bruce and Lampson, 2002). To continue to provide national 

historic resources to the nation, the unique and irreplaceable 

physical collections in the USGS should continue to be preserved and maintained, while developing ways that researchers 

can leverage these resources using digital means. The arrows 

in the Modular Science Framework conceptual model (fig. 6) 

represent areas where both technological and professional 

services are needed for efficient, timely, and robust interactions with the framework to occur. Coordination across the 

spectrum of data management responsibilities in the Core Science Systems mission and throughout the USGS can result in 

a powerful suite of professional services performing a critical 

core function in USGS research.

The ongoing development and growth of the Modular 

Science Framework is dependent on methods to continually 

test its effectiveness and impact on research across the USGS 

and its mission responsibilities to provide unbiased scientific 

information to the nation. Effectiveness monitoring and regular adjustment to both science and technology priorities needs 
Goals, Objectives, and Actions 21

to be an integral aspect of the Modular Science Framework. 

Testing and monitoring of the framework can take advantage 

of a number of different technologies and methods, but it is 

more than simply analyzing logs summarizing the usage of 

various technological systems. Effectiveness analysis should 

incorporate methods from social science and other nontraditional fields to define and conduct tests on the intended and 

actual application of the digital knowledge services shown 

in the conceptual model for the Modular Science Framework 

(fig. 6).

The number of tools and approaches has become overwhelming for many researchers. There is an increasing need 

for the USGS to provide support to the individual researcher 

in understanding, selecting, and applying the many software engineering, technology, and computer science options 

available.

Strategic Actions

1. Evolve a community of practice capacity to directly 

answer simple and complex scientific technology challenges posed by research teams across the USGS, creating 

a knowledge base of specific solutions and methods 

and supporting interactive sharing of ideas and methods 

between different parts of the organization.

2. Combine traditional library catalog holdings with a robust 

and comprehensive catalog of digital knowledge.

3. Initiate services in data analytics, the process of systematically analyzing increasingly complex and large data 

sets to identify new patterns and suggest hypotheses, 

in cooperation with scientists from across the USGS to 

explore new syntheses.

4. Promote citizen science monitoring and mapping networks and protocols with development of technologies 

and methods through specialists in the USGS and with 

partner organizations.

5. Participate in the development and engineering of global 

scientific cyberinfrastructure through general international 

standards bodies such as the Open Geospatial Consortium 

and the International Organization for Standardization, as 

well as national and discipline-specific organizations such 

as the U.S. Geoscience Information Network, the Data 

Observation Network for Earth, the National Ecological 

Observatory Network, and the National Science Foundation EarthCube initiative.

The USGS partners with other agencies, nonprofit organizations, citizen scientists, educators, and students in the USA 

National Phenology Network (http://www.usanpn.org/). 

Phenology tracks recurring plant and animal life cycles such 

as the timing of plant leafing and flowering and bird migration. Volunteers not only track and report changes in plants 

and animals but also help digitize hand-written Migration 

Observer Cards containing observations on bird migration 

from the late 19th century to the 1950s. National Phenology 

Network volunteers provide current and historical data that 

document the effects of climate change on flora and fauna. 

Jack Meixner, a rancher in central Texas, observes and 

reports phenology of juniper trees (Juniperus spp.) as part 

of a USA National Phenology Network regional campaign 

to understand and forecast production of juniper pollen for 

human health applications.

USA National Phenology Network
22 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

The evolution of technology and science to display flood 

inundation maps based upon USGS streamgaging realtime readings has revealed a myriad of opportunities for 

conveying how a significant hydrologic event can affect 

citizens’ lives, the economy, and the ecosystem within 

the watershed. New techniques of merging hydrologic 

information with HAZUS social and economic data 

from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 

allows for unique scenarios of effects based upon each 

incremental reading of the USGS streamgage—allowing 

emergency managers to know what the potential effects 

could be before the first raindrop falls.

Flood Inundation Mapping Goal 3: Conduct Scientific Analysis and 

Synthesis To Improve Coverage, Scientific 

Quality, Usability, and Timeliness of Information

Pursue broad earth science challenges that synthesize digital knowledge across multiple scientific disciplines.

We are drowning in information, while starving 

for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by 

synthesizers, people able to put together the right 

information at the right time, think critically about it, 

and make important choices wisely. (Wilson, 1999)

The Modular Science Framework is a key to the Core 

Science Systems mission. It will help drive scientific synthesis 

by organizing massive quantities of information to ultimately 

facilitate understanding the operation of the entire earth 

system. For the purpose of this report, synthesis is defined 

broadly, from applications that generate new science products 

by integrating and merging traditional data products to highly 

sophisticated data-driven science that employs high-speed 

computers to generate interdisciplinary syntheses and hypotheses. Synthesis exploration may range from a simple mashup, 

a term used broadly to describe combinations of two or more 

information sources to create something new, to the refined 

creation of an entirely new and seamlessly integrated product. 

