Digital Raster Graphics (DRG)

DRG Description

• What is a DRG?

Enhanced DRG Description

The National Cartography and Geospatial Center (NCGC) has acquired digital raster graphics (DRG) for the entire United States and its territories. Data were originally developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the Teale Data Center. These files were processed to remove the map collar (white border containing ancillary information) surrounding the map image. In addition, enhancements to the DRG dataset included standardization of the color map, the image cell size, and the UTM projections.

The removal of the collar information allows the Enhanced DRGs to be edge-matched and displayed simultaneously in a geographic information system (GIS). The Enhanced DRG is useful as a source or background layer in a GIS, as a means to perform quality assurance on other digital products, and as a source for the collection and revision of vector data.

Enhanced DRG Products

Enhanced DRGs of various scales are available for ordering via the USDA Geospatial Data Gateway. The NCGC has also produced 1:24,000 map scale, MrSID compressed mosaics for every county in the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, which are also available for ordering. 

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