12 July 2001
FM
3-34.230
TOPOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS
Table
of Contents
The Topographic Support System (TSS) includes COTS equipment used by topographic battalions (including their organic topographic companies) and theater, corps, and division terrain teams. The system is housed in twenty-three 30-foot containers and a 20-foot truck-mounted van unit. Several modules and van configurations make up the seven functional subsystems.
F-238. The Cartographic-Revision Subsystem prepares final drawings and reproduction materials for special-purpose graphics, drafts original overlays, and revises existing overlays cartographically and photographically for general-purpose graphics. This subsystem consists of a drafting and a compilation section.
F-239. The drafting section produces the set type, analyzes topographic products, and creates precision drawings, grids, masks, and pin registrations. The compilation section performs cartographic scribing, prepares drafts and map manuscripts, annotates photography, and produces overlays and overprint material.
F-240. The Image-Based Products (IBP) Subsystem performs all photographic processing and transformations required including differential and frame rectification, mosaicking, scale changes, and routine photographic reproduction. It consists of the rectifier I and II sections and the mosaicking/drafting section.
F-241. The rectifier I section provides a facility for rectified and unrectified prints and film from roll or sheet-film images and for processing exposed film for use in the overall system. The rectifier II section provides a facility for editing and annotating photographic prints. It provides ground coordinates, elevation, and dimensions derived from aerial photographs. This section also exercises quality control over the rectifier I section and safeguards topographic data.
F-242. The mosaicking/drafting section assembles mosaics for photographic map production. It also drafts maps and map products.
F-243. The Storage and Distribution Subsystem provides a central location for storing TSS data-bank material. It also maintains a system for locating and retrieving materials. This subsystem also completes the packaging (trimming, binding, and folding), forwards the product, and destroys sensitive material. It consists of the storage and distribution sections.
F-244. The storage section stores and retrieves the unit's basic load of topographic data. The distribution section maintains and issues standard map products from limited stock and disposes of obsolete map products.
F-245. The Reproduction Subsystem provides the capability to perform all required sequential functions necessary for reproducing lithographic products. It consists of seven sections—the photomechanical, camera, layout, platemaking, press, finishing, and paper-conditioning sections.
F-246. The photomechanical section prepares proof copies for editing, processes manuscript images on plastic scribing materials or blueprints, prepares duplicate reproduction materials, and processes exposed film. The camera section produces negatives from color-separated original manuscript (including continuous tone, halftone, and line copy), performs reduction to 33 percent and enlargement to 300 percent, and processes all exposures. The layout section provides engraving, opaquing, and laying out processed negatives for producing maps, photomaps, and map substitutes. It also performs precision checking and retouches flats.
F-247. The platemaking (plate-processing) section processes lithographic offset plates by exposing, developing, and preparing items for the press section. The press section produces multiple copies of required products in either monochrome or color. The finishing section prepares paper stock for printing, completes reproduced products by trimming and binding, packages the completed products for distribution, and shreds obsolete and classified products. The paper-conditioning section climatically stabilizes paper by maintaining a constant temperature and humidity that will be encountered when the paper is printed in the press section.
F-248. The C 2 Subsystem provides centralized control, direction, and management of the overall functions. It also provides the maintenance for the TSS. This includes processing external requests, defining requirements, assigning internal priorities, and managing operational activities. This subsystem consists of an operations and a maintenance section.
F-249. The operations section centralizes control, direction, and production management for all of the TSS. The maintenance section is responsible for repairing and maintaining all unique survey, cartographic, and reproduction equipment within the TSS.
F-250. The Military Geographic Information (MGI) Subsystem provides a storehouse and center for on-site terrain data collection, analysis, and synthesis for topographic support. It consists of five sections—the collection, information, synthesis, analysis, and DS sections.
F-251. The collection section collects all basic MGI from all possible sources. It catalogs all data received and passes it to the analysis section for processing or to the information section for storage. The collection section monitors requests for data collection that must be sent to units outside the TSS. It also collects MGI for other TSS sections. The collection section serves as the focal point for supervising TSS operations.
F-252. The information section is responsible for the receipt, accountability, and storage of processed MGI. It also disseminates information as required. The synthesis section provides graphic or textual analyses from factor overlays and other TSS data to meet military requirements. The analysis section interprets, evaluates, and updates MGI. The DS section provides a quick-reaction capability for collecting, analyzing, cataloging, and retrieving information. It also furnishes military geographic support as required.
F-253. The Downsized Direct-Support System (DDSS) provides a downsized version of the DS section of the TSS to meet the close combat light forces' mission requirements for transportability and deployment. The DDSS colocates with the division tactical operations center (DTOC). The DDSS consists of a 5/4-ton truck with a standard shelter; it tows a 3/4-ton trailer. Upon deployment, a tent is erected from the rear of the shelter to provide 80 percent of the operational work area.
F-254. The Digital Topographic Support System—Low-Rate Initial Production (DTSS-LRIP) is an automated tactical terrain data system featuring hardware and software modularity and using electronic data processing and computer technology. It provides input for the IPB, TDAs, and terrain data management for the AO. The system receives, reformats, creates, stores, retrieves, updates, manipulates, disseminates, and densifies digital terrain data.
F-255. The Survey Subsystem establishes new or additional basic networks of control. It also determines the position, elevation, and azimuth at required points and at the required accuracy.