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Maps for America—Cartoraphic products of the U.S. geological survey and others: A centennial volume 1879–1979
201
Descriptions highlight ecological relationships and species' characteristics such as shape, branching habit, foliage, and shadow-pattern within crowns, plus the shape and density of shadows on the ground visible at large scales. Most conifers have a definite and characteristic crownshape; hardwoods do not. However, identification of young trees is usually difficult. Leaf formation and flowering can provide significant clues, especially on spring photographs of hardwoods. Nevertheless, summer photography is the commonest type because of weather and the constancy of species' appearance Fall photography provides distinction between some hardwoods but wide variability in leaf colours and fall is a problem. Winter photography, although rarely used, sometimes shows useful shadow details on snow. Illustrations include vertical stereograms, sometimes at two scales, but with a bias to larger scales; plan and profile sketches of crownshapes; and photographic profiles. Loss of quality in the screened reproductions is co~siderable but this does not detract significantly from the overall high standard and value of the report. In any case, the author thoughtfully provides details to enable serious users to obtain continuous-tone prints of high quality. The report is therefore recommended highly for practitioners plus tutors and students in forest photo-interpretation. RAYMOND D. SPENCER (Middle Park, Vic.)
Maps for America -- Cartographic Products o f the U.S. Geological Survey and Others: A Centennial Volume 1879--1979. Morris M. Thompson, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va., 1979, 265 pp. The United States Geological Survey (USGS), which has responsibility for the U.S. National Mapping Program, observed its 100th anniversary in 1979. It is entirely fitting that such a milestone should be commemorated by the publication of this impressive volume. It is a monument to a century of important USGS mapping support to the nation. The author, a long-time USGS cartographer, is well known for his own contributions to the present state-of-the-art of U.S. cartography. His book is distinguished by his affection for the subject. It is not a textbook of cartography, since it does not contain details of how maps are made. Instead, it rather successfully explains the meaning of the map content: the colors, images, lines, symbols, captions and notes. After a brief discussion of the history of U.S. surveying and mapping programs, the book introduces the U.S. National Mapping Program, which then becomes the principal theme. There is an interesting and well-illustrated chapter on space age mapping and some guarded predictions about future trends in cartography.
202
It is beautifully illustrated with more than 100 examples of the cartographer's art, all from previously-published material -- mostly USGS maps. There is a straightforward and useful explanation of map reliability and positional accuracy as well as the details of how they are determined and expressed. A brief, non-mathematical treatise on map projections, reference systems and geodetic control -- included as an appendix -- is quite adequate for the casual reader. The occasional map user will find the book instructive and the serious student of cartography will wish to add it to his library for the wealth of reference material it contains. RICHARD P. PEAT (Washington, D.C.)
Descriptions highlight ecological relationships and species' characteristics such as shape, branching habit, foliage, and shadow-pattern within crowns, plus the shape and density of shadows on the ground visible at large scales. Most conifers have a definite and characteristic crownshape; hardwoods do not. However, identification of young trees is usually difficult. Leaf formation and flowering can provide significant clues, especially on spring photographs of hardwoods. Nevertheless, summer photography is the commonest type because of weather and the constancy of species' appearance Fall photography provides distinction between some hardwoods but wide variability in leaf colours and fall is a problem. Winter photography, although rarely used, sometimes shows useful shadow details on snow. Illustrations include vertical stereograms, sometimes at two scales, but with a bias to larger scales; plan and profile sketches of crownshapes; and photographic profiles. Loss of quality in the screened reproductions is co~siderable but this does not detract significantly from the overall high standard and value of the report. In any case, the author thoughtfully provides details to enable serious users to obtain continuous-tone prints of high quality. The report is therefore recommended highly for practitioners plus tutors and students in forest photo-interpretation. RAYMOND D. SPENCER (Middle Park, Vic.)
Maps for America -- Cartographic Products o f the U.S. Geological Survey and Others: A Centennial Volume 1879--1979. Morris M. Thompson, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va., 1979, 265 pp. The United States Geological Survey (USGS), which has responsibility for the U.S. National Mapping Program, observed its 100th anniversary in 1979. It is entirely fitting that such a milestone should be commemorated by the publication of this impressive volume. It is a monument to a century of important USGS mapping support to the nation. The author, a long-time USGS cartographer, is well known for his own contributions to the present state-of-the-art of U.S. cartography. His book is distinguished by his affection for the subject. It is not a textbook of cartography, since it does not contain details of how maps are made. Instead, it rather successfully explains the meaning of the map content: the colors, images, lines, symbols, captions and notes. After a brief discussion of the history of U.S. surveying and mapping programs, the book introduces the U.S. National Mapping Program, which then becomes the principal theme. There is an interesting and well-illustrated chapter on space age mapping and some guarded predictions about future trends in cartography.
202
It is beautifully illustrated with more than 100 examples of the cartographer's art, all from previously-published material -- mostly USGS maps. There is a straightforward and useful explanation of map reliability and positional accuracy as well as the details of how they are determined and expressed. A brief, non-mathematical treatise on map projections, reference systems and geodetic control -- included as an appendix -- is quite adequate for the casual reader. The occasional map user will find the book instructive and the serious student of cartography will wish to add it to his library for the wealth of reference material it contains. RICHARD P. PEAT (Washington, D.C.)