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Computer cartography: World wide technology and markets
('mnputer~ & Geosciemes, Vol. 4. pp. 11~-117
Pergamnn Press. 1978, Printed in Greal Britain
REVIEWS Computer Cartography: World wide Technology and Markets by Eric D. Teicholz and Julius Dorfman, 1976, 430 pages, International Technology Marketing, Newton, Massachusetts, 02161. Price $375 (U.S.). This reference manual is a comprehensive survey of computers, digitizers, plotters, CRT's, and software as they relate to computer cartography. It is well organized and well illustrated and was put together after discussions with many users of computer cartography and companies that supply hardware and software. The purpose of this publication was to: (1) fulfill the need for comprehensive information on the worldwide status of computer cartography and its applications; (2) provide a description of the techniques involved in the process of automated cartography; (3) provide current worldwide information on product and service sources; (4) discuss the status of technology and the trends of future development; and (5) provide current information on the markets for computer cartography and forecast the potential growth in the various market segments. Capture, edit, and storage and retrieval of cartographic data are discussed and most phases of computer mapping applied by companies involved in the exploration and production of oil and gas and other energy minerals are covered. Many sources of digital files from private companies and state and federal agencies are described. Topics include mapping, charting, plotting, and other graphic processes related to topographic mapping, utility engineering and planning, agriculture, terrain analysis, geological applications, thematic mapping, and sociopolitical analysis. The $375 purchase price might scare potential buyers, but it would only take a few days to spend more than $375 on research of just one of the many subjects covered in this volume. The manual was written for those involved in, or interested in becoming involved in development and marketing of hardware and software related to computer cartography and users of such equipment and technology. It would have been impossible for the authors to exhaust any of the subjects, so most are covered in a general manner and provide an excellent starting point for anyone covered in a general manner and provide an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to become more deeply involved in a specific area. For someone who knows nothing about the subject, this book could serve as a good introduction because many principles and concepts are included. Selected subjects include: The Mapping Process; Mapping of Points, Lines, Areas and Volumes; Automated Cartography: Automatic Contour Mapping; Cartographic Data Input, Remote Sensing; Manual and
Automatic Digitizing; Cartographic Data Structures; Cartographic Data Display, Cathode-Ray Tubes; Computer Output Microfilm; Users and Sources of Automated Cartography in U.S.A.; Interactive System Producers; Geographic Data Base and Software Centers (University, Government); Users and Sources of Automated Cartography Outside U.S.A.; Technology Status and Forecast; Market Survey and Forecast; and Systems, Hardware, and Software Sources. The publication met its objectives very well. I would like to have seen an index, a few more references, some more geological/geophysical applications, and a deeper investigation into interactive graphics; however, these are not severe limitations. This field is changing rapidly, and the authors plan to update or supplement the original volume so that new developments, such as voice-todigital encoding, can be covered and previous topics updated.
