About 2,400 kinds of maps, atlas, digital and on-line maps, as well as surveying and mapping books, were published in China in 2007, figures released by the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM) on Monday show.

In all mediums, there were about 150 million maps in total.

The publication has satisfied the public's need for study and traveling, the bureau said on its Website.

The surveying and mapping personnel provided services for various initiatives last year, including the second national land survey, preservation of the Great Wall, Arctic exploration, and the Beijing Olympic Games preparations, the bureau said.

In 2007, notable progresses were also made in basic surveying and mapping, the bureau said. They had completed nearly 600,000 maps, up 61 percent year-on-year, and developed hundreds of software and geographic information application systems, up 25 percent.

SBSM provided 1.54 million land survey results, digital maps and aerial photos to 20 sectors in the country, including land and resources, petroleum, communications and environmental protection.

The production value of the geographic information industry reached in excess of 50 billion yuan (about US$6.9 billion) in 2007. This had promoted the development of intelligent communications, modern logistics and Internet services, according to the bureau.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2008)