Hi all,
I've been a lurker on this list for a while so I thought I'd introduce myself too (like John in Canada). I discovered this list a few months ago. Count me as another person who would like to see the USA convert to the metric system. I like to bicycle and having to maintain two sets of tools isn't good!
I learned the metric system way back in the 8th grade (1968) in my math class from a teacher who was very prometric. His basic argument was ease of use. His favorite statement to students who didn't like the metric system was that they should never handle money because it was decimal based. At that time I thought that we would be metric by now; boy, was I wrong. However, I do see us (Americans) making slow progress. I think when we are finally there is when we change the road signs and speedometers/odometers in vehicles (and that's probably where the most resistance will be). I hope I see it in my lifetime (not that I am going to lose sleep over it, though). :)
My profession is in geographic information systems (GIS), which is computer mapping and spatial databases. The GIS field is a mixture of inch-pound and metric when it comes to maps and designing them. For example, paper sizes are all in inches and many maps used locally only have a mileage bar scale. Metric is used when creating data though. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) digital elevation models (DEM) are constructed at a 10-meter and 30-meter resolution. USGS also distributes their geographic databases using meters as the units. Several months ago, we argued to get the Washington State agencies to use meters for their geographic map layers, but we lost that one and are using feet. The reasoning was the cities and counties (civil engineers and surveyors) were using feet so by us using feet, it would facilitate data sharing. Fortunately, it's an easy thing to convert using the computer, if we ever to change to meters.
A mapping company, DeLorme, prints the Washington Atlas and Gazetteer with the topographic map contours in meters.
Also, I have a "meter stick" made of aluminum at home. One side is inches in sixteenths. The other is decimal inches and millimeters/centimeters. It's handy to measure bicycles and parts. Can't remember where I got it though.
. ______________
____ | | RICH KIM, Spatial Database Administrator
\ | | | Washington State Department of Ecology
| // | P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, Washington USA 98504
| * Olympia | Phone: (360) 407-6121; Fax: (360) 407-6493
\ _____| E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
`---------' http://www.ecy.wa.gov/services/gis/index.html
