The National Map in Pennsylvania is PAMAP- a local/state/federal partnership to create a digital, seamless, current GIS of the Commonwealth. DCNR's Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey is charged with creating PAMAP. In the past two years 13 counties have been flown with new orthophotography. Other counties have participated in various ways by either creating their own orthos or contributing existing data. Since DOQQs and USGS 7.5' quads will not be updated, PAMAP with a scale, of 1:2400 or better, is a significantly improved replacement, filling a need for digital data. It is dependent upon partnerships between county and state governments, saving tax dollars and reducing duplication of effort. This year marks the infusion of significant funding from DCNR and other agencies, resulting in an acceleration of activities. In particular, available funding will determine how much of the Commonwealth can be flown in 2005 and how much money is available for county GIS development. The flight plans for 2005 will be discussed.
Jay Parrish is the State Geologist and Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey under DCNR, which has the responsibility of producing PAMAP. He has a PhD in Geophysics from Penn State and has worked as an oil explorationist for Mobil Oil, environmental forensic image analyzer, college professor, volunteer with the Mennonite Church, researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and most recently, as director of the GIS Department for Lancaster County, PA. He has particular interest in geobotanical remote sensing. He is a licensed Professional Geologist in the state of Pennsylvania. He has been president of PAMAGIC, Chair of PAGIC and shared duties as the state NSGIC representative. For the past two months he has been the acting State GIS Coordinator.