THE NIS GAZETTEER PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01154A000600040016-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 8, 1999
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: June 7, 1965
• Content Type: MFR

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7 June 1965
SUBJECT: The NIS Gazetteer Program
1. From a small file of decisions made 30 years ago, the
gazetteer program has grown to encompass more than 3 million
foreign place names and more than 100 published gazetteers.
The increasing demand for current foreign place names led to
the introduction of punch cards to facilitate reproduction and
revision. The card, operation, however, required some hand
alphabetizing and printed only upper case characters without
diacritical marks. Studies were made by the Machine Division,
OCR, and the former Automated Data Processing Staff, but each
review foundered on the problem of diacritical marks. In the
meantime, gazetteers of some critical areas became 10 or more
years old and certain large mapping agencies were forced into
creating place name units to keep abreast. The Agency now
has the computers and a photo-lettering machine that together
will improve the entire operation. All that is lacking is
the connective systems that must be devised.
2. Last year, the undersigned and of 25X1A9a
the Office of Computer Services, DD/S&T, is e ? e staff
that serves the Interdepartmental Board of Geographic Names.
This tour and subsequent conversations with Meredith Burrill
Al Belden, Ole Schelenes, and Bill Beetschen (National Atlas
have convinced me that ADP could offer a great deal to the
entire program. Specifically, three areas of possible autom-
ation exist in the current NIS Gazetteer effort-initial entry,
alphabetizing, and reproduction. If the process were converted
to ADP, three new by-products or processes are available - type
printout for maps, gazetteer searches, and merging of classified
place names.
a. Initial entry
The early entry of data into digital form is
demonstrated by the way names are handled in a system
designed for the'National Atlas. Handwritten names
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are typed onto cards and simultaneously punched paper tape
is produced. This is processed by the computer into type
for both the map and the index.
b. Alphabetizing
Final alphabetizing of the punch cards is now done
by hand. The logic of alphabetizing could be programmed
and the sequencing handled entirely by computer.
c. Reproduction
Once entered, a new gazetteer could be recalled
from digital storage and printed out by the line printer.
Periodic publication could be achieved by magnetic tape
driving the photo-lettering machine.
d. ype Printout for Maus
one major bonus to be derived from the placement
of place names into digital form would be the potential
recall of type, set automatically for use on maps and in
map indexes as outlined in the paper, "GEONYM - A Unified
approach to Handling Geographic Names in Cartography."
e. Gazetteer Searches
Properly organized, the master file could be
rapidly searched to retrieve names answering geographic,
generic, demographic, or even phonetic criteria.
f. Merging of Classified Place Names
Copies of the files stored on magnetic tape could
be readily expanded to include classified names such as
those produced by this Agency and NSA. Of course, this
would be under secure conditions and would utilize copies
(not originals) of the master files.
3. How can the problem of redesigning gazetteer production
flow be approached and just who should ta
kl
c
e it? The textbook
approach to similar problems begins with a preliminary study followed
by feasibility and application studies and ends with conversion
planning, testing, and initiation. The following program of
specific action is recommended.
CONFIDENTIAL
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a. Preliminary Study Group
This would be a small, high-level committee whose
duty would be'to survey the problem briefly and recommend
for or against the organization of a feasibility study. A
written report should be written within a prescribed time
limit of 2 weeks to 2 months. Possible participants
might be . 25X1A9a
-(Chief, Applications Division, OCS .
b. Feasibility Study Group
This committee normally would be composed of
subject-matter specialists. Like the preliminary group,
it also would need a charter and a deadline for its
completed report. Members might be drawn from BGN,. OC8,
the current OBI, D/GC, and MD/OCR. The feasibility and
application studies could be combined.
c. Application Study Group
This would be a working-level group that might
have some of the same men as the feasibility study
committee and should have more electronic data processing
specialists. The group's function would be to redesign
the system and establish the specifications for systems,
equipment, and personnel. The exact composition, charter,
and deadline for this group should be left to the judgment
of the preceding group.
d. Conversion Planning, Testing, and System Initiation
The subsequent phases are best left to the recommendations
of the application study group.
5. The Agency is completely involved in the gazetter program -
as a financial contributor, participant, scheduler, processor,
publisher, and consumer. The forthcoming restructuring of the
Office of Basic Intelligence will offer a unique opportunity to
participate in the badly-needed redesign of gazetteer production
flow. The purpose of this proposal is to stimulate discussion
that will lead, to a more effective program.
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