T. Ouren · 1982
Ouren describes the organization and planned production of the National Atlas of Norway following the appointment of a steering committee in late 1979. The Geographical Survey of Norway would produce and publish the atlas with contributing institutions. Intended for administration, planning, education and general reference, it would cover physical and human geography in 21 thematic categories, using nationwide maps at 1:1 million or smaller scales and Norwegian–English explanatory texts. A4 loose-leaf folders and computerized storage and processing were intended to support updates. Base maps received first priority: whole-country and divided-country formats used separately prepared printing plates that could be combined. Other early priorities included physical geography and population and agricultural topics drawing on the 1979–1980 censuses; work was underway in nine categories. Program committees would propose content, project groups, costs and priorities, with project groups preparing the final manuscripts. The first mainland base-map folder and accompanying pamphlet were scheduled for distribution in 1982.
Britt Dale · 1982
Britt Dale’s account, based on a June 1981 presentation, describes the early compilation of Nasjonalatlas for Norge (National Atlas of Norway). Proposed in the 1960s, the project was revived through the Norwegian Mapping Plan, guided by a 1977 preliminary report and funded in the 1978–79 budget. The Ministry of Environment held administrative responsibility; a steering committee appointed in 1979 directed the work, with Norges geografiske oppmåling providing the secretariat and technical execution. The atlas was intended to supply natural and human geographic information for decision-making, administration, education and wider public use. Planned publication comprised loose map sheets at 1:1 million or smaller scales and analytical booklets in A4 folders, with Norwegian and English text, allowing selective purchase and updating. Dale emphasizes standardized data, qualified specialist collaboration and electronic processing for storage, