Exhibition showcases development of SMO in mapping and survey services (with photos)
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    The Lands Department's Survey and Mapping Office (SMO) will hold an exhibition "Towards a New Era of Survey & Mapping Technologies and Products" in Exhibition Galleries 2 & 3 at Hong Kong Central Library for three days starting tomorrow (December 21).

     The SMO is committed to providing effective survey and mapping services to meet customers' requirements. The advancement has been seen through the continuous improvement, state-of-the-art technology, optimisation of resources and implementation of a Quality Management System. The exhibition will showcase the achievements of SMO over the years through display panels and exhibits.

     The exhibition covers panel display of traditional and contemporary mapping; land surveying services; mapping basics; digital map data manipulation; mapping products and applications.  Visitors can compare the maps produced by using precious old drawing tools and those using modern computer technology.  

     Traditional and the latest survey equipment will be demonstrated, including sextant, telescopic alidade, Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, digital level and reflectorless total station.

     Visitors can also take the opportunity to try an interactive kiosk of the Map Archive Retrieval System and the stereoscopic view of aerial photographs.

     Another highlight is a film show of a three-dimensional Hong Kong spatial data model. It is created by combining digital photography with the technology of virtual reality. Visitors can take the bird¡¦s eye view of Hong Kong and experience the flythrough with this spatial data model. The model can be used for a wide variety of applications such as planning, animation, navigation, property promotion and environment impact assessment.  

     A video presentation on the work of Lands Department will also be shown in the exhibition which includes the uses of digital map in commercial application on the internet, handheld computer devices and mobile phones, lot identification and countryside maps.  

     Various thematic maps, survey and mapping equipment, digital orthophoto maps and other popular map products will be displayed.  

     The exhibition will be open to the public between 3pm and 8pm tomorrow, between 10am and 8pm on Thursday (December 22) and between 10am and 5pm on Friday (December 23). Admission is free.

Ends/Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:01

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