General DNR News

EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATION CENTER OFFERS EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND MAPS

The Louisiana Geological Survey is an official Earth Science Information Center (ESIC) source in our state. Under the network of the U.S. Geological Survey, there are 75 Earth Science Information Centers across the nation that sell and offer earth science products and data.

Louisiana's ESIC is located on the Louisiana State University campus, Room 141 in the old geological building of the Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex. The Center distributes information about the surface of the Earth, the subsurface of the Earth, and in some instances, the space above the Earth. At ESIC, students, teachers, and explorers can find general and specific information on earth science topics. Earth science information and products, such as science projects, programs, and reports can also be obtained there.

Many people think of ESIC as a map store' because of the well-known USGS topographic maps that are found there. Since the ESICs are an arm of the USGS National Mapping division, they are the primary source of public information on all the cartographic activities of the Division, as well as the source of the earth science products of the USGS's Geologic and Water Resources divisions.

If it's maps you seek, the Geological Survey has them: topographic maps, topographic-bathymetric maps, Antarctic maps, photo image maps, satellite image maps, geologic maps,hydrologic maps, land use maps, maps of the planets and moons, National Atlas maps, and special maps. The friendly ESIC staff will also provide guidance on where to find items if they are not in stock. Searchers looking for digital data will find the Survey to be a valuable resource.

There are three major Earth Science information and retrieval data bases:

• Aerial Photography Summary Record System, for aerial photographs;
• Map and Chart Information System, for maps and charts; and
• Cartographic Catalog, for general earth science information and products.

For more information, call Fred Kring, Publication Sales at (504) 388-5320, or write to Louisiana Geological Survey/ESIC, P. O. Box G, Baton Rouge, LA 70893.

Editors: This information provided by the DNR Public Information Office at (504) 342-8955.