Photo library

DAMIÁN GARCÍA LÓPEZ PHOTO LIBRARY

The transformations of the Asturian territory, in images.

A simple, but heartfelt tribute

Introduction

The commitment and dedication with which the vast majority of the personnel at the service of Public Administrations carry out their work do not receive the recognition they deserve from our society. All this daily and silent work, often invisible, applied to very diverse areas of action, but always oriented towards the common good, is too often unfairly overshadowed by the prejudice, increasingly widespread, that associates public function with inefficiency, obstacles or paperwork. They do not occupy pages in the newspapers or appear on social networks, but the constant dedication of so many public workers makes, at times in an unexpected way, our daily lives a little better.

An exemplary public servant

During his four years of assignment in the Cartography Service of the Principality of Asturias, until his unfortunate death in June 2023, the Topography engineer Damián García López carried out his duties with an exceptional level of professionalism, and always giving much more than was required. His technical mastery of the subject, highly specialized and constantly evolving, allowed him to successfully complete various ambitious and innovative cartographic projects in our region in that relatively short space of time. Applying very advanced tools, Damián was capable of converting enormous volumes of data into reference spatial information, essential for a better understanding of our territory, and very useful for the design of all public policies, from health to risk prevention, including transportation, environmental conservation or the protection of cultural heritage. Among his responsibilities, it is worth highlighting the updating and maintenance of the Topographic Base of Asturias at a scale of 1:5,000 - the cartography applied as a basis in the thematic viewers of the Territorial Information System of the Principality of Asturias -, the administration of the Active Geodetic Network of the Principality of Asturias - which allows highly precise topographical work to be carried out through the Global Satellite Navigation System -, his active participation in the Specialized Commission for Geographic Standards, or the latest revision of the Autonomous Map at a scale of 1:200,000. The orthoimages of the 1956 and 1970 flights, essential to understand the recent transformations of the territory of our Autonomous Community, are also the fruit of the rigor, the desire to improve, the generosity and the constant search for perfection that characterized his work. In short, Damián embodied the best virtues of a public servant.

An endearing coworker

But in addition to being an impeccable professional in his performance, Damián was, above all, an excellent colleague and very loved by his companions in the Cartography Service who were lucky enough to share tasks, endeavors and projects with him, and his memory will always serve as an example and inspiration for all. That is why our Photo Library, which he contributed so much to enrich, bears his name, as a small tribute to his memory, and as a sign of appreciation and affection for his family.

V1965P
Scope: Port selection
Date: 06/1965
Scale: 1:5.000
B/w
V1970T
Scope: All Asturias
Date: 1970
Scale: 1:20.000
B/w
V1977VC
Scope: Selection of coastal villas
Date: 09/1977
Scale: 1:5.000
B/w
V1981M
Scope: Selection of population centers
Date: 1981-1982 (according to frame)
Scale: 1:8.000
B/w
V1983C
Scope: Areas of the coastal strip
Date: 11/1983
Scale: 1:8.000
B/w
V1983M
Scope: Selection of population centers
Date: 11/1983
Scale: 1:8.000
B/w
V1985M
Scope: Selection of population centers
Date: 8/1985
Scale: 1:8:000
B/w
V1989CP
Scope: Selection of rural areas
Date: 1989
Scale: 1: 5.000-1: 8.000 (depending on the frame)
B/w
V1990P
Scope: Areas of the coast and of the central strip
Date: 1990
Scale: 1:18.000
B/w
V1993CP
Scope: Selection of rural areas
Date: 11/1993
Scale: 1:5.000
B/w
V1993CR
Scope: Route of several roads
Date: 1993
Scale: 1:5.000-1:18.000 (depending on the frame)
B/w
V1994T
Scope: All Asturias
Date: 1994-1996
Scale: 1:18.000
B/w
V1997BT
Scope: Selection of rural areas
Date: 10/1997
Scale: 1:5.000
B/w
V1997CP
Scope: Selection of rural areas
Date: 10/1997
Scale: 1:5.000
B/w
V2001C
Scope: Coastal strip
Date: 2000-2001 (according to frame)
Scale: 1:5.000
Color