The U.S. Geological Survey is prototyping a system called the Intelligent National Map (INM) to help scientists and emergency managers use geospatial data more effectively. The INM uses artificial intelligence to automate complex mapping tasks such as identifying streams, analyzing landforms, and detecting changes in the landscape. It works with trusted federal data, including elevation models, topographic maps, and hydrography layers. Instead of producing opaque results, the system creates intermediate outputs that follow scientific mapping standards and preserve important details about how results were generated.

The INM uses specialized agents, which are software components trained to carry out specific tasks such as stream centerline extraction or feature validation. These agents reduce the time required to prepare data and make it easier for scientists to analyze environmental conditions, monitor hazards, and respond to change. This work supports transparency, repeatability, and consistency in Earth science analysis using tools designed to preserve context and enable trusted outcomes. Although still in the prototyping phase, early results demonstrate value for applications such as flood modeling, landform classification, and environmental assessment.