National Civil Applications Center

Fact Sheet 2022-3085
National Land Imaging Program
By:

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Introduction 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Civil Applications Center (NCAC) analyzes remote-sensing data from the Intelligence Community (IC) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to support public safety missions and to study land-surface and environmental changes. The NCAC provides remotely sensed images to USGS scientists and other civilian Federal agencies; the images come from intelligence and military sensors, referred to as U.S. National Imagery Systems (USNIS), and unclassified commercial satellite data purchased by the DOD. Often these data are referred to as Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), which is defined in U.S. Code, title 10, section 467 as “the exploitation and analysis of imagery and geospatial information to describe, assess, and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on or about the earth. Geospatial intelligence consists of imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information.” The NCAC also provides the secretariat with staff and manages the U.S. interagency Civil Applications Committee (CAC), which oversees and facilitates the appropriate civilian uses of overhead remote-sensing technology and data collected by military and intelligence systems and commercial sources. Funded by the USGS National Land Imaging Program, the NCAC operates facilities in Reston, Virginia, and Lakewood, Colorado.

Suggested Citation

Young, P.M., 2023, National Civil Applications Center (ver. 1.1, March 2023): U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2022–3085, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20223085.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • Scientific Applications
  • Global Fiducials Library
  • Data Acquisition and Use by Federal Civilian Agencies
  • Early Topographic Mapping Applications
  • Civil Applications Committee
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title National Civil Applications Center
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2022-3085
DOI 10.3133/fs20223085
Edition Version 1.0: January 2023; Version 1.1: March 2023
Year Published 2023
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) National Civil Applications Center
Description 4 p.
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details