MINNEAPOLIS, MN, October 9th, 2007 -- East View Cartographic (EVC) today announced the completion of a project to create 30 meter resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEM) of protected Afghanistan habitat.  In addition to DEM creation, EVC tasked the Quickbird satellite to collect high-resolution satellite imagery over the Band-e Amir lakes and Ajar Valley regions of Afghanistan to aid the Wildlife Conservation Society in assessing wildlife populations, rangeland conditions, impacts of farmland expansion and over-grazing. 

 The completion of the project adds to EVC's reputation as a trusted source for and producer of worldwide geospatial data, with particular expertise in Afghanistan and surrounding environs.  In the past five years EVC has produced over $1,000,000 of custom geospatial projects involving Afghanistan, ranging from original large-scale topographic map production for NATO forces to terrain analysis studies to massive raster data projects supporting the next Afghanistan population census.   

Under the project, EVC derived the DEM data from large-scale topographic maps, then used the DEM data to orthorectify the imagery to further increase spatial accuracy. The project areas covered approximately 1750 square kilometers over north-central Afghanistan.  Imagery collected by the Quickbird satellite was further processed by East View Cartographic and delivered in numerous spectral band combinations to allow for additional analysis of vegetation, hydrography, and human impacts in the area.

East View Cartographic maintains one of the world's largest commercially available collections of authoritative maps covering Afghanistan and many other countries around the world. Interested parties can browse and purchase maps and other geospatial data products online via the EVC Store at www.cartographic.com, or contact company representatives directly for assistance.

 About EVC

East View Cartographic (EVC) is a leading provider of authoritative worldwide maps, geospatial data, and GIS services. Since the company's origins in the early 1990s, EVC has acquired a vast archive of global maps and geospatial data, including topographic maps, DEMs, imagery, vector data, geological maps, nautical charts, and related atlases and books. The company's extensive map and geospatial data supplier contact network allows quick access to products not in inventory. In addition, EVC provides high-quality, cost-effective mapping and GIS services to support production of new geospatial information products, and to custom modify existing data. To browse and purchase products online visit EVC Store at www.cartographic.com.

About WCS

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is an international non-profit organization based at the Bronx Zoo, New York, USA.   WCS has over 110 years of experience in the field of international conservation, including in the creation of 130 parks around the world, and currently has over 2,500 scientists working in 60 countries.