The Department of Geography and Planning at Appalachian State University has begun the implementation of a plan for improved instruction in the area of computer assisted cartography. The equipment requested for this project in needed for the next phase in the evolution of its instructional capabilities in computer mapping technology. Students will work on projects in which they will generate digit files of geographic entities of varying size and scale; produce high quality choropleth and overlay maps of large data bases using commercially available map bases; generate maps at different scales; combine maps of different scales on a single page; change perspectives of computer generated maps; and use geographic information system analysis techniques. Students will also receive experience with a large format digitizing tablet and multi-pen/multi-color plotter which is standard in public and private agencies which employ geographers, planners, draftsmen, designers and other scientists who work with spatial information. This project is responsive both to trends in the discipline and advances in the available technology.
