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<br />N~w Intermt::diate Scale Base Mop Series
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<br />In t'tsp0.,,,e to a growing de mane by m~;:: users, the USGS is now pro-
<br />ducing a seri('!' of intermediate scale (1;.'}O,OOO and 1:]00,000) base maps.
<br />In June, the first map of the series, an experimental 1:100,000'5('a]e map
<br />of the Reno ~llJn('ti"n, Wyoming area in a 30 x 6O-minute format, was
<br />released for public consumption with others expected to Collow shortly.
<br />The new sHies. whkh is to be metric. will enable federal and civilian
<br />organizations to meet a wide variety of speciaJizf'd mapping needs with 8
<br />single set of base maps. The Survey plans to accomplish this minor miraclp,
<br />by using feature ~efJll.rati(Jn priDtir,g plates scribed with individual map
<br />features, such as roads, contours, lettering, etc. The plates can b~ easily
<br />and inexp{'nsivel~ ('ombined into five negatives and overprinted to form
<br />either basic information or sp~cialized maps.
<br />The sum of such printing, ,~cale. and measurement innovations is a
<br />highly flexible product with numerous applications. To the series' base
<br />maps, federal and state agencies can add their own classifications of land
<br />or land.use. gf'olog). soils, etc. For example, the 1:100,ooO'5cale will be
<br />initially used by the Bureau of Land Management and Soil Conservation
<br />Service to produce maps dealing, respectively. with mineral ownership,
<br />(like the Reno Junction map) and farmland use.
<br />On tht> state and local level the intermediate scales of the series are
<br />expected to enn,',lragf' interf'st in unified regional planning. Previow,Jy,
<br />regional planner.;; had to use either the excessively detaij{'d (for their pur-
<br />poses) 1 ;24,OOO.scale maps or the 1:250,000-sc.1l(> series that usually cover-
<br />ed too large an area at too small a scale. In addition, the feature separation
<br />guides integral 10 the series will supply re-gional planners with a wide vari-
<br />ety of cultural information vital to large area planning. Along th~se lines,
<br />the USGS, with the assistance of Colurado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and
<br />Virginia, has a]reany us(,d the series to compile countrywide base maps on
<br />tl..., large I :50,OOQ'~cale.
<br />For further lr.formation on the intermediate scale map series and the
<br />Reno Junction 1:100,OOO.seale experimpnlal map, write the Chief, rllpO-
<br />graphic Di"ision, U.S. Ge())ogical Survey, 516 ~:lli(\nal Center, R~ston,
<br />Va, 22092.
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