US Army Corps of Engineers Navigation Data Center

Data and Source

What is it?
The U.S. Waterway Data is a collection of data related to the navigable waters in theUnited States, including inland waterways, off-shore waters, the Great Lakes, and the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Data on commerce, facilities, locks, dredging, imports and exports, and accidents are included along with the geographic waterway network.

Where is it from?
The data were compiled from several agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Navigation Data Center, the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the U.S. Coast Guard, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Vanderbilt University, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

How do I get it?
All data sets are available from the US Army Corps of Engineers Navigation Center

The following data sets are included on the site:

Waterbourne Commerce Statistics Center
Vessel Characteristics
Ports and Waterways Facilities
Dredging Program
Lock Characteristics
Lock Performance Monitoring System

Format and Retrieval

Do I need to download the data?
Some data must be downloaded to use, but full Port Series reports must be purchased.

Port Series reports may be ordered from the Navigation Data Center (CEIWR-NDC-N), 7701 Telegraph Road, Casey Building, Alexandria, VA 22315-3868. Federal law requires advance payment for all purchases. Check or money order (in U.S. funds) should be made payable to the Superintendent of Documents. Telephone/Telefax orders are accepted and can be charged to Visa, MasterCard, Discover/Novus, American Express, and Superintendent of Documents accounts. Publications are mailed postpaid (4th Class Mail) on the same day that order is received unless a prepaid, alternate delivery method is specified. Prices are subject to change without notice.

What programs do I need to use the data?
The data included here are in standard file formats that can be easily imported into other software tools such as spreadsheets, databases, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Click on the subject areas in the left margin for a complete description of the data.
Some reports are in .pdf format for which Adobe Acrobat is required.

Is Metadata included?
Yes

Do I need to pay/register to use data?
No

Potential Uses

The Navigation Data Center had several objectives in developing the U.S. Waterway Data. These objectives support the concept of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), which are to: Provide public access to national waterway data. Foster interagency and intra-agency cooperation through data sharing. Provide a mechanism to integrate waterway data (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Port/Facility and U.S. Coast Guard Accident Data, for example) Provide a basis for intermodal analysis. Assist standardization of waterway entity definitions (Ports/Facilities, Locks, etc.). Provide public access to the National Waterway Network, which can be used as a basemap to support graphical overlays and analysis with other spatial data (waterway and modal network/facility databases, for example). Provide reliable data to support future waterway and intermodal applications.

Reliability of Data

To ensure that Corps decisions are based on the best available data, database modernization is continual. This provides more timely, accurate and flexible information. Modernization includes standardizing terms, software and hardware upgrades, integrating NDC databases, and the application of varied data access techniques.

Update Frequency
Update is ongoing.

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