Mapping the Future of America's National Parks: Stewardship Through Geographic Information Systems

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Summary: Knowledge is power, but geographic knowledge shows the way
Review: This beautiful and intense book, stuffed with full-color maps in many formats, is not just for national park managers, those of us who are map addicts, and tech-types attracted to anything computer-based. Anyone who loves the outdoors, uses natural resources, or ponders wildlife biosystems will see how geographic information systems (GIS) have -- and will even more -- shape the future of our national park system. Although not for the purely casual reader, Mapping the Future illustrates so well the surprisingly diverse GIS applications already used in many of our parks... from snow-removal in Glacier Park to wildfire management in Southern California. The National Park Service plans extensive GIS information access for use by the general public. This book is a step towards understanding the amazing data available to all of us.