Maps and Geospatial Imagery: Understanding and Using Maps
De-mystifying Maps - A Video Series
Join a geography librarian on a maps show-and-tell. We'll look at maps together and discuss what we see, learning about different map elements along the way. Maps are fun to look at as we can explore not just different places, but different times in history as well. Seeing lots of examples can also help those who make maps themselves - just as reading makes you a better writer. Enjoy the adventures.
Public Land Survey System
The Public Land Survey System, or PLSS, is important to understand when looking at many maps of the United States. It is a system used to divide land into sections, for mapping and legal purposes. It is important to be aware that although widely used in the US, certain areas of the country do not use it. Below are some sources explaining the system's history and how it works.
- The Public Land Survey SystemAn article from the USGS on PLSS, it's history and commonly used terms.
- A History of the Rectangular Survey SystemA book by C. Albert White, available as a PDF from the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