One of the most vital contributions the USGS brings to the 

increasing amount of government, academic, and industry 

scientific data available for syntheses is a long history of scientific excellence, critical review, and standards for accuracy. 

While synthesis may begin with either a working hypothesis 

or a broad ranging exploration of compatible data assets, it 

must ultimately be grounded in the scientific method to produce results meaningful to science and societal challenges.

Systematic research aided by the Modular Science 

Framework will produce visualization tools needed to understand key physical and ecological processes to help identify 

solutions to complex problems facing society at scales ranging 

from site specific to landscape. Synthesis provides effective 

ways to examine both what and why questions using new 

digital techniques not possible with traditional approaches 

and computing platforms common in the 20th century. As 

science evolves toward what is often referred to as a fourth 

paradigm, data-intensive scientific discovery (Hey and others, 

2009), virtual floods of data records will be concentrated into 

more specialized modules. Increased scale and complexity of 

information will require greater computational capacity and 

interactions between scientists, resource managers, citizens, 

and many others to effectively integrate science for relevance 

to future societal needs.

Studies of the earth provide the foundation for understanding most geologic, hydrologic, and biologic processes 

of societal significance. Integrating these components in a 

whole earth systems approach requires new geospatial science 

research, developing higher resolution datasets such as elevation and land cover, more efficient field data acquisition, and 

new instrumentation and processing methods for remote sensing and other techniques. It also involves developing new scientific technology platforms, from laboratory microanalytical 

techniques for investigating processes on a microscopic scale 

to global observation networks. These approaches offer prospects for enhancing the ability to understand the earth and how 

it functions. Global change will require an increased emphasis 

on understanding linkages among bedrock, soil, topography, 

hydrology, biological systems, oceans, and the atmosphere. 

Scientific computational technology and the ability to portray 

and analyze data in four dimensions will accelerate the pace of 

scientific discovery and understanding in the coming decade. 

As the pace of new interdisciplinary methods and techniques 

accelerates, capturing the scientific workflow in a way that can 

be used to repeat results, develop methods, and make connections between scientists and across disciplines will become 

increasingly important.

A fundamental understanding of the earth system across 

the spectrum of the full vertical ecosystem as described by 

Bailey (1996) is vital to improving understanding of energy, 

mineral, soil, water, and biological resources, as well as effects 

of climate change, where and when hazards will occur, and the 
Goals, Objectives, and Actions 23

sustainability of life itself. Processes that form soils and topography influence the Critical Zone, and an understanding of 

how geologic and geomorphic structures affect the availability 

and quality of water resources, along with societal decisions 

that influence most hydrologic processes, must be applied to 

science questions arising across all USGS missions. Processes 

that determine where habitats arise and are sustained and the 

occurrence and movement of biological species are critical 

to understanding and predicting where change will occur 

under different scenarios. Likewise, processes that determine 

patterns of human settlement through time are often related 

to how societies are affected by hazards and climate change 

and how human actions affect ecosystems. Understanding the 

connections between human actions and the earth system is 

critical because decisionmakers consider the effects of management actions on both natural and human systems.

The Modular Science Framework serves an important 

function in helping identify gaps within the vertical structure 

of the modules and critical missing knowledge vital to making 

connections between modules and underlying data resources. 

Examination of the Modular Science Framework and concentrating on synthesis possibilities can help identify opportunities for collaboration across the USGS and with partners from 

other science and resource management agencies. Examination of the full breadth of information available through the 

Modular Science Framework may lead to the formulation of 

entirely new hypotheses about the nature of earth systems or 

interactions between ecosystem components. For example, the 

National Map might be examined in relation to other available information within the Modular Science Framework to 

evaluate a new hypothesis that may enhance its value, such as 

asking why specific patterns of vegetation show up in certain 

geographic locations--could variations in space or time be 

isolated from the data and examined for existence of vegetation patterns under past or future conditions? Information 

from modules of the Modular Science Framework such as 

hydrosphere, hydrologic landscapes, weather, and geochemical information might be used in sophisticated analyses to 

evaluate the hypothesis while contributing to knowledge of 

how climate and land use impacts may affect other resources 

characterized through the National Map. As an evolving 

framework for scientific synthesis, the Modular Science 

Framework will improve the capacity of the USGS to conduct 

whole systems research needed to better inform the diverse 

decision making community.

