For Sale $0 ... The world's largest topographical map of British Columbia
Written by Glenn Letham
19 December 2007
Oh man, the perfect Christmas gift for the GIS user that has everything, a topo map Measuring 12 metres by 23 metres... Yes indeed, recall that massive 3D topo map of British Columbia that was the focal point of a museum (for a short time) and was also featured in the Sail area at the 2006 ESRI User Conference... well, it can be all yours if you have some green, otherwise it's destined for the trash heap!
This from the Globe & Mail:
The map, installed in Victoria's historic Crystal Garden 18 months ago as part of the ill-fated BC Experience tourist attraction, has to be moved to make way for a convention centre project in the 80-year-old heritage building.
"It has to move in order for us to start renovations on the facility," city communications manager Katie Josephson said. "The map can be landfilled, but that's not our first choice. Our hope is there's somebody out there that may have an interest or be able to find space for it."
Measuring 12 metres by 23 metres, the $90,000, high-density polyurethane map formed the centrepiece of the BC Experience when the $12-million private venture opened its doors in June, 2006.
Image of BC Experience map captured by G. Letham (GISuser.com) at ESRI User Conference
FYI, The map's maker, California-based Solid Terrain Modelling, was among dozens of unsecured creditors who walked away empty-handed when the BC Experience closed last fall. See The Globe & Mail
This may be a dumb statement, but isn't there some public building in British Columbia (like a School, Airport, Museum, Government building etc...) that could be a good home for this piece??
the giant map is available free of charge to anyone willing to take it away.
This is what the creator had to say when he found out the creation might be trashed: Solid Terrain Modelling president Lawrence Faulkner was shocked to hear his company's creation might end up in the landfill. "Holy mackerel ... that's just so depressing," Mr. Faulkner said. "That map is a masterpiece. It's the best piece of work our company has ever done. It's so unique, it has so much power."
About STM Models STM produces the world's most accurate, full-color, 3-D solid models of geographic terrain. STM models provide a level of comprehension not found in any other mapping technology. People can gather around an STM model and view it from any angle. They can discuss it, touch it, and point to specific features on it. As they do, everyone in the group "gets" it -- the scale, distances, terrain, coloration, points of view, sight lines and more.
To produce a model, STM uses digital elevation and imagery data for the selected geographic area. The elevation data controls STM's highly calibrated cutting machine as it carves the model into high-density plastic foam. Then STM's printing machine applies the image data (as a photo) directly onto the model's surface. The result is an exact replica of the geographic area -- in breathtaking detail and in brilliant color.
STM models are used by law firms, emergency response groups (fire, police, search and rescue), land management offices (construction, civil engineering, real estate, and recreation), developers, transportation agencies, utilities (oil, gas, hydro), architects, museums, military, government agencies (federal, state and municipal), the U.S. Department of Defense and others. Seventeen STM models are now on display at the National Geographic Society's Explorers Hall museum in Washington, DC, including a 52-foot x 6.5-foot model of the Grand Canyon.
Photos by Bruce Obee.
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terrain. STM models provide a level of comprehension not found in any other mapping technology. People can gather around an STM model and view it from any angle. They can discuss it, touch it, and point to specific features on it. As they do, everyone in the group "gets" it -- the scale, distances, terrain, coloration, points of view, sight lines and more. 
STM models are used by law firms, emergency response groups (fire, police, search and rescue), land management 
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