UW Becomes Informational Partner in GeoMAPP Project

Nov. 6, 2009 -- The University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center (AHC), University Libraries and Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC) have been welcomed by the Library of Congress as informational partners in the Geospatial Multistate Archive and Preservation Partnership (GeoMAPP).

The GeoMAPP effort works to preserve "at-risk" and temporally significant digital geospatial content. Geospatial data layers containing information about land parcels, zoning, roads and jurisdictional boundaries change frequently. Existing copies of these data are often at risk of being overwritten when updates or changes are made and these superseded snapshots of data are then lost for future use and analysis.

Ben Goldman, manager of digital programs at the AHC, says UW's acceptance as a GeoMAPP partner was based on the quality of UW's work as well the university's strong reputation.

Goldman will work along with Steve Boss, head of library systems, and Jeff Hamerlinck, WyGISC director, to lead UW's partnership with GeoMAPP. Wyoming is one of just two lead actors in the GeoMAPP effort to be based at a state's flagship university; the University of Wisconsin is the other.

For more information on GeoMapp, go to the official Web site at www.digitalpreservation.gov/partners/states_nc/states_nc.html.

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The 2008 digital map layers of sage grouse habitat, energy development and human settlement characterize resource management issues existing in Wyoming over the past 5-10 years.

Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009

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