Opportunity Information: Apply for G17AS00058
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G17AS00058) is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary funding announcement issued by the Department of the Interior. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the selected recipient would be expected to work closely with USGS staff and participate in an active collaboration rather than simply receiving a hands-off grant. The opportunity was created on April 3, 2017, with an original closing date of April 21, 2017, and it anticipated making a single award.
The funding is offered through the USGS Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS). CEGIS focuses on research and solution development that supports two major national geospatial efforts: The National Map (a key USGS resource for authoritative base mapping data) and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), which is the broader framework for coordinating geospatial data standards, access, and interoperability across the United States. In practical terms, the work supported by this award is intended to strengthen how foundational geospatial datasets are produced, integrated, described, and used, particularly in ways that make them more consistent, scalable, and machine-interpretable.
The specific emphasis of this opportunity is on geographic information science (GIScience) and terrain ontologies, with the work situated within the scope of the Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU network. Terrain ontologies generally refer to structured, formal ways of defining and relating terrain concepts (for example, ridge, valley, slope, watershed divides, and related landform or hydrologic features) so that computer systems can better interpret, integrate, and reason over geospatial information. By targeting GIScience and ontologies, the program is signaling an interest not just in producing maps, but in advancing the underlying semantics and computational methods that help different datasets fit together and support more reliable analysis.
CEGIS notes several representative research areas that may be addressed under this cooperative agreement. These include automated data integration and generalization, which involves combining datasets from different sources and scales and then simplifying or standardizing them for consistent use in mapping products. Another highlighted area is creating geospatial semantics for The National Map, essentially building shared meaning and standardized descriptions so that map layers and features are easier to interpret correctly across systems and users. The opportunity also references research on the representation of geospatial data and phenomena, pointing to foundational questions about how real-world features and processes should be modeled digitally. High performance computing is included as a current interest area as well, suggesting the need to handle large volumes of data and computationally intensive workflows. Finally, CEGIS identifies applications of gazetteers and ontologies for hydrologic and terrain data and lidar. This signals interest in methods that connect place names and feature identifiers (gazetteers) with formal concept frameworks (ontologies) to improve discovery, integration, and analysis of hydrology, terrain, and lidar-derived elevation products.
Eligibility is limited to CESU partners under the Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU, and the eligible applicant type is listed as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. The award ceiling is $32,000, and the announcement expected to fund one project, indicating a small, focused effort, likely suited to a targeted research task, pilot study, prototype development, or a narrowly scoped method demonstration that can plug into broader USGS geospatial initiatives.
To be competitive and successful under the cooperative agreement, applicants are expected to demonstrate complementary research interests aligned with CEGIS priorities and the capacity to contribute to the identified topic areas and related emerging needs. In effect, the USGS is seeking a partner who can collaborate on advancing the science and methods behind national-scale geospatial data products, with particular relevance to terrain understanding and semantic/ontology-driven approaches that can enhance how data are organized, interpreted, and reused. For more context on the CEGIS mission and ongoing work, the announcement points to http://cegis.usgs.gov/.Apply for G17AS00058
- The Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.817.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 03, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 21, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $32,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU opportunity, Funding Opportunity Number G17AS00058.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
The funding announcement is issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior.
What type of award is being offered?
The announcement is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means the recipient is expected to work closely with USGS staff in an active collaboration, rather than receiving a hands-off grant.
What does "cooperative agreement" mean for day-to-day project work?
Based on the description provided, the selected recipient should expect ongoing coordination with USGS personnel, including collaboration and participation in project activities where USGS staff are engaged partners.
Who is administering or sponsoring the work within USGS?
The funding is offered through the USGS Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS).
What is CEGIS focused on?
CEGIS focuses on research and solution development supporting two national geospatial efforts: The National Map and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). The emphasis is on strengthening how foundational geospatial datasets are produced, integrated, described, and used, particularly in ways that improve consistency, scalability, and machine-interpretability.
How does this opportunity relate to The National Map?
The National Map is described as a key USGS resource for authoritative base mapping data. The opportunity’s research themes include areas such as geospatial semantics for The National Map, which aims to make map layers and features easier to interpret correctly across systems and users.
How does this opportunity relate to the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)?
NSDI is described as a framework for coordinating geospatial data standards, access, and interoperability across the United States. The opportunity’s focus on semantics, integration, and machine-interpretable descriptions aligns with improving interoperability and consistent use of geospatial data.
What is the main technical emphasis of the opportunity?
The specific emphasis is on geographic information science (GIScience) and terrain ontologies, within the scope of the Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU network.
What are terrain ontologies in the context of this opportunity?
Terrain ontologies are described as structured, formal ways of defining and relating terrain concepts (such as ridge, valley, slope, and watershed divides) so computer systems can better interpret, integrate, and reason over geospatial information.
Is the opportunity mainly about producing maps?
The description signals interest beyond map production. It emphasizes advancing semantics and computational methods that help different datasets fit together and support more reliable analysis, especially through ontology-driven approaches.
What research areas are specifically mentioned as being in scope?
The announcement lists representative research areas that may be addressed, including: automated data integration and generalization; creating geospatial semantics for The National Map; research on representation of geospatial data and phenomena; high performance computing; and applications of gazetteers and ontologies for hydrologic and terrain data and lidar.
What is meant by "automated data integration and generalization" here?
It refers to combining datasets from different sources and scales and then simplifying or standardizing them for consistent use in mapping products.
What does "geospatial semantics for The National Map" mean?
It is described as building shared meaning and standardized descriptions so that map layers and features are easier to interpret correctly across systems and users.
What does the opportunity mean by "representation of geospatial data and phenomena"?
The description points to foundational questions about how real-world features and processes should be modeled digitally, implying a focus on the underlying conceptual and computational representation of geographic information.
Why is high performance computing (HPC) mentioned?
HPC is included as a current interest area, suggesting the work may involve large data volumes or computationally intensive workflows connected to national-scale geospatial data production and analysis.
How do gazetteers fit into this work?
The opportunity highlights applications of gazetteers and ontologies, indicating interest in connecting place names and feature identifiers (gazetteers) with formal concept frameworks (ontologies) to improve discovery, integration, and analysis.
What data themes are explicitly called out for gazetteer and ontology applications?
The announcement specifically mentions hydrologic and terrain data and lidar, signaling interest in ontology- and gazetteer-enabled methods for those domains.
What is the relationship to the Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU network?
The work is situated within the scope of the Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU network, and eligibility is limited to CESU partners under that CESU.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to CESU partners under the Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU. The eligible applicant type is listed as "Others," and additional eligibility details are referenced in the full announcement.
How much funding is available?
The award ceiling is $32,000.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The announcement anticipated making a single award and expected to fund one project.
What kind of project scope does this funding level suggest?
Given the $32,000 ceiling and the expectation of one award, the description indicates a small, focused effort likely suited to a targeted research task, pilot study, prototype development, or a narrowly scoped method demonstration that can plug into broader USGS geospatial initiatives.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on April 3, 2017, with an original closing date of April 21, 2017.
What characteristics are emphasized for a competitive application?
Applicants are expected to demonstrate complementary research interests aligned with CEGIS priorities and the capacity to contribute to the identified topic areas and related emerging needs, within a collaborative cooperative agreement relationship with USGS staff.
What is the overall goal of the work supported by this award?
The work is intended to strengthen how foundational geospatial datasets are produced, integrated, described, and used, especially to improve consistency, scalability, and machine-interpretable understanding, with particular relevance to terrain understanding and semantic/ontology-driven methods.
Where can applicants find more context about CEGIS?
The announcement points to http://cegis.usgs.gov/ for more context on the CEGIS mission and ongoing work.
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