Each of the three Geography programs of the USGS addresses different parts of the geographic knowledge spectrum.

Geographic Analysis and Monitoring (GAM) conducts research to understand the rates, causes, and consequences of landscape change over time and uses that understanding to model change processes for predicting future conditions. The program demonstrates the value of The National Map through case-study applications that concern specific environmental, natural resource, and economic issues.

Land Remote Sensing (LRS) is the Nation's portal to the largest archive of remotely sensed land data in the world. Working with NASA, NOAA, commercial satellite companies, State and local governments, and international programs, the LRS Program collects, maintains, and distributes millions of images acquired from satellite and aircraft sensors. From such images scientists and land managers, both public and private, derive information about natural resources, hazards, and long-term changes to the landscape. Through advancements in data archive and processing technology and through the operation and maintenance of satellites such as Landsats 5 and 7, the LRS Program provides continuous access to worldwide land images that can be used in mankind's effort to sustain the ever-changing Earth.

Cooperative Topographic Mapping (CTM) works with partners in other Federal agencies; in State, county, and local governments; and in the private sector to ensure that accurate, current, and complete data that locate and describe the Earth's features are available and that products such as the USGS topographic series maps are kept up to date.

This program is moving to the newly created National Geospatial Programs Office (NGPO) in the Geospatial Information Office in the late fall of 2004. In a bold, forward-looking step, the USGS Director has realigned the geospatial programs for which the USGS has a leadership responsibility into the NGPO to serve the needs and interests of the geospatial community throughout the Nation. This realignment brings the Cooperative Topographic Mapping Program, along with The National Map, Geospatial One Stop, and the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) into a single program office. With the creation of the NGPO, the essential components of delivering the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and capitalizing on the power of place will be managed as a unified portfolio that benefits the entire geospatial community. The emphasis of the NGPO will be to engage partners throughout the geospatial community in its planning and in ensuring that its unified portfolio meets the needs of those on the landscape. By connecting the components of The National Map (integrated base data), FGDC (coordination, policy, and standards), and Geospatial One Stop (information discovery and access), and by embracing and communicating the message of the importance of the NSDI, the geospatial community and the Nation will realize the vision of “current geographic data being readily available across the country.”