MoreMaryland Governor Parris N. Glendening formally unveiled a full-color, solid terrain model of the Chesapeake Bay today at the National Geographic Society's Museum, Explorers Hall, in Washington, D.C. The spectacular 8 ft by 8 ft, full-color, 3D scale model was produced by California-based Solid Terrain Modeling (STM). The model shows the topography, and urban and rural highlights of Maryland and the Bay in vivid detail – the size of the cities, the transportation networks, the Appalachian Mountains, the rivers that feed the coastal waterways and the Bay, and the natural beauty of the entire area. It also illustrates the bathymetry (underwater topography) of the Chesapeake Bay. The Governor and several Maryland cabinet members were briefed on STM's unique 3D solid terrain model technology and toured the museum to see the 16 other large STM models on permanent display.
Governor Glendening serves on the Board of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and is a supporter of Smart Growth, Green Print, Open Spaces, Rural Heritage and the Maryland Geography Initiative. He is nationally recognized for his leadership and views on balanced urban development and environmental protection for the state of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay region.
The Chesapeake Bay model was produced by combining digital satellite data with patent-pending 3D solid terrain model technology. STM used topographic and bathymetric data to cut the model out of high-density plastic foam. A satellite image of the area was then printed directly onto the model's surface. The topographic data came from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Reston, Va.; the bathymetric data came from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Rockville, Md.; and the satellite image came from Earth Satellite Corporation in Rockville, Md. WorldSat International in Ontario, Canada also supplied technical assistance.
