Information availability is a vital aspect of homeland security efforts. Knowing what types of information are available to the public helps agencies predict and prevent compromising situations and protect United States critical infrastructure. Mapping the Risks: Assessing the Homeland Security Implications of Publicly Available Geospatial Information is an insightful study, which delves into geospatial data and information that is publicly available from United States federal sources and how it can be used.

The report, conducted by the RAND Corporation and sponsored by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the study partner, the United States Geological Society, is now available. RAND researchers conducted an extensive review of publicly accessible federal geospatial sources as well as a sampling of nonfederal sources and identified 465 programs, offices, or major initiatives at 30 different federal agencies and departments that make various types of geospatial information available to the public.

The summary and full report are available for free download in PDF format at www.rand.org/publications/MG/MG142. Any United States government employee (federal, state, or local) can receive one hard copy of the report for free by sending an e-mail request to order@rand.org with the document title "Mapping the Risks," number MG142, and a valid government mailing address and e-mail address. United States military employees may receive up to 10 copies for free.

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