Metadata for Montana Names from the Geographic Names Information System, 2007 Metadata for Montana Names from the Geographic Names Information System, 2007

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Identification Information:

Citation:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey

Publication date: 10/31/2007

Title:

Montana Names from the Geographic Names Information System, 2007

Publication place: Helena, Montana
Publisher: Montana State Library

Other citation details:

The former name of this data set on the NRIS web site was "gnis"

Larger Work Citation:

Title: Montana Geographic Names Framework
Online linkage: http://mslapps.mt.gov/Geographic_Information/Data/DataList/datalist_Details.aspx?did={0c57ebe2-f8e8-4d55-b159-ab3202898956}

Abstract:

The Geographic Names Information System holds the Federally recognized name of and a location for physical and cultural geographic features of all types in the United States, current and historical, but not including roads and highways. The database assigns a unique, permanent feature identifier as a standard Federal key for accessing, integrating, or reconciling feature data from multiple data sets. The GNIS collects data from a broad program of partnerships with Federal, State, and local government agencies and other authorized contributors. The GNIS provides data to all levels of government and to the public, as well as to numerous applications through a web query site, web map and feature services, file download services, and customized files upon request.

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is the Federal standard for geographic nomenclature. The U.S. Geological Survey developed the GNIS for the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, a Federal inter-agency body chartered by public law to maintain uniform feature name usage throughout the Government and to promulgate standard names to the public. The GNIS is the official repository of domestic geographic names data; the official vehicle for geographic names use by all departments of the Federal Government; and the source for applying geographic names to Federal electronic and printed products of all types.

This version of the GNIS was developed from the Montana GNIS text file dated October 15, 2007 that was available on the USGS web site at http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/download_data.htm. The State Library has performed extensive edits to the data, which are described in the Supplemental Information section of this metadata document.

The archive for this layer also contains the GNIS text file.

Purpose:

Inventory and location of place names, to promote geographic feature name standardization, and to serve as the Federal Government's repository of information regarding feature name spellings and applications for features in U.S. The names listed in the inventory can be published on Federal maps, charts, and in other documents. The feature locative information has been used in emergency preparedness, marketing, site-selection and analysis, genealogical and historical research, and transportation routing applications.

Supplemental information:

The GNIS text file from USGS contained over 20,000 un-named wells, mines, and springs that have been deleted from this copy of the GNIS.

The text file contained many features that are partially in Montana, but whose primary coordinates are outside of the state. In this copy, the coordinate has been moved to the nearest appropriate location on the state boundary.

Before 2005, features entered into the GNIS were assigned elevations if the GNIS staff noted an elevation printed on a topographic map. The current GNIS from USGS has an elevation for every feature, estimated from the National Elevation Dataset. In this copy of the GNIS, the estimated elevations have been replaced by the old GNIS elevations where they are available. Additionally, many elevations, especially of mountain peaks, have been replaced by the elevations printed on current 1:24,000 scale topographic maps.

This copy of the GNIS also has many corrections in the names, feature classes, and locations of features that have been noted at the State Library. A list of all the difference between this copy of the GNIS and the official version at USGS has been forwarded to the USGS for their consideration and are available on request. All of the features in this copy of the GNIS have a value in the Change_Log field that indicate what sorts of edits have been performed on them.

Each feature is represented in this file by its "primary point". A geographic feature may have only one primary point regardless of size or extent. A point feature is defined by this single set of coordinates on the USGS National Base Map series at a scale of 1:24000 or 1:25000. The primary point of a linear feature depends on the feature class. If feature class equals stream, valley or arroyo, the primary point is the mouth. The primary point of a canal, channel, or trail is the center. The primary point of a ridge is the highest point. The primary point of an areal feature is the approximate geographic center with the following exceptions: The primary point of a populated place is the center of original place, if known, such as the city or town hall, main post office, or town square regardless of changes over time; The primary point of a reservoir is the center of the dam; The primary point of a summit, range, ridge, or pillar is the highest point. These points do not represent feature boundaries or geometries and should not be confused with them.