Cascadia Subduction Zone: Insights into Active Faults Above the Cascadia Subduction Zone 

from Integrated Study

Integration of data sets from diverse sources has yielded 

fresh insights into the Cascadia subduction zone. Oblique 

underthrusting of the Juan de Fuca plate beneath North 

America contributes to northward motion of crustal 

blocks along the Cascadia zone. These motions (black 

arrows), modeled from plate tectonic theory, have been 

documented by recent Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) 

results from an NSF consortium and the USGS. USGS 

scientists have used LIDAR topography to reveal precise 

locations for surface-rupturing, active faults along the 

block boundaries, which were previously demarcated by 

poorly defined boundaries on geologic and geophysical 

maps created by USGS and its partners in the National 

Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. On Bainbridge 

Island, the Seattle Fault breaks the surface (left image), 

providing a location to trench the fault and document a 

history of several large earthquakes during the past 2000 

years (right image). Similar work is underway to investigate suspected active faults in the Puget-Willamette 

Urban Corridor revealed by LIDAR; more than 20 active 

faults have been documented. Modeling is underway to 

test the hypothesis that the rupture history of the blockboundary faults may be related to the history of great 

subduction zone earthquakes on the Cascadia subduction zone.
24 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

The CLSA is perhaps the oldest example of integrated ecological science in the USGS. Located in the 

northern prairies, work at the site began in 1967 by a 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) laboratory that 

later became a USGS facility with the formation of the 

Biological Resources Discipline. Initial work focused 

on the relations among waterfowl and wetlands but 

shifted in 1979 to an integrated effort between USFWS 

ecologists and USGS hydrologists. Over time, the 

effort grew as the need for new integrated studies in 

chemistry and geology were identified. Today, CLSA is 

aimed to improve understanding of complex ecological relationships through integrated studies by biologists, hydrologists, geochemists, and others within 

USGS. Studies at the site have formed much of the 

basis for current understanding of wetland ecology in 

the United States and elsewhere. During its 43-year 

history, CLSA has also attracted many scientists from 

universities and other Federal agencies (for example, 

USFWS, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers) that conducted multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary investigations. This important work is the 

result of an entirely grass-roots effort in which scientists came together through mutual scientific interests; 

this has been the primary factor contributing to the 

success of this important scientific work (http://www.

npwrc.usgs.gov/cottonwood.html). The journal, Wetlands, recently published a commemorative issue that 

recognized 30 of the papers published over the past 3 

decades that had the greatest impact on wetland science (ISSN:1943-6246). Three of the papers (Euliss and 

others, 2004, 2008; Winter and Rosenberry, 1995) were 

from research conducted at CLSA by USGS scientists.

Cottonwood Lake Study Area (CLSA) Objective 3.1: Accelerate Use of Data-Driven 

Science for New Synthesis Products and To 

Identify New Hypotheses of the Earth System

One of the primary purposes of the Modular Science 

Framework is to organize and bring together an ever growing 

suite of digital knowledge in a way that suggests opportunities for analysis and synthesis. Deliberate focus on gaps in the 

Modular Science Framework is necessary to identify constraints on the ability to properly frame and develop solutions 

to problems affecting society and enhance collaboration for 

consistent maximized beneficial use in scientific synthesis. 

Figure 5 illustrates both synthesis products that have developed inductively through hypothesis-driven scientific research 

incidental to the existence of the framework (Hydrologic 

Landscapes) along with products that were developed through 

deliberate focus on synthesizing multidisciplinary information 

(National Map). Science projects in the USGS that are focused 

on a particular problem or geographic area often produce new 

synthesized data products, methods of processing and presenting data, and suggested enhancements to national data assets 

that might prove scalable and applicable to many other areas. 

To build these ideas into new national data assets, research 

must be conducted to determine suitability of the concepts 

and methods for larger scales, and development resources 

must be applied to either enhance an existing data system or 

establish something new. Although not all good ideas for new 

major data assets are achievable, the USGS could substantially 

increase its portfolio of high-quality scientific data by creating 

opportunities and a venue for science teams to propose such 

products. In addition, the existence of the Modular Science 

Framework and continual growth of data available for computational analysis can open new avenues for data-driven or 

inductive research, complementary to synthesis exploration 

initiated with hypotheses (Kell and Oliver, 2004).

Strategic Actions

1. Develop methods and techniques to anchor scientific data 

across all earth systems studies to core science data (for 

example, anchoring all water measurement data to the 

National Hydrography Dataset).

