Applications of U.S. Geological Survey digital cartographic products, 1979-1983

The U.S. Geological Survey prepares and distributes fundamental, multipurpose cartographic data to a wide range of users throughout the United States. Recognizing that traditional cartographic procedures will eventually be replaced by digital techniques, the USGS is now actively developing computer-based methods to produce digital cartographic products. The digital cartographic products currently being developed parallel the traditional map-based information but have the advantage that they can be used in a computer environment. The digital cartographic products include: 1) digital elevation models (DEM's), 2) digital land use and land cover data, and 3) digital line graphs (DLG's). In addition, digital terrain tapes (DTT's) that were developed by the Defense Mapping Agency are currently available through the USGS. As with conventional map products, the digital products are suitable for efficient application to a variety of problems.