The Manhattan Topography Office: Hector Rivera on Maps, Planning, and Expansion

Get an inside look into the world of the Manhattan Topographical Office, as Hector Rivera discusses how he coordinates all the different City Agencies in the world of house numbers and how he determines house numbers. The conversation will be accompanied by maps going back to colonial times which have not been presented publicly before. Explore the cartographical world of maps!

Speakers:
Hector Rivera, Topographic Associate, Manhattan Borough President's Office City of New York

About the Speakers:
Hector Rivera is the Topographic Associate at the Manhattan Borough President's Office, City of New York. With a career spanning over three decades, Rivera has become an integral part of the office's map room, overseeing both historical and modern maps of Manhattan. He started as an intern in 1994 and transitioned to his current role in 2008, where he has been responsible for digitizing and maintaining the borough's extensive map archives. As the borough's official topographer, Rivera assigns addresses for new buildings, maintains street information, and provides crucial data on what lies beneath Manhattan's buildings, basements, and tunnels. His work supports city agencies and businesses, helping to solve modern-day engineering problems by leveraging historical records dating back to colonial times. Rivera also collaborates with the borough president to officially remove streets from Manhattan's street map, aiding in efforts to reduce congestion and pollution. Rivera's dedication to preserving and updating Manhattan's topographical history has made him a respected figure in the field, ensuring that the borough's development is well-informed and community-focused.