Phillips Petroleum Company, MARCUSN. MCELRoY 250 Frank Phillips Building, Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74004, U.S.A. PACERmData Entry, Retrieval, and Update for the National Coal Resources Data System (Phase I), U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 978 by S. M. Cargill, A. C. Olson, A. L. Medlin, and M. D. Carter, U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 (1976), 107 p., $2.20 from the Superintendent of Documents. The USGS has made available another set of programs that allow access to a large data file. PACER (Program to Analyze Coal Energy Resources) written in FORTRAN IV as an extension of GRASP (Geological Retrieval and Synopsis Program), was developed for use with the NCRDS (National Coal Resources Data System). Phase I, which includes the software and three data bases, is operational now. Phase II, which will include detailed geological information and computer programs to manipulate the data is being developed at present. Pacer provides access to the data in an interactive time-sharing mode and for those interested, in the listings of the programs, they are given in an Appendix. The system includes programs for entering data, searching and retrieving selected items in the database, and modifying and updating the fields. The system as used by the USGS is implemented on Computer Science Corporation's INFONET, a time-sharing system on a UNIVAC 1108. The data bases include WCOAL and ECOAL, coalresource records west and east of the Mississippi River in the US respectively. These records contain in115
Pergamnn Press. 1978, Printed in Greal Britain
REVIEWS Computer Cartography: World wide Technology and Markets by Eric D. Teicholz and Julius Dorfman, 1976, 430 pages, International Technology Marketing, Newton, Massachusetts, 02161. Price $375 (U.S.). This reference manual is a comprehensive survey of computers, digitizers, plotters, CRT's, and software as they relate to computer cartography. It is well organized and well illustrated and was put together after discussions with many users of computer cartography and companies that supply hardware and software. The purpose of this publication was to: (1) fulfill the need for comprehensive information on the worldwide status of computer cartography and its applications; (2) provide a description of the techniques involved in the process of automated cartography; (3) provide current worldwide information on product and service sources; (4) discuss the status of technology and the trends of future development; and (5) provide current information on the markets for computer cartography and forecast the potential growth in the various market segments. Capture, edit, and storage and retrieval of cartographic data are discussed and most phases of computer mapping applied by companies involved in the exploration and production of oil and gas and other energy minerals are covered. Many sources of digital files from private companies and state and federal agencies are described. Topics include mapping, charting, plotting, and other graphic processes related to topographic mapping, utility engineering and planning, agriculture, terrain analysis, geological applications, thematic mapping, and sociopolitical analysis. The $375 purchase price might scare potential buyers, but it would only take a few days to spend more than $375 on research of just one of the many subjects covered in this volume. The manual was written for those involved in, or interested in becoming involved in development and marketing of hardware and software related to computer cartography and users of such equipment and technology. It would have been impossible for the authors to exhaust any of the subjects, so most are covered in a general manner and provide an excellent starting point for anyone covered in a general manner and provide an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to become more deeply involved in a specific area. For someone who knows nothing about the subject, this book could serve as a good introduction because many principles and concepts are included. Selected subjects include: The Mapping Process; Mapping of Points, Lines, Areas and Volumes; Automated Cartography: Automatic Contour Mapping; Cartographic Data Input, Remote Sensing; Manual and
Automatic Digitizing; Cartographic Data Structures; Cartographic Data Display, Cathode-Ray Tubes; Computer Output Microfilm; Users and Sources of Automated Cartography in U.S.A.; Interactive System Producers; Geographic Data Base and Software Centers (University, Government); Users and Sources of Automated Cartography Outside U.S.A.; Technology Status and Forecast; Market Survey and Forecast; and Systems, Hardware, and Software Sources. The publication met its objectives very well. I would like to have seen an index, a few more references, some more geological/geophysical applications, and a deeper investigation into interactive graphics; however, these are not severe limitations. This field is changing rapidly, and the authors plan to update or supplement the original volume so that new developments, such as voice-todigital encoding, can be covered and previous topics updated.
Phillips Petroleum Company, MARCUSN. MCELRoY 250 Frank Phillips Building, Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74004, U.S.A. PACERmData Entry, Retrieval, and Update for the National Coal Resources Data System (Phase I), U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 978 by S. M. Cargill, A. C. Olson, A. L. Medlin, and M. D. Carter, U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 (1976), 107 p., $2.20 from the Superintendent of Documents. The USGS has made available another set of programs that allow access to a large data file. PACER (Program to Analyze Coal Energy Resources) written in FORTRAN IV as an extension of GRASP (Geological Retrieval and Synopsis Program), was developed for use with the NCRDS (National Coal Resources Data System). Phase I, which includes the software and three data bases, is operational now. Phase II, which will include detailed geological information and computer programs to manipulate the data is being developed at present. Pacer provides access to the data in an interactive time-sharing mode and for those interested, in the listings of the programs, they are given in an Appendix. The system includes programs for entering data, searching and retrieving selected items in the database, and modifying and updating the fields. The system as used by the USGS is implemented on Computer Science Corporation's INFONET, a time-sharing system on a UNIVAC 1108. The data bases include WCOAL and ECOAL, coalresource records west and east of the Mississippi River in the US respectively. These records contain in115