2. Research and develop methods for a comprehensive 

virtual observatory containing relevant observations of 

physical and biological phenomena important to USGS 

research, including plant and animal species occurrence 

and human structures of importance to hazards characterization and risk assessment.

3. Monitor emerging issues of societal concern in a systematic and focused way and develop new synthesis products 

for visualizing or summarizing issues in the context of 

space and time.
Goals, Objectives, and Actions 25

4. Produce digital thematic products through synthesis, interpretations, and maps that include geologic and biologic 

scenarios, simulations, and predictive models relevant to 

ecosystem change and health, groundwater flow, resource 

assessment, carbon sequestration, and potential hazards.

5. Evaluate spatial and temporal impacts of human activities 

on the earth system by merging social and economic data 

with earth process data using novel approaches to provide 

more robust knowledge to decisionmakers, scientists, and 

the public.

6. Promote use of high-speed computers and advanced 

methods in semantics and other data-driven techniques to 

quantify linkages in digital knowledge to properly frame 

ecological processes in space and time and uncover interdisciplinary hypotheses useful for developing solutions to 

complicated cross-cutting problems affecting the nation.

7. Support development of novel scenario evaluation tools 

for asking and answering applied science questions in collaboration with resource managers.

A researcher within the Climate and Land Use Change mission area of USGS has just processed and performed quality assurance on a year’s worth of environmental monitoring data from a distributed network of on-the-ground sensors. 

Using software tools developed for the Modular Science Framework, she automatically populates database attributes that 

describe the physical setting of each sensor location. These attributes are pulled from an automated query of the data 

contained in The National Map and the National Geologic Map Database, and the sensor site attributes include information 

such as elevation and derived terrain descriptors (slope and aspect), land cover type, landscape position, soil type, bedrock 

unit, closest stream, watershed (hydrologic unit code), and closest road. Now that the fully attributed observational data 

have been posted to a Web service for public distribution, they are linked to other monitoring datasets contained in the 

observation registry so that users querying one monitoring network’s data are also notified of other available sampling data 

in their region of interest. This functionality was implemented based on informatics research on spatial and temporal linking 

of heterogeneous, distributed databases.

A Research Ecologist is investigating the effects of land use change, recreational use, and water quality degradation on 

the habitat of a species of concern on a National Wildlife Refuge. As she begins her investigations, she is able to access 

data that tell the complete story of the area of interest: historical photographs; archived data covering a long period of 

record; satellite imagery at multiple points in time; studies of the biota; surveys of public opinion about what is valued on 

the refuge; longitudinal data from the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation; records that 

document the establishment of the refuge; planning documents; studies of water quality. These information resources can 

be accessed on a tablet computer in the field and are organized to present the most relevant information based on exact 

location and context.

Synthesis Scenarios
26 Science Strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2012–2023

Objective 3.2: Develop a Workplace Model for 

Interdisciplinary Science

When you are a mature scientist or becoming a 

mature scientist, the most important attribute is to 

identify the problem that needs to be solved and then 

apply whatever tools are needed. That is not a very 

easy thing to do. First, the hardest thing is to identify 

the problems that need to be solved. Secondly, how 

do you train people to use these tools? I don’t look 

at science as compartmentalized. I look at it as a 

wonderful tool set. (William A. Haseltine, from 

Brint and others, 2009) 

This model has had an incredible impact throughout the 

history of science. 

It took an ex-physicist—Francis Crick—and a former ornithology student—James Watson—to crack 

the secret of life. They shared a certain wanderlust, 

an indifference to boundaries. (Wright, 1999) 

We are not students of some subject matter, but 

students of problems. And problems may cut right 

across the borders of any subject matter or discipline. (Popper, 1963)

The central role of the Modular Science Framework to 

the Core Science mission and to the entire USGS is that it permits us to incorporate the indifference to disciplinary boundaries valued by Watson and Crick, the interdisciplinary problem 

solving philosophy recognized by Popper, and accommodate 

the need for discovery of diverse tools by developing scientists 

recognized by Haseltine. The Modular Science Framework 

organizes USGS science, including knowledge, data, tools, 

technology and other aspects of scientific discovery into a 

common framework that depicts the intricate relationships 

among them under a single auspice, just as they occur in 

nature. There is no single module that is more important than 

another because all are essential to Critical Zone functions. All 

the scientific components within each module of the Modular 

Science Framework, including humans, are also all essential 

disciplinary components that must work together to develop 

lasting solutions to modern problems. To meet this challenge, 

a cultural change within the scientific community will be 

required that is without historic precedent.

Strategic Actions

1. Develop funding models that reward interdisciplinary science proposals that transcend discipline and mission area 

boundaries, including a competitive grants process.

2. Reduce cultural and spatial barriers to interdisciplinary 

research, such as creating virtual laboratories and collaborative offices, linking field scientists directly to the 

Modular Science Framework, and relocating scientists 

to high-level collaborative centers, such as the Powell 

Center or the National Water Center (see National Water 

Center bright spot).

The John Wesley Powell Center for Scientific Analysis and Synthesis (http://powellcenter.usgs.gov/) was established as a 

USGS earth system science ‘think tank.’ Its goal is to develop new and innovative approaches that apply scientific understanding to resolve significant and complex issues. Synthesis projects derive from scientist proposals, where researchers 

on the cutting edge of their fields determine needs and assemble the best teams to combine knowledge and data. The Powell Center has launched 15 working groups that consist of teams that cross disciplines and organizations. With a dedication 

to producing and publishing newly synthesized data for the larger scientific community and decision makers, the Powell 

Center serves as a prototype for integrating science in the USGS.

The creation of the National Water Center, currently under construction in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is an example of a brick 

and mortar approach to facilitating integrated research and science operations. At this Center, scientists from the National 

Weather Service, USGS, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will collaborate to create new scientific approaches and merge 

operational systems to create the ability to forecast hydrologic conditions from the “summit to the sea.”

Synthesis Centers

The National Water Center is located on the 

University of Alabama Campus in Tuscaloosa, 

Alabama. A groundbreaking ceremony was 

held for the 65,000-square-foot building on 

February 21, 2012. A 200-member staff is 

expected to occupy the center in June 2013.
References 27

3. Continually study the USGS and conduct comparative 

analyses with other organizations to identify best practices 

and approaches to interdisciplinary science.

4. Promote and facilitate employee involvement with communities of practice (Wenger, 1998) such as the Community for Data Integration (CDI, 2012) to create more 

opportunities for collaborative learning and advancement 

of science.

5. Collaborate with organizations that conduct and support 

research of social and ecological systems to better inform 

decision-making for coupled human and natural systems.

6. Embrace the development of more reimbursable opportunities at high levels to facilitate accountability in collaborative partnerships with governmental organization.

Conclusion

Humanity’s rapid expansion across the earth and increasing environmental footprint lead to growing challenges for 

which the USGS can help understand and inform through 

research and characterization of complex earth system 

processes. The Core Science Systems vision for a Modular 

Science Framework, based on research of ecosystem processes 

sustaining the Critical Zone, will accelerate the movement in 

the global scientific community toward the Digital Earth and 

an ability to address societal challenges in interactions with the 

earth. This science strategy plan has outlined three goals along 

with specific actions to achieve the Modular Science Framework vision. First, conduct research to produce timely, nationwide, seamless, authoritative, open-access digital knowledge 

for ecosystem processes sustaining the Critical Zone from the 

geologic framework to land surface characteristics and biological diversity. Second, improve the application and impact 

of USGS research products through development and testing 

of services, software, tools, and participatory frameworks that 

both build and apply the Modular Science Framework. Third, 

pursue broad earth science challenges that synthesize digital 

knowledge across scientific disciplines through systematic 

examination of the Modular Science Framework, taking the 

necessary steps to develop cultural norms that enable scientific 

synthesis.

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, we thank all of the individuals who 

attended listening sessions and other meetings and contributed 

their comments in person or online. Comments about bright 

spots, lessons learned, and successes from which to grow were 

very helpful. Perhaps as important were the many contributions to this report in the form of written and oral comments. 

Kevin Gallagher and the Core Science Systems (CSS) senior 

leadership team played a key role in helping to ground the 

vision in programmatic and workforce realities while being 

open to discuss new ideas. Vivian Hutchison, Marcia McNiff, 

and Mark Newell provided excellent support for the team and 

contributed ideas and perceptions in the writing of the strategy. 

The co-chairs for all Mission Area strategic plans along with 

their team members were extremely helpful in responding to 

ideas about the future of Core Science Systems and the needs 

being identified within their areas for what CSS could provide. 

We especially thank Marty Goldhaber for helping to launch 

the Core Science Systems strategy process, providing new 

perspectives on what Core Science Systems can mean for the 

future of the USGS, and lending expert advice and review 

throughout. This report was much improved by thoughtful 

reviews from Marty Goldhaber, Natalie Latysh, and Kevin 

Gallagher.

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