John P. Snyder
Encyclopedia
John Parr Snyder was an American
cartographer
most known for his work on map projection
s for the United States Geological Survey
(USGS). Educated at Purdue and MIT as a chemical engineer, he had a lifetime interest in map projections as a hobby, but found the calculations tedious without the benefit of expensive calculators or computers. At a cartography conference in 1976, he learned of the need for a map projection that would suit the special needs of satellite imagery. He had recently been able to purchase a pocket calculator (TI-59
) of his own and set to work creating what became known as the space-oblique mercator projection
, which he provided to the USGS at no charge.
He was subsequently offered a job within the USGS within two years, where his work apparently led him to the eventual publication of the definitive technical guide to map projections entitled Map Projections: A Working Manual among other works. He also authored Flattening the Earth: Two Thousand Years of Map Projections which details the historical development of hundreds of map projections. Snyder developed at least one other projection, called GS50, which uses a complex polynomial to project the 50 U.S. states with minimal distortion. He taught courses on map projection at George Mason University
. He was president of the American Cartographic Association from 1990–1991 and also served as a secretary to the Washington Map Society.
John Snyder died April 28, 1997.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cartographer
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
most known for his work on map projection
Map projection
A map projection is any method of representing the surface of a sphere or other three-dimensional body on a plane. Map projections are necessary for creating maps. All map projections distort the surface in some fashion...
s for the 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,...
(USGS). Educated at Purdue and MIT as a chemical engineer, he had a lifetime interest in map projections as a hobby, but found the calculations tedious without the benefit of expensive calculators or computers. At a cartography conference in 1976, he learned of the need for a map projection that would suit the special needs of satellite imagery. He had recently been able to purchase a pocket calculator (TI-59
TI-59
The TI-59 was an early programmable calculator, manufactured by Texas Instruments from 1977. It was the successor to the TI SR-52, quadrupling the number of "program steps" of storage, and adding "ROM Program Modules" and a magnetic card reader for external storage...
) of his own and set to work creating what became known as the space-oblique mercator projection
Space-oblique Mercator projection
Space-oblique Mercator projection is a map projection.-History:The space-oblique Mercator projection was developed by John P. Snyder, Alden Partridge Colvocoresses and John L. Junkins in 1976. Snyder had an interest in maps, originating back to his childhood and he regularly attended cartography...
, which he provided to the USGS at no charge.
He was subsequently offered a job within the USGS within two years, where his work apparently led him to the eventual publication of the definitive technical guide to map projections entitled Map Projections: A Working Manual among other works. He also authored Flattening the Earth: Two Thousand Years of Map Projections which details the historical development of hundreds of map projections. Snyder developed at least one other projection, called GS50, which uses a complex polynomial to project the 50 U.S. states with minimal distortion. He taught courses on map projection at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
. He was president of the American Cartographic Association from 1990–1991 and also served as a secretary to the Washington Map Society.
John Snyder died April 28, 1997.
Publications
- An album of map projections. USGS Professional Paper No. 1453. 1989.
- Bibliography of map projection. USGS Bulletin No. 1856. 1988.
- Map Projections: A Working Manual USGS Professional Paper 1395. 1987.
- Map projections used for large-scale quadrangles by the U.S. Geological Survey. USGS Circular No. 982. 1986.
- Space Oblique Mercator projection mathematical development. USGS Bulletin No. 1518. 1981.
External links
- http://www.geo.hunter.cuny.edu/mp/snyder.html - further biographical information
- Donna Urschel Geography by the Numbers :Staff Member Solves Mystery of Mapping Equations, a biography of J.P. Snyder at the Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
- http://onlinepubs.er.usgs.gov/djvu/PP/PP_1395.pdf - Information and electronic version of Map Projections: A Working Manual
- http://www.manifold.net/doc/gs50_projection.htm - about the GS50 projection
- https://listserv.unb.ca/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9705&L=canspace&T=0&H=1&P=1145 - Obituary posted to CANSPACE forum