About 2,400 kinds of maps, atlas, digital and on-line maps, as
well as surveying and mapping books, were published in China in
2007, figures released by the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping
(SBSM) on Monday show.
In all mediums, there were about 150 million maps in total.
The publication has satisfied the public's need for study and
traveling, the bureau said on its website.
The surveying and mapping personnel provided services for
various initiatives last year, including the second national land
survey, preservation of the Great Wall, Arctic exploration, and the
Beijing Olympic Games preparations, the bureau said.
In 2007, notable progresses were also made in basic surveying
and mapping, the bureau said. They had completed nearly 600,000
maps, up 61 percent year-on-year, and developed hundreds of
software and geographic information application systems, up 25
percent.
SBSM provided 1.54 million land survey results, digital maps and
aerial photos to 20 sectors in the country, including land and
resources, petroleum, communications and environmental
protection.
The production value of the geographic information industry
reached in excess of 50 billion yuan (about 6.9 billion U.S.
dollars) in 2007. This had promoted the development of intelligent
communications, modern logistics and Internet services, according
to the bureau.
(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2008)