Lowell E. Starr | Search USGS

USGS1986

USGS NATIONAL MAPPING PROGRAM IN ALASKA--A STATUS REPORT.

The U. S. Geological Survey has been involved in mapping in Alaska since the late 1800's. The initial mapping projects were principally in support of geologic or hydrologic studies. In the late 1940's, responsibility for Alaska mapping was assigned to the Geological Survey's Rocky Mountain Mapping Center and a comprehensive and systematic mapping effort was undertaken. This effort was principally directed towards providing topographic map coverage of the State at 1:63,360 scale. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in mapping activity in the State. Presently the National Mapping Program in Alaska includes 14 different production mapping activities and several information and cartographic assistance activities.

Conference Paper↗

USGS1984

RESEARCH FOR THE USGS DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHY PROGRAM.

The U. S. Geological Survey National Mapping Division (NMD) has been conducting research and development in digital cartography since the early seventies. Since 1977 there has been an acceleration of activities associated with establishing a National Digital Cartographic Data Base (NDCDB). The NMD Office of Research is primarily responsible for fundamental and applied research together with systems development and technical standards to support the digital cartographic program. Three phases of development have been defined - the current system, an optimum system that can be built with current technology, and a future system that could be defined after some basic research is completed. Some of the current projects related to automated data capture, editing, coding, and structuring are described together with a perspective on future directions. The overall rationale is to develop a very large integrated system that will support a NDCDB and lead toward operational geographic information systems.

Conference Paper↗