74The Military Engineer L January-February L 2010 zooms in for a closer look. The raster ?les are comprised of paper maps that are scanned or developed from exist- ing electronic map ?les saved in a PDF format and geo-referenced using the TerraGo Composer solution. The vector GeoPDF format features an added function that allows users to turn data layers on and off to help clarify their analyses of map displays The use of TerraGo applications for GIS software such as ArcGIS and Inter- graphs GeoMedia publish these vector GeoPDFs. AGC created for-of?cial-use-only GeoPDF Country DVDs for most coun- tries of the world through its partner- ship with the NGA Research Center, which has produced GeoPDFs of most of its standard map sheets. AGC distrib- utes these ?les; however, it is working to partner with NGA to produce, main- tain, replicate and disseminate them via the Defense Logistics Agencys Map Catalog. The center will continue to use Army resources to create new and up- dated NGA map sheets in the GeoPDF format until this goal is accomplished. Updated DVDs were expected to be made available by fall 2009. To get cop- ies of the GeoPDF Country DVDs, users can access the Common Map Back- ground product request form on AGCs website at www.agc.army.mil. The data upon which the DVDs are based has been made available online at the GeoPDF website. While working with the Army Geo- spatial Engineering Team, AGC realized the GeoPDF format could be used to address other facets of a soldiers map- ping efforts, including the creation of map backgrounds. This could be ac- complished if more mainstream GIS software could write and read GeoPDFs and multiple sheets could be integrated for a map background. Therefore, AGC funded the creation of a TerraGo soft- ware application called Map Assem- bler, which is now included in TerraGo Composer. Interagency Collaboration AGC had a hand in converting all of nearly 60,000 USGS Digital Raster Graphic GeoTIFF ?les—a separate ?le type based on the Tagged Image File Format—into GeoPDF format using TerraGo Publisher for Raster. USGS posted the ?les on its store website. The GeoPDF ?les have proven to be a great success, with the store generating al- most 90,000 total downloads in an aver- age month, compared to 4,000 average monthly downloads prior to the avail- ability of GeoPDFs. Additionally, AGC will convert all NGAs ARC Digitized Raster Graphics (ADRG) into GeoPDF format. ADRG covers most the world at different scales—1,000,000 scale for most of the world, down to 25,000 scale for small ar- eas around the globe. AGC is also work- ing with NGA to convert all NGAs geo- spatial intelligence products—maps, charts and images—into the GeoPDF format and to update current ?les to support the importing and exporting of geospatial data with Adobe Reader for data exchange, or round-tripping, as it is called by Adobe. AGC also is de- veloping its Urban Tactical Planners dataset in the GeoPDF format, with plans to convert other geospatial prod- ucts, as well, including its Engineering Route Studies imagery, BuckEye System GeoPDF Mapbooks, urban water graph- ics and country overviews. AGC is gathering and preparing all relevant GeoPDF ?les to be distributed via its websites. The following products were recently added to AGCs GeoPDF webpages: s 17 GeoPDFs from Naval Oceano- graphic Of?ce of the Philippines; s more than 11,000 250K and 50K maps of Canada; s new military installation maps from the Army Sustainable Range Pro- gram; s more than 100 ?les from the NGA Commercial Exploitation Team; and s 35 ?les from the Mexican Min- istry of Communications and Transport. AGC continues to work with TerraGo Technologies to ensure its handheld Windows Mobile GeoPDF software meets Army re- quirements. The center is also as- sisting NGA in its efforts to market the 3D GeoPDF prototype. Ray Caputo is Geographer, Geospatial Information and Imagery Requirements Branch, Army Geospatial Center; 703- 428-6784, or raymond.caputo@us.army. mil.This GeoPDF ?le depicts the National Mall area of downtown Washington, D.C.
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