---
kind: "section"
citation: "23 U.S.C. § 306"
title: "23"
title_heading: "Highways"
number: "306"
heading: "Mapping"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/23/306"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — General Provisions"
---

# §306. Mapping

- (a) **In General.—** In carrying out the provisions of this title, the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) shall, wherever practicable, authorize the use of photogrammetric methods in mapping, and the utilization of commercial enterprise for such services.
- (b) **Guidance.—** The [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) shall issue guidance to encourage [States](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) to utilize, to the maximum extent practicable, private sector sources for surveying and mapping services for [projects](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) under this title. In carrying out this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) shall recommend appropriate roles for [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) government and private mapping and surveying activities, including—
  - (1) preparation of standards and specifications;
  - (2) research in surveying and mapping instrumentation and procedures and technology transfer to the private sector;
  - (3) providing technical guidance, coordination, and administration of [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) surveying and mapping activities; and
  - (4) recommending methods for increasing the use by the [States](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) of private sector sources for surveying and mapping activities.
- (c) **Implementation.—** The [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) shall develop a process for the oversight and monitoring, on an annual basis, of the compliance of each [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) with the guidance issued under [subsection (b)](#b).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–767, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 913; Pub. L. 104–59, title III, § 321, Nov. 28, 1995, 109 Stat. 590; Pub. L. 112–141, div. A, title I, § 1517(a), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 574.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2012—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1517(a)(1), substituted “shall” for “may”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1517(a)(2), substituted “State government and” for “State and” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 112–141, § 1517(a)(3), added subsec. (c).

1995—Pub. L. 104–59 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.