Physical Collection
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/1/0/19102851/9136963.jpg?1367528055)
(NPR 2010)
The WAWMA is dedicated to hosting maps from a range of centuries for public access. To this end, we began by studying the main surveyors of the rivers in the west. One of the people whom we examined was John Wesley Powell. This man developed an interest in surveying and, in 1869, launched boats from Green River City down the Colorado River, to explore and survey it. Powell’s major works on these expeditions survive today as “Exploration of the Colorado of the West.” A map such as this is of inestimable value to our collection, and it was one of the first we acquired in facsimile.
Our physical collection is derived from many sources, but one of the principal ones is the US Geological Survey, or USGS. Their work has been instrumental in mapping out the country as a whole, but of course has been extremely useful in developing our watershed map collection. In 1897, the USGS began to sell maps to the general public. Some of these earlier maps have been acquired in our collection and are being considered for digitization now. By the early 20th Century, much of the far west was mapped by the USGS in the contiguous United States and they began to map Alaska as well. By 1930, much of the west was already mapped and it was nearly completely mapped by 1970. We have been fortunate enough to gather a sizable portion of our collection (72%) from the USGS.
Our physical collection is derived from many sources, but one of the principal ones is the US Geological Survey, or USGS. Their work has been instrumental in mapping out the country as a whole, but of course has been extremely useful in developing our watershed map collection. In 1897, the USGS began to sell maps to the general public. Some of these earlier maps have been acquired in our collection and are being considered for digitization now. By the early 20th Century, much of the far west was mapped by the USGS in the contiguous United States and they began to map Alaska as well. By 1930, much of the west was already mapped and it was nearly completely mapped by 1970. We have been fortunate enough to gather a sizable portion of our collection (72%) from the USGS.
Digital Collection
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/1/0/19102851/2224814.gif?221)
(University of North Carolina 2008)
WAWMA’s goal is to provide its users access to a comprehensive collection of watershed maps. Physical maps are an important component of both the historical record and current information about water resources in the west. However an increasingly comprehensive body of data concerning watersheds is being established using digitized maps and remote sensing technology. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducts a regular National Wetlands Condition Assessment. The data from this assessment and like assessments conducted in the U.S. and Canada are vital tools in modern resource management.
WAWMA has compiled two categories of digital maps. We are currently engaged in digitizing our physical collection of maps, which we expect to be complete in 2014. Once digitized, our maps will be available for quick search on our campus and off it. We also expect this to make older fragile maps more available to patrons without risk of damage or degradation.
WAWMA has also created a lab where users can utilize modern GIS systems such as ArcGIS. These systems represent the modern trend in combining databases with geographic information to provide data rich maps. Users at our campus will have access to WAWMA’s large database of digital maps and other related data concerning watersheds in the western United States. In addition to workstations and software WAWMA provides frequent tutorials in several GIS software packages.
WAWMA has compiled two categories of digital maps. We are currently engaged in digitizing our physical collection of maps, which we expect to be complete in 2014. Once digitized, our maps will be available for quick search on our campus and off it. We also expect this to make older fragile maps more available to patrons without risk of damage or degradation.
WAWMA has also created a lab where users can utilize modern GIS systems such as ArcGIS. These systems represent the modern trend in combining databases with geographic information to provide data rich maps. Users at our campus will have access to WAWMA’s large database of digital maps and other related data concerning watersheds in the western United States. In addition to workstations and software WAWMA provides frequent tutorials in several GIS software packages.
References
Adams, John B., and Alan R. Gillespie. Remote Sensing of Landscapes with Spectral Images: A Physical Modeling Approach. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 2006. Print.
Bolstad, Paul. GIS Fundamentals: A First Text on Geographic Information Systems. White Bear Lake, MN: Eider, 2008. Print.
De, Smith Michael John, Michael F. Goodchild, and Paul Longley. Geospatial Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide to Principles, Techniques and Software Tools. Leicester: Matador, 2007. Print.
Green, David, and Terry R. J. Bossomaier. Online GIS and Spatial Metadata. London: Taylor & Francis, 2002. Print.
Larsgaard, Mary Lynette. Topographic Mapping of the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1984. Print.
Short, John R. Representing the Republic: Mapping the United States, 1600-1900. London: Reaktion, 2001. Print.
Bolstad, Paul. GIS Fundamentals: A First Text on Geographic Information Systems. White Bear Lake, MN: Eider, 2008. Print.
De, Smith Michael John, Michael F. Goodchild, and Paul Longley. Geospatial Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide to Principles, Techniques and Software Tools. Leicester: Matador, 2007. Print.
Green, David, and Terry R. J. Bossomaier. Online GIS and Spatial Metadata. London: Taylor & Francis, 2002. Print.
Larsgaard, Mary Lynette. Topographic Mapping of the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1984. Print.
Short, John R. Representing the Republic: Mapping the United States, 1600-1900. London: Reaktion, 2001. Print.