Hi PvR,

Personally I just scan over stuff a bit more technical than
my own abilities and glean what I can from it.

I think Botany has always had a close tie to maps. Where
something was collected is pretty important. Being able to
locate it accurately on a map available to anyone is even
better. With the advent of cheap GPS technology this has
greatly improved.

Several years ago Michigan went through the old original
land survey records from the early 1800's and then produced
a map based on them. The original survey had notes that
described the land that was being surveyed. It is freely
available in two forms, Acrobat pdf and a GIS shape file. If
you use the shape file format via GIS type software it can
be accurately overlaid on current maps. This should be
valuable to researchers trying find old bits of undisturbed
land areas or curious people like myself. The problem is
that a good many people don't seem to know that stuff like
this is available.

I like the FAQ you have chosen to publish. I just felt than
GIS style mapping has become affordable to most anyone now
and some clues as to what is available to aid the Botanist
could be helpful.

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b
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========================

On Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:08:51 +0100, "P. van Rijckevorsel"
wrote:

That certainly is a very extensive site. Thank you for pointing it out!
However, I am not sure about the FAQ: it contains too much technical
information already. This site is yet one more step removed from plants.
PvR

"Leon Fisk" schreef .
On Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:49:16 +0100, "P. van Rijckevorsel"
wrote:

A mini "Frequently Asked Questions" for sci.bio.botany
snip

Hi PvR,

Here is a link you might want to take a look at and consider
adding to the FAQ:

http://www.helsinki.fi/~rlampine/cartogr.html

I just happened upon it awhile back while searching for
something else. It seems to cover a different area/aspect of
Botany, namely mapping stuff.

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b
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