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figuration implies more than simply automating previous manual proced
ures. The current NMD mapping process as shown in figure 4 is largely a
linear sequence of operations, all of which must be accomplished to
produce the final product—a printed map. Appended to the process are
several digitizing operations that spin off some categories of data for
the embryonic digital cartographic data base. The proposed future
mapping process, shown in figure 5, emphasizes the digital cartographic
data base and the independent assemblage of data categories, each ac
cording to its own requirements for currency and by methods most
appropriate to the category. Another effect of emphasizing data cate
gories in a data base will be the ability to manage a particular category
according to the full range of its applications and not be constrained
by the printed representation.
TYPICAL NMD DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
Each of the four NMD mapping centers has been equipped (with some slight
variations) with the equipment shown in table 1. In addition, the Divi
sion has other digital cartographic equipment shown in table 2 that is
available only at a single location. There is also a larger mainframe
computer facility at the USGS National Center in Reston, Va., with addi
tional computers in Denver, Colo, and Menlo Park, Calif. Each mapping
center has telecommunication facilities to these computers. They are
used for final processing and formatting of the digital cartographic
data and subsequent archiving in the digital cartographic data base.
Table 1.—Typical digital cartographic equipment
in each NMD mapping center (1982)
Number Omit Remarks
4
1
1
1
1
1
3
Altek AC-30SM Graphic Digitizing System
Datapoint 6600 ARC System
Intergraph IGDS-8 Digital Data Edit System
Gerber 4477 Hi-speed Photoplotter
Versatec 4285 Electrostatic Printer
Perkin-Elmer 3230 Minicomputer
Altek AC-189 3-Axis Data Acquisition System
2 with angle digitizing
capability
For data transmission
to/from Amdahl
DEC PDP 11/70. 256K words core
3 WORK STATIONS
2 - 300 mb disks
.003" PRECISION
42" WIDE - 200 points/inch
32 bit - 2 mb core
Interfaced to various
Photogrammetric stereoplotters
2 Threshold Voice Data Entry Terminals
Table 2.—Other NMD digital cartographic equipment (1982)
Numbfr
2
Unit
Gestalt Photomapper (GPM-2)
Location
EMC
Rfmarks
1
Scitex Response 250 Cartographic Raster System
RES
2 Scanners
2 Edit Stations
1 User Plotter
1
DEC PDP 11/60 Minicomputer
RES
Linked to Sciтех
1
Kongsberg 1216 Automated Drafting System
EMC
Symbol Photoplotter
,003" precision
1
Gerber 1232 Photoplotter
EMC
.001' precision
4
Interstate Programmable Voice Data Entry Terminal
MCMC
Audible Response