The official mapping organization in the Republic of Cyprus is the Department of Lands and Surveys (DLS) in Nicosia. DLS was established in 1961 and is responsible for geodetic, cadastral and topographic surveying and for the publication and dissemination of the results of these surveys. Since 1969 DLS has been able to produce its own maps using photogrammetric methods. Smaller scale mapping covers the whole island, but in practice DLS is unable to map northern areas under Turkish control to the same accuracy as the rest of the island. The basic series is the 1:5,000 scale National topographic map (DLS 17), which requires 1,293 sheets to cover the whole island. Only the 61 percent of the island under Greek Cypriot control and to the south of the Green Line has been published. This four-color map is compiled from aerial photography dating from 1969-76, with field checking, and shows relief with 2 m contours. It was established with the assistance of the British Directorate of Overseas Surveys (DOS) (now Ordnance Survey International (OSI)). DOS also mapped the island at scales of 1:10.000 in the contoured series (DOS 255)/(K818), and 1:25,000 in series (DOS 355)/(K8110). A 24-sheet military map at 1:50,000 scale (Series 717) was compiled as a joint British and Cypriot project. This was based upon aerial photography dating from the 1970s and has been updated using 1986-88 satellite imagery. At 1:100,000 scale a four-sheet map with 100 m contours was revised to 1991 and is available in English (DLS 18) or Greek (DLS 6) versions. Two-color mapping on district sheet lines at this scale depicts administrative boundaries down to village level (DLS 29). Several different versions of 1:250,000 scale maps are published to cover the whole island. A layer tinted relief base is used in the nine-color administrative and road map, it is also available as a tourist map, printed with town maps and tourist information on the reverse side. English, and Greek and uncolored flat editions of these maps are available. Ethnic mapping at this scale is also published. DLS also publishes a 1:500,000 scale general map of the island, and distributes aeronautical charts conforming to standard international specifications. It has taken on responsibility for the maintenance of the 1:250,000 scale hydrographic chart of the island, and maintains a range of town maps in the Street Plan series, most of which are issued at the scale of 1:7,500.
Soviet military topographic mapping of Cyprus is available at the following scales: 1:1,000,000 (1 sheet, complete coverage, published in 1974); 1:500,000 (2 sheets, complete coverage, published in 1981); 1:200,000 (8 sheets, complete coverage, published in 1990-1991); 1:100,000 (18 sheets, complete coverage, published in 1988); 1:50,000 (43 sheets, complete coverage, published in 1987) and city (1:10,000 to 1:25,000) topographic mapping of Famagusta, Limassol and Nicosia published between 1978 and 1985. These products are available in print, digital raster and digital vector GIS formats from East View Geospatial.
A number of different thematic mapping activities have been undertaken by other government agencies, but DLS publishes these maps. The Geological Survey Department (GSD) founded in 1950 has used British and German bilateral aid to produce 1:250,000 scale maps of geology (revised in 1995 and also available in a Greek language version), hydrogeology, and mineral resources. 1:25,000 scale programs include several themes for Nicosia, and a 1:100,000 scale set is published, mapping groundwater quality in the Nicosia, Larnaca, and Limassol areas. Larger scale applied engineering mapping is also available. Other mineraliferous areas were mapped at two-inch scale in a 1959-62 DOS project, and include maps accompanied by memoirs.
Environmental mapping compiled in association with the Ministry of Agriculture is also available from DLS. Forests, soil, land use and precipitation are mapped at 1:250,000 and selected areas have been published in 1:25,000 scale series on (DOS 355) sheetlines, in land use and land suitability for irrigation series.
Large-scale cadastral mapping of Cyprus is carried out by DLS, which until recently has operated on a manual basis in a graphical multipurpose cadaster. A major project was carried out to establish an integrated digital land information system for the Republic, and completed by 1998. This has involved the establishment of a new control network, flying 1:8,000 scale aerial photography, systematic cadastral resurvey, and computerization of land records. A digital cadastral database will allow current continuous cadastral data to be integrated in a GIS with thematic overlays, and topographic data. Vector data from the 1:100,000 scale topographic map has been captured, in addition to digital cadastral data.
Several publishers issue tourist maps of the island. These include the Cyprus Tourism Organization, who publishes useful large scale plans of resort areas in association with DLS which show tourist information overprinted onto double-sided town maps and 1:50,000 scale area maps. A number of commercial publishers also issue general maps, such as HarperCollins, GEOprojects, AA, New Holland, B&B, Freytag-Berndt, Karto + Grafik and RV. Turkish controlled areas are mapped by AND, Istanbul.
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