[at-l] Free Maps??

[kahley@ptd.net (kahley)]

Can someone translate this for me?


The USGS and Advanced Topographic Development and Images(ATDI) (Sterling,
VA) have formed a partnership to distribute USGS geographic data to make
more public domain data available at no charge while enabling the private
sector to have a greater role in the distribution of USGS data.


The USGS Spatial Data Transfer Standard Digital Elevation Models (SDTS
DEMs) being distributed by ATDI describe the topography of the land
surface. Private industry, government, nongovernmental organizations, and
individual citizens depend on a common set of base information that
describes the Earth's surface. They use this information as tools for
economic and community development, land and natural resource management,
health and safety services, emergency management, defense, and
environmental protection.


SDTS data contribute to The National Map--a seamless, continuously
maintained set of geographic base information that will serve as a
foundation for integrating, sharing, and using other data easily and
consistently. Additional information about USGS SDTS data is available at:
http://mcmcweb.er.usgs.gov/sdts


The USGS is committed to meeting the Nation's needs for current base
geographic data and maps. By working with partners, the USGS will continue
to provide the Nation with access to current, accurate, and nationally
consistent digital data and topographic maps derived from those data.


ATDI is the latest commercial vendor to partner with the USGS to distribute
free SDTS DEMs on the Internet.  ATDI is an online resource for the
location and acquisition of a variety of digital map data.  ATDI provides
the ICS Map Server package that allows import and export of SDTS DEMs,
re-projection, tiling, and generic functions for handling DEMs, Images and
Land Cover files. ATDI's interface allows users to enter a central
coordinate and immediately retrieve the selected quadrangles.  ATDI also
sells a worldwide catalogue of digital elevation models, reference images,
and ground occupancy information.  The SDTS DEMs are available at this ATDI
web site: http://64.42.116.14/.


USGS SDTS DEMs will continue to be available for free from GIS Data Depot
and MapMart.com. Additional information about GIS Data Depot and
MapMart.com is available at: http://www.gisdatadepot.com and
http://www.mapmart.com, respectively.


USGS partners will continue to receive SDTS versions of the DEMs as they
are made available by the USGS. Native format DEMs are still available for
sale from USGS on various media through Earth Explorer
(http://edcsns17.cr.usgs.gov/EarthExplorer/).