A long-term observational record of a predetermined set of sites is valuable in identifying and understanding environmental processes, variations, and changes that occur over years or decades. These variations and changes may be natural environmental events or anthropogenic changes to the natural or physical environment.

Remote sensing is an excellent means for compiling long-term records of environmental data at specific sites. Remote sensing assets provide the capability to efficiently survey a location repeatedly with the same or similar measurements over long periods of time.

The purpose of the Global Fiducial Program is to utilize the unique capabilities of classified remote sensing assets to create a legacy of long-term environmental data from a fixed set of sites worldwide to benefit the environmental missions of civil federal agencies.

The National Park Service maintains a total of 64 Global Fiducial sites in the following park units: Assateague, Denali, Cape Cod, Channel Islands, Glacier, Fire Island, Grand Canyon, Great Smokey Mountains, Isle Royal, Mammoth Cave, Mount Rainier, New River Gorge, Ozark National Scenic Riverway, Prairie Parks Cluster, Shenandoah, and Virgin Islands.

The Global Fiducial Library of remotely sensed imagery is maintained by USGS, in Reston, Virginia. DOQ products can be produced from the imagery for about $1,000 per site. For more information or to order DOQs please contact Joe Gregson at 303-969-2964.

Global Fiducial Site Attributes

• Site locations and characteristics are relevant to the study of environmental processes and global change phenomena
• Sites have a legacy of observational data and/or scientific study
• Synergy exists with ongoing or planned research activities
  • Field-based monitoring
  • Environmental process studies
  • Remote sensing research

Send Comments or questions to david_duran@nps.gov