TopoZone
Encyclopedia
TopoZone was a website operated by Demand Media
from 1999 to 2008 that offered free online topographic maps.
It was founded in November 1999 by Ed McNierney whose company Maps a la carte, Inc. operated out of North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
. Prior to founding the company, McNierney, an organic chemistry graduate of Dartmouth College
, was chief technology officer for Eastman Software, a division of Eastman Kodak
.
In 2003 the company partnered with the National Map
making its 20-Terabyte library of digital topographic maps and aerial photography available to the USGS. The 2003 press release of the partnership said that 300 million maps had been served from 1999 to 2003.
TopoZone was one of the first topographic mapping site on the web, providing visitors with free viewing and printing of the full set of United States Geological Survey
topographic maps covering the entire United States
. The maps are produced by the USGS, which encourages the distribution of their maps through business partners. TopoZone offered aerial photographs from the USGS and street maps from the United States Census Bureau
. In 2007 complete coverage of Canada
was added, using the topographic map series produced by Natural Resources Canada
.
In 2007 McNierney sold the company to Demand Media and stayed on as chief mapmaker until the company was taken over by Trails.com.
On April 9, 2008, Topozone was incorporated into Demand Media's Hillclimb Media subsidiary Trails.com. Links to individual TopoZone maps now forward to Trails.com, with maps limited to small size and strongly watermarked
. An annual $50 subscription is required to access larger maps without watermarks.
Demand Media
Demand Media, Inc. is an online media company and content farm that operates online brands such as eHow, and Cracked, and is known for creating online content through its Demand Media Studios division based on a combination of measured consumer demand and predicted ROI...
from 1999 to 2008 that offered free online topographic maps.
It was founded in November 1999 by Ed McNierney whose company Maps a la carte, Inc. operated out of North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
North Chelmsford is an unincorporated village in the town of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, United States. Although North Chelmsford has its own zip code , library, post office, police station, fire station, and local calling area, it is run by the same local town government and is part of the same...
. Prior to founding the company, McNierney, an organic chemistry graduate of Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, was chief technology officer for Eastman Software, a division of Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
.
In 2003 the company partnered with the National Map
National Map
The National Map is a collaborative effort of the United States Geological Survey and other federal, state, and local agencies to improve and deliver topographic information for the United States...
making its 20-Terabyte library of digital topographic maps and aerial photography available to the USGS. The 2003 press release of the partnership said that 300 million maps had been served from 1999 to 2003.
TopoZone was one of the first topographic mapping site on the web, providing visitors with free viewing and printing of the full set of United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
topographic maps covering the entire United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The maps are produced by the USGS, which encourages the distribution of their maps through business partners. TopoZone offered aerial photographs from the USGS and street maps from the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
. In 2007 complete coverage of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
was added, using the topographic map series produced by Natural Resources Canada
Natural Resources Canada
The Department of Natural Resources , operating under the FIP applied title Natural Resources Canada , is the ministry of the government of Canada responsible for natural resources, energy, minerals and metals, forests, earth sciences, mapping and remote sensing...
.
In 2007 McNierney sold the company to Demand Media and stayed on as chief mapmaker until the company was taken over by Trails.com.
On April 9, 2008, Topozone was incorporated into Demand Media's Hillclimb Media subsidiary Trails.com. Links to individual TopoZone maps now forward to Trails.com, with maps limited to small size and strongly watermarked
Watermark
A watermark is a recognizable image or pattern in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light , caused by thickness or density variations in the paper...
. An annual $50 subscription is required to access larger maps without watermarks.