Howard Veregin

Bio: I started working with computer mapping and image processing software as a graduate student in 1982. I went on to earn a PhD in Geography from UC Santa Barbara, and then served as a university professor for almost ten years, teaching courses in GIS, computer mapping, and remote sensing. In 2000 I moved to the private sector and became Director of GIS Operations at Rand McNally. I was appointed Wisconsin State Cartographer in 2009. The Wisconsin State Cartographer's Office is an amazing resource for the state, providing data and information, helping coordinate mapping activities, developing special-purpose datasets, and helping expand the use and utility of maps and geospatial data for professionals and the general public. The Office exemplifies the "Wisconsin Idea" by fostering engagement and exchange between the university, the professional community, and citizens of the state.

Recent Initiatives of the Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office

The Wisconsin State Cartographer plays a unique role in the upper Midwest region. Created legislatively in 1973, the State Cartographer was assigned to UW-Madison and the State Cartographer’s Office (SCO) was created to assist with statutory duties. The SCO has remained an important part of the geospatial landscape for over 40 years by adapting to technology change and user needs. This presentation highlights some recent SCO initiatives including: the Statewide Parcel Mapping Project; Wiscland2, an updated statewide land cover map; GeoData@Wisconsin, the state’s first practical geoportal; online Finder apps that deliver statewide geodetic control; and new initiatives enhancing access to Wisconsin historical geospatial data.

Parcels, land cover, geoportal, geodetic control, historical data, State Cartographer, Wisconsin