Successful Volunteer Experience of GPA Member Amber Yu:
Last December, once Greater Princeton AYLUS teamed up to volunteer with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), I registered at the website and became an official volunteer for the USGS National Map Corps (TNMCorps, https://edits.nationalmap.gov/tnmcorps/). TNMCorps is a community of volunteers who review and confirm the data of the structures that are going into The National Map, including the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Before getting started, I carefully read over the TNMCorps User Guide, which is a comprehensive resource for learning about the editing process. It is clearly stated in the guide that the TNMCorps is currently collecting ten different structure features, including schools, hospitals, post offices, police stations, and other important public buildings.
First, start by clicking on the Edit tab to add new structures, edit existing structures, and remove obsolete structure points. For a new user, this is also called a Standard Editor, this means you can only edit points with a red border. After researching, enter the structure type, name and address. Then click the “Save” button and wait for a pop up message should saying, “your feature successfully saved”. Generally speaking, at the beginning it may take you quite a while to edit a single point mainly because each point needs to be properly researched and edited. Once you are familiar with the procedure, it won’t take that much time to edit a single point.
Below are some samples that would be useful to those who are interested in map editing:
(1) When editing points, make sure to check an authoritative source for the most accurate and up to date information about a feature. For example, The Jesus School closed a few years ago according to its website, so it should be deleted.
(2) The name of the editing point should match what is listed on its website. If not, you must update it.
(3) Franklin Park School had a General School icon when both the district website and NCES describe it as serving grades K-5. So its symbol needed to be changed to an Elementary School. Also, spell out the abbreviations in the ‘Address 1’ field.
(4) TNMCorps is not collecting ambulance services operated by fire stations. For example, Mount Laurel Fellowship Fire Station 362. If the fire department’s website also lists the department as providing EMS services, then this point of Mount Laurel EMS should be deleted.
Below are some additional tips:
1. For anyone who is ready to get started, check out their QuickStart Guide.
2. Google Chrome is the ideal browser to use with our online editor.
3. If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to the staff at nationalmapcorps@usgs.gov. They are super friendly and helpful.
Last but not least, by participating in TNMCorps, we’re actually considered a citizen scientist! As volunteers, we are making significant contributions to the USGS’s ability to provide the Nation with accurate mapping information. Furthermore, it is a fun way to contribute to a greater cause and collect badges from the National Map Corps (to show each citizen scientist ongoing appreciation for their hard work outside of the occasional special challenge, TNMCorps has established a recognition program that awards “virtual” badges to volunteers. Each unique point edited or confirmed is worth one point towards the badge level).
I have entered the Order of the Surveyor’s Chain (25-49), the Society of the Steel Tape (50-99), the Pedometer Posse (100-199), and the Circle of the Surveyor’s Compass (200-499). Next, I’ll consider participating in the peer review process. Peer Review Editors are responsible for checking and improving points edited by Standard Editors, and ensuring the data going into The National Map is high quality and accurate. Happy mapping!
A Note from GPA President Cassie Tammy Wang:
Congratulations, Amber! The points that Amber Yu edited have accumulated community service time of 4 hours so far!
GPA expects the other USGS volunteer team members to get inspired by Amber’s successful editing experience, and work harder at home on this “Conservation” Online Map Editing Project as Citizen Scientists!