About MAPSIT

The acquisition, organization and analysis of planetary spatial data, including images, cartography and geologic mapping is critical for linking science investigation and exploration planning for all solid bodies in the Solar System.  The Mapping and Planetary Spatial Infrastructure Team (MAPSIT) is a community-based, interdisciplinary forum for the discussion, analysis, and representation of matters concerning the creation and development of planetary geographic information and cartographic products, a program of sustained planetary geologic mapping, and the tools necessary for these capabilities, particularly as they pertain to the future direction of the Cartography Program executed by the United States Geological Survey. The MAPSIT mission is to advance American objectives in space achievement by ensuring that planetary data is usable for any conceivable purpose, now or in the future, by the scientific and engineering communities.  MAPSIT will:

  1. Provide findings concerning the scientific rationale, objectives, technology, and long-range strategic priorities for integration of image datasets, geologic mapping, geospatial software development, and cartographic programs;
  2. Help ensure that the highest image data analysis, cartographic, planetary nomenclature, and geologic mapping standards are developed for and maintained in present and future NASA flight missions and research activities;
  3. assess the accuracy and precision required for cartographic and geographic information systems technologies and products;
  4. Help to coordinate and enable the co-registration of datasets from international missions with those from US missions; and
  5. Assist NASA and the USGS as needed in developing, fostering, and maintaining critical US geospatial, cartographic and geologic mapping capabilities. 

Together, these actions will help ensure that the planetary science community can widely leverage planetary geospatial data and products to make ongoing research discoveries that advance critical Solar System research goals.