ALTOS Mapping

This section contains information about maps maintained by ALTOS and other items of interest concerning ALTOS Mapping.  For more information about the mapping process and the use of OCAD, the computer program most use to make our maps, see  Hans Steinegger's  Web Site.  Other interesting and informative Pages are

 
ALTOS Maps
.
Lake Bistineau State Park:  (3.6 km2)  Wooded with some usable contours.  Many roads, right of ways, trails, and erosion features.  This map has been improved by the addition of 9.5 miles of Bike Trails.  The Trails have really opened up areas of the map that are relatively flat and with minimum features.  The map is bordered by the lake and fences.

Walter B. Jacob's Nature Park:  (.6 km2)  Heavily wooded and flat.  It is characterized by two major north/south large bank streams.  The streams are crossable when it is dry, but very threatening when the water is up.  The park has a very nice Nature Museum manned with Naturalist.  The Walter B. Jacob's Nature Park Map is available at the Park and has fifteen purple circles indicating the location of identified trees. Visitors may pick up a clue/score sheet and navigate to these locations, write down the tree they find and then check with the Naturalist upon return to see if they navigated to the correct location.

Flag Lake Map:  (5.22 km2)  This map is part of the Barksdale AFB East Reservation.  It extends from the east side of Flag Lake to the west side of Harmon Lake.  Heavily wooded with good contours, expecially on the east side.  Forest thinning is practiced which produces heavy fight.  This is controlled somewhat by controlled burning.  We use this map and the Hiking Trails Map below for our annual 6 our Rogaine.

Hiking Trail Map:  (8.3 km2)   This map is part of the Barksdale AFB East Reservation.  It extends from the south side of Flag Lake to a point 2.7 km just south of Crows Foot Road.  Heavily wooded, it had many contours, clearings, roads, trails, and many erosion features.  There is a network of hiking trails throughout the area.  We use this map and the Hiking Trails Map below for our annual 6 our Rogaine.

Silver Water Girl Scout Map:  (1.8 km2)  A map of a Girl Scout Camp south of Ruston, Louisiana was digitized and particially field checked.  Have not heard from the Girl Scouts since..
.
Mineola Middle School Map:  (.72 km2)  A teacher at the Mineola, Texas Middle School requested support for teaching Orienteering as well as producing a map of the campus.  She has been responsible for the development of a nature trail system in a wooded area between the Middle School and High School area.  A small clinic and course was offered to the students at a last day of school field day.  The Clinic was successful and the map functional.  Have not heard from Her lately.

Veterans Hospital O Map:  (1.2 km2)  This map is of the Overton Brooks Medical Center and Veterans Park area in downtown Shreveport.  The area is located right next to the Clyde Fant Parkway which is along side the Red River.  There are some real interesting contour features, which are hard to come by in this part of the world.  The map is used extensively for Orienteering clinics.

Garland Scout Ranch:  (6.72 km2)  1,600 acres of real nice terrain.  There is a good bit of fight but overall it is good for Orienteering.  We have completed the  Training Map.  We conduct one meet plus several clinics there each year.  Thanks to the Scouts!  They are nice to work with.

DeSoto Boy Scout Ranch:  (3.1 km2)  This map is located 5 miles north of Junction City on Hwy. 163.  Turn east one mile past the rest area.  DeSoto is operated by the DeSoto Boy Scout Council, El Dorado, Arkansas and is characterized by three nice lakes oriented NE to SW.  The is a super map and we conduct two Orienteering Meets and several clinics there each year.

The Lincoln Parish Park Map:  (.98 km2)  This map is located six miles NE of Ruston, Louisiana.  It is heavily contoured with a well kept forest.  It is characterized by a complicated set of Bike Trails.  It is a super map for meets and clinics, and located in the eastern part of our service area, should draw people from the eastern area due to ease of access.

The Eddie Jones Park: (7.8 cm2)  This is property formally owned by the State of Louisiana for a Corrections Institution.  It has been given to Caddo Parish, retaining the Corrections Institution.  The remained of the property will be divided up into a Veterans Cemetery, a Chimp Haven, and a Nature Park.  A Bike Trail is also being laid out.  The map has been digitized and field checking is pending as of December 2000.

The Gilmer Map:  (5.6 nm2)  This is private property located 15 miles NW of Longview, Texas.  The map was originally a blown up scale of the 1:24,000 USGS Topo for students of the Gilmer Middle School.  It is now digitized and field checking is in progress.  It is heavily wooded with many contours, lakes, streams, and erosion features.  Located on the outskirts of Gilmer, it is easily accessible.
Back to Index

..
..
..
..
.
 

.
.
.

Map Construction
.
Click here for the ALTOS Technical Tips Page.

We use  OCAD 7  (A web page well worth taking a look at, if you are interested in computer cartography.) to produce our maps. This is a very functional program and, with a little practice, you can be making professional maps in no time.  Well maybe a year or so <:).  By the way, you can download a free DEMO copy of OCAD 7.  It is a working program for everything except you can only load 50 symbols into it without registering it.  Caution:  When you work it a while, you will probably want to register it. It is super!

Normally our base maps are generated by having a 1:24,000 quadrangle  map adjusted to 1:10,000 scale, i.e. 240%. (Note:  We draw in the magnetic meridian from the declination diagram on the map and also paste the bar scale on the part of the map to be used.)  We then have the aerial photo adjusted to 10,000 scale, if possible..  After drawing in some grid lines for template adjustment purposes, we scan the quad map into a .bmt format and us it as a template in the OCAD program.  After the map is digitized (features on the template are traced with features form OCAD.), we add aerial features.  Then the field checking portion follows.  After field checking is complete, we print proof copies for reproduction, or file transfer the OCAD Map File to the printer, who open the OCAD file using the DEMO version of OCAD program, for the copy work.  This process has been found to be more than satisfactory for our purposes.  In addition, map corrections can be made right up until the time the proof goes to the printer, Friday noon before a Saturday meet, if we feel in the mood to "live dangerously", however, a little more lead time makes all feel more comfortable.  OCAD 7 has revolutionized the mapping process for our Club.
.
The results can be produced four ways:  (Note:  Any size map can be made, i.e. 8 1/2 X 11 to large, i.e. 3 by 5 feet or so.  Just let Classic Reprographics know what you need.  The large map is ideal as a visual aid or park bulletin board.)
1.  Proof copies are printed of the final map and color copies produced.
2.  The map file is sent as an e-mail attachment to the printer for copy work.
3. Color separation proofs can be printed and map printed by an offset printer.
4. EPS files can be delivered to a Pagemaster and color separation negatives made. These are delivered to the printer for offset printing.

Make sure you spend some "quality" time proofing the proof prior to any one of the above steps. Another set of eye balls is recommended. It is recommended that the proof copy of the map be used by as many people as possible before printing.    Classic Reprographics, the printer we use, has one of the best proofers, color adjusters, and printers that I know.  Ask for Scott.  He knows everything about printing maps, plus he is a real nice guy.
Back to Index

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 

Garland Scout Ranch Mapping Project

We are coordinating with the Norwela GSA Council about mapping and use privelages of the Garland Boy Scout Rance (1,600) acres located 12 miles south of Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.  You can check the progress by clicking  here.   The area look super and will support several maps.  We are excited about the project and look forward to a lasting relationship with the Norwela Council.