Time period of content:

Calendar date: 10/31/2007
Currentness reference: Publication Date

Access constraints: None

Use constraints:

While this data set is useful for locating features, it is not intended to locate what features are near a location or within a given area. Large features such as streams and national forests are represented here by a single point, and the absence from the GNIS of a point for a feature in any area does not mean the feature is not in that area.

The Montana State Library provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.

Point of contact:

Montana State Library
P.O. Box 201800
Helena, Montana 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5354
TDD/TTY telephone: Montana Relay 711
Fax: 406-444-0266
E-Mail: geoinfo@mt.gov

Data set credit:

The Geographic Names Information System was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Data Quality Information:

Attribute accuracy report:

The attributes were copied directly from the GNIS files. The State Library has not performed any quality checking on this data.

At the USGS, a random sample of 10% of the entries in the system were visually verified against the compilation source data (large-scale USGS topographic maps) to ensure an accuracy rate of at least 95%.

Completeness report:

This dataset contains information about United States physical and cultural geographic features of all types and classes, with the exception of most roads and highways. Subsequent to the original data compilation process, which was taken primarily from Federal maps, the GNIS has become dependent on input from Federal, State, county, and local government agencies and other approved sources. The completeness, currency, and accuracy of the data varies by area depending on the quality and timeliness of that input. Accordingly, the Geographic Names Project actively seeks to expand partnerships with Government agencies at all levels and other interested organizations. The latest tools and methodologies are being applied, including web map and feature services, and joint or linked web applications, to ensure that local data are properly represented in the GNIS and through the GNIS to all Federal agencies and to the public. Feature additions or corrections are accepted for consideration from any source, and when validated by appropriate agencies, will be entered into the database. Local and State agencies are encouraged to submit data and to participate in the GNIS partnership program. Non-government organizations with valuable data are considered on a case basis. Authorized partners have access to web based transaction entry and edit forms, which submit data directly to the GNIS for review and inclusion in the database. Partners also submit batch files in most standard formats, and coordinate with the Geographic Names Project to develop joint services, processes, and applications for greatest efficiency. Data entered into the GNIS immediately is available to all web services and applications dependent on it. For additional information or to request user accounts for entry and edit of production data and web seminar training, contact gnis_manager@usgs.gov

Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report:

It appears that many of the locations in the GNIS were recorded by manual methods from topographic maps, and it is not unusual for features to be 30-50 meters away from their correct locations.

Lineage:

Source information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
Publication date: 10/15/2007
Title: Geographic Names Information System
Online linkage: http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/download_data.htm
Source contribution: The data set is an edited version of this source.
Calendar date: 10/15/2007

Source information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
Publication date: 1998
Title: 1:24,000 Scale Topographic Map Images
Online linkage: http://nris.mt.gov/nsdi/orthophotos/raster_svc.htm
Source contribution:: This is the source used by the State Library to edit elevations and locations of features.
Beginning date: 1950
Ending date: 1998

Process step:

The GNIS text file was downloaded from USGS, converted to an ESRI feature class, and projected from Latitude/Longitude NAD83 coordinates to Montana State Plane Coordinates.


Process date: 10/31/2007

Process step:

Changes to the GNIS that were noted at the State Library during 2007 were applied to the October 2007 version of the file.

Process contact:

Gerry Daumiller
Montana State Library
PO Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5358
E-Mail: gdaumiller@mt.gov

Spatial Data Organization Information:

Point and vector object information:

SDTS object type: Point

SDTS object count: 550966

Spatial Reference Information:

Horizontal coordinate system definition:

Grid coordinate system name: State Plane Coordinate System

SPCS zone identifier: 2500

Lambert conformal conic:

Standard parallel: 45.00
Standard parallel: 49.00
Longitude of central meridian: -109.50
Latitude of projection origin: 44.25
False easting: 600000.00
False northing: 0.00

Planar distance units: meters

Geodetic model:

Horizontal datum name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid name: Geodetic Reference System 80
Semi-major axis: 6378137.00
Denominator of flattening ratio: 298.257222

Altitude system definition:

Altitude datum name: NGVD29
Altitude resolution: 1
Altitude distance units: FEET
Altitude encoding method: Attribute values

Entity and Attribute Information:

Entity type label: Geographic Feature

Entity type definition:

A geographic feature is any relatively permanent part of the natural or manmade landscape or seascape that has recognizable identity within a particular cultural context. The primary attributes of a geographic feature are name and location.

Attribute label: FID

Attribute definition: Shapefile sequence number

Attribute label: Shape

Attribute definition: Feature geometry

Attribute label: GNIS_ID

Attribute definition:: This is the unique Feature_ID assigned to the feature by the GNIS. This copy of the GNIS has eight features with GNIS-IDs between 0 and 7 that were added by the State Library and do not have official GNIS feature IDs yet.

This number is assigned by the Geographic Names Information System and used as a relational key for uniquely identifying, indexing, and searching geographic features and for integrating or reconciling GNIS data with other data sets. The number has no information content. The GNIS Feature ID supersedes the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 55 Place Code as the Federal standard unique feature identifier and is under consideration as an ANSI standard.

Attribute label: Name

Attribute definition:: Official Feature Name. If a feature has a 1 in the ten millions column of the Change_Log field, the name was edited by the State Library.

Attribute label: Class

Attribute definition:: The GNIS has 65 types that a feature may be classified as. 58 of these classes occur in this file for Montana. If a feature has a 1 in the hundreds column of the Change_Log field, the feature has been reclassified at the State Library.

Attribute label: County

Attribute definition: County that the feature's primary point is in.

Attribute label: Latitude

Attribute definition:: Latitude of the feature's primary point. If the feature is a stream, this is usually the coordinate of the mouth of the stream. If the value of the Change_Log field has a 1 in the ones column, this feature was moved from outside of Montana to the state boundary. If the value of the Change_Log field has a 1 in the tens column, the location of the feature was edited by the State Library.

Attribute label: Longitude

Attribute definition:: Longitude of the feature's primary point. If the feature is a stream, this is usually the coordinate of the mouth of the stream. If the value of the Change_Log field has a 1 in the ones column, this feature was moved from outside of Montana to the state boundary. If the value of the Change_Log field has a 1 in the tens column, the location of the feature was edited by the State Library.

Attribute label: Source_Lat

Attribute definition:: Latitude of the feature's upper end. This is blank for most features other than streams and valleys.

Attribute label: Source_Lon

Attribute definition:: Longitude of the feature's upper end. This is blank for most features other than streams and valleys.

Attribute label: Elevation

Attribute definition:: Elevation of the feature in feet. This elevation may be an estimate from the National Elevation Dataset, a printed map elevation copied from the 2002 GNIS, or an elevation recorded by the State Library from a topographic map. The value of the Change_Log field will have a 1 in the thousands place if the elevation was noted as being printed on a 1:24,000 scale topographic map, a 1 in the ten-thousands place if the elevation was estimated by examining the feature location on a 1:24,000 scale topographic map, and a 1 in the hundred-thousands place if the elevation was copied from the 2002 GNIS. The elevation source of the 2002 GNIS is believed to be the largest scale topographic map that was available when the feature was entered into the GNIS in the 1980s, which may have been a 1:100000, 1:62500, or 1:24000 scale map.

Attribute label: Map_Name

Attribute definition:: Name of the 7.5-minute USGS quadrangle that the feature's primary point is in.

Attribute label: Change_Log

Attribute definition:: This indicates edits performed on the feature by the State Library. Different types of edits are indicated by the existence of ones in various columns of the decimal value.

Attribute label: State_X

Attribute definition:: Montana State Plane X-Coordinate, in meters, of the feature's primary point

Attribute label: STATEY

Attribute definition:: Montana State Plane Y-Coordinate, in meters, of the feature's primary point

Distribution Information:

Distributor:

Montana State Library
PO Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5354
TDD/TTY telephone: Montana Relay 711
Fax: 406-444-0266
E-Mail: geoinfo@mt.gov

Resource description: Offline Data

Distribution liability:

The Montana State Library provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.

Metadata Reference Information:

Metadata date: 04/01/2015

Metadata review date: 10/31/2007

Metadata contact:

Montana State Library
P.O. Box 201800
Helena, Montana 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5354
TDD/TTY telephone: Montana Relay 711
Fax: 406-444-0266
E-Mail: geoinfo@mt.gov