A PRODUCTION PLAN FOR AN ATLAS PROGRAM WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-05927A000300110008-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 7, 1999
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: May 29, 1973
• Content Type: MF

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29 May 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Office of Basic and Geographic Intelligence
THROUGH . Chief, Cartography Division, OBGI /VP
FROM . Deputy Chief, Cartography Division, OBGI
SUBJECT A Production Plan for an Atlas Program with Particular
Reference to the USSR
1. Assuming the Atlas of the Soviet Union will represent a major expenditure
of manpower, I believe the target date for dissemination could be 18 months from
the start. (See paragraph 5). Format would approximate the China Atlas, i.e.,
general reference maps with terrain shading, thematic maps at lesser scales,
special subject maps and graphs at very small scales, and accompanying texts and
photographs. I estimate an approximate fifty percent increase in the number of
pages used in the China Atlas, with fewer photographs, more graphs and cartograms,
shorter but more numerous interpretive texts, and obviously twice as many sheets
devoted to the general reference map and gazeteer. ADP would be used to the
greatest extent in the history of cartography and in that aspect will generate an
unusual degree of interest in the academic community. (See Exhibit 'A').
2. The work on any Atlas would be performed by an OBGI group called an
"Atlas Working Group". For the effort on the USSR,the AWG would be comprised
as follows:
(AWG). Chief
(2) I.O. (Cartography) Visual Information Specialist
1. 0. (Geography) Editor/rewrite person*
(2) Cartographers *(part-time)
Requirements beyond the competence or capability of the AWG would be contracted
to other components. (See Exhibit 'B'). The AWG as an organizational device
permits the kind of flexibility essential for carrying on an Atlas production program.
T RA LYE
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Two separate projects, such as the USSR and the Indian Ocean, one with a near
deadline and one with a target some time away, can be carried on concurrently.
Officers can be detailed to the group so long as their own expertise is needed
and then returned to their home base. They could also remain at their home base
during the early phases of the project when data are being gathered and overall
concepts are being worked out. The team balance might demand the services of
more or fewer specialists as projects wind down and this too would be easily
accomodated.
3. The Atlas would be under the general direction of an Editorial Advisory
Board (EAB) comprised as follows: D/BGI, DD/BGI, ChCD, ChGD, Ch of the
appropriate regional branch in GD, and Ch AWG. (See Exhibit 'C).
4. Working space for atlas activity must be found which will promote effective
communication both within the team and with supporting units, such as the
Carto-construction Section, the ADP Section, and a file facility. Admittedly, the
research and design could be done in Magazine Building, but production efficiency
would be sacrificed to an unacceptable degree if all work was undertaken there.
I believe it mandatory that members of the AWG be within easy walking distance
of each other.
5. Sequence of activities in the production of an Atlas of the USSR:
Prework June - August 73
- Establish scale of general reference map
- Establish size of folio
- Make preliminary dummy to determine scope of work
- Appoint members of AWG
Preliminary Research and Design (Phases can be carried on concurrently)
July - December 73
- Complete input to Data Bank II on
area of USSR
- Research sources for thematic maps
and cartograms
- Design scale sketches of each page
- Begin terrain shading
Preliminary Production January - September 1974
- Output line drawings for maps
- Compile map data
- Compile cartogram data
- Layout art pages
- z - ADMINISTRATIVE
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Technical Production - September 73 - November 1974
- Construct all pages
- Construct general reference map with terrain
- Compile gazeteer
Editing-Proof April - December 1974
- Edit-Proof - edit all pages
Final printing December 1974
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