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Metabien is pleased to offer for sale CD-ROMs containing high quality scanned images of USGS topographic maps covering the four corners states, AZ, CO, NM, and UT except for the plains areas along the Eastern edges of CO and NM.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) publishes topographic maps covering the entire United States. Over the last few years, the USGS has converted the information on many of these paper maps into computer files of various types. One such type is Digital Raster Graphics (DRG), which are scanned images of paper maps converted to compressed TIFF computer files.
Until recently, the USGS offered pre-packaged sets of DRG TIFF files on CD-ROMs. Most of these CD-ROMs contain 64 large scale topographic maps which collectively cover a geographical area of width 1 degree latitude and height one degree longitude (about 60 x 50 miles). Each map consists of a computer file in compressed TIFF format. The large scale maps cover an area 7.5 minutes x 7.5 minutes latitude and longitude at a scale of 1:24,000 (1 inch = 2000 feet). Each CD-ROM also contains smaller scale maps covering large areas.
As of October 1, 1998, these pre-packaged sets are no longer available from the USGS. However, Metabien acquired these CD-ROM setscovering most of AZ, CO, NM, and UT and now offers copies for sale at the older and lower USGS prices.
More information about 7.5 minute maps.
A DRG is a raster image of a published map. DRG's are made by scanning published paper maps on high-resolution scanners. The raster image is georeferenced and fit to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection. Colors are standardized to remove scanner limitations and artifacts. The average data set size is about 8 megabytes in Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) with PackBits compression. DRG's can be easily combined with other digital cartographic products such as digital elevation models (DEM) and digital orthophoto quadrangles (DOQ).
Metabien offers in excess of 100 CD-ROM units with geographical coverage of the following states in the USA:
Arizona (AZ)
Colorado (CO) except for the plains area along the Eastern edge of the state.
New Mexico (NM) except for the plains area along the Eastern edge of the state.
Utah (UT)
Coverage of these states extends Westward from 104 degress West latitude across the above four states into California and Nevada. Adjoining areas in Idaho and Wyoming are also covered.
The following links display complete lists of Metabien's DRG CD-ROM products:
DRG Catalog, numeric listing
On-Line Order form, listed by geographical location
On PC's:
On Mac's:
In addition to the scanned image files, there are document files and utility software programs in each CD-ROM to support the user, including viewers for MS Windows platforms. The document files provide detailed information about the CD-ROM contents, and about the DRGs.
View or download DRG CD-ROM documentation files in ASCII text.
View or download documentation files in PDF format (requires Adobe Acrobat reader software).
A sample 7.5-minute DRG map is available for download. This map contains a portion of the south rim of the Grand Canyon and extends to the Colorado River at the Canyon floor. A portion of the popular Bright Angel Trail from Grand Canyon Village to the Indian Gardens oasis is shown. The file is large - approximately 7.8 MBytes.
Download the .tif file (7.6 MBytes)
Another sample map file that is less than half the size of the above file, but has less interesting terrain is also available for downloading:
Download the smaller .tif file (3.3 MBytes)
Some computer software that uses DRG files needs access to data files known as World Files and Metadata files. These files are available from the following link. View the readme.txt file for further infomation.
The best way to order is to use our on-line ordering system where you may charge to your credit card.
If you prefer, you may order by email and pay be money order or check..
Links to information about DRG file availability from other sources:
United States Geological Survey pages:
USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) If you know the name of a place, you can find its location at this link.
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If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about this web site, please send email to webmaster@metabien.com or postal mail to:
Metabien Software
3370 N. Hayden Rd. - Suite 123-118
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
USA