2006 in Full View

by Ilse Genovese

It's customary, when a magazine enters a new year, to draw readers' attention to what they can expect to see written on its pages. The editorial calendar we produce for each successive volume of the ACSM Bulletin has all the details, and everybody who wants to be part of the magazine in 2006—either as a contributor or advertiser—can access it online at www.acsmcongress.org and www.acsm.net.
The calendar includes a number of new topics and columns, all of which aim to bring closer the different world in which ACSM and its member organizations are operating.
This world is electronic, so it's imperative that we look at the strides surveying and mapping have made in past few decades to enter this world. The pool of research and technologies that has taken cartography from stone age to the electronic, is one little but significant part in the realm of geographic data digitization.
The world in which we operate is a world of widespread geomapping—from driving directions to real estate to homeland security. The G in this geomapping is for GIS grounded in accurate surveying. Great opportunities exist for entrepreneurs who have entered or are planning to enter the world of geomapping; read in our June issue how not to go broke while going into the GIS business.
Outsourcing, the much distrusted consequence of globalization, has made it into the world of surveying and cartography too. Now we have prison inmates involved in creating digital maps and warnings from academics that the situation is ripe for the unthinkable—outsourcing of surveying. How do we as an association with members whose livelihoods depend on jobs staying right here respond to such trends? Read our regular column "from the Hill."
Other well liked columns which will return in 2006 are the Dr. Map column and the Ask Vic! column. While the first is for people who appreciate "irreverent" cartography, the second gives advice on how to avoid professional liability risks.
And what's new? A plenty....the member organizations of ACSM belong to two major international organizations: AAGS, GLIS, and NSPS belong to the International Federation of Surveyors, FIG, and CaGIS belongs to the International Cartographic Association, ICA. In 2006, we will have columns describing what FIG and ICA are doing and how their work benefits our member organizations.
Traditionally, ACSM has had strong ties with several federal agencies. We will continue to write about their work. In 2006, we welcome to our pages the Bureau of Land Management. The ACSM Bulletin will also be there when one of its staunchest supporters, the National Geodetic Survey, celebrates its 200th anniversary.
All in all, it's shaping up to be a great year for the ACSM Bulletin. Stay tuned, and watch this space!!