A Research Program in Surveying and Mapping

This is a draft proposal for a 10-yr research program in surveying and mapping, to be combined eventually with similar proposals relating to other branches of civil engineering. The program is divided into six categories: Land surveys, engineering surveys, geodetic surveys, cartographic surveys, aerial survey services, and cartography. Each of the categories is further divided into several activities and the research goals within each activity are stated. A selected group of sample research projects is given for each category, along with a table of estimated costs for each year of a 10-yr period. The proposal envisions a doubling or tripling of current (1965) surveying and mapping research manpower in universities, private companies and government to conduct the program. A National Center for surveys, maps, and charts is proposed, to serve as a clearing house and coordinating body in this field. It is further proposed that research involving the use of high-cost equipment be conducted using the pooled resources of the interested organizations. The report concludes that a coordinated program is necessary to avoid the staggering costs of duplicated effort.