Internal USGS Access Only

The USGS Web

(These links were verified on May 1, 2003)

The Departmental Web Standards Handbook
USGS Web, Hosting, and Application Registry
USGS Web page template (Visual Identity)
Presentation of USGS Data and Publications on the World Wide Web
U.S. Geological Survey Web Standards Handbook [485Mb PDF]
Accessibility Requirements for Web Pages
Privacy Statement Requirement
Section 508 and Web Accessibility
Use of Cookies on USGS Web Sites, includes link to registration form
USGS Web Services Registration
Visual Identity Templates for Web Pages (see also: link labled 'Quick Start')

Enterprise Web (formerly USGS Gateway to the Earth)

Karen Siderelis (GIO) made the observation that all the endevours in USGS which enable user's to better access earth science information are in fact "Gateways to the Earth." This includes The National Map || NWISWeb || Geode || NBII || and many other activites across the USGS and the Nation.

A long standing working definition that states that the focus of the collection of Enterprise Web projects are to provide

a coherent set of interfaces, tools, and architectures that enable diverse users to find, get, and use natural science information in ways that are meaningful to them. It is manifest primarily through a more effective arrangement and presentation of USGS information available through the World Wide Web.

Overview:

This is an excerpt from the original Gateway to the Earth blueprint document, Why do we need a USGS Gateway to the Earth?:

This organization has multiple points of entry through which users get the information and products they need. These include our ESICs, our 1-888-ASK-USGS telephone number, our fax on demand system, our web pages and many others. Each was designed to fill a need and each serves a range of purposes. However, we know from experience that when a user enters through one portal, he or she may not be able to access all of the information available to another user entering through a different portal. We see a need to integrate our entry points so that all users entering through any access point can obtain all USGS information.

That's a tall order and a worthy goal. But as the proverb states, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. We are beginning with the information a user may access when he or she enters via the USGS web site.

The following sites are still under construction and undergoing review and user testing prior to implementation.: Publications Warehouse; A sneak preview to a comprehensive USGS online bibliographic references.; Alphabetical Index of USGS Subjects; Let's have another sneak preview and look at an "Alphabetical Index of USGS Subjects" based on the thesaurus activity and a tagging effort by USGS librarians.

User Directories

Most Web servers allow access to pages with a url in the following form
http://hostname.usgs.gov/~userid/

If a user has a special sub-directory from a Unix home directory, often called "public_html/", they can serve their own pages.

The index.html file in this directory is often used to provide information about that person; these have been called: "signature pages", "personal pages", "professional pages", etc.

Pages that are to have any longevity or are of general interest should be kept in the main document area, not in user areas. The pages will be easier to maintain, easier to index with a local search engine, and in less danger if an employee should leave, or change their name/userid.

slide 54

"Mastering a Web Site" online course
Created and maintained by Lorna Schmid and David Boldt.
http://water.usgs.gov/usgs/training/webmaster/usgs.html
Last modified: Mon Apr 26 12:53:08 EDT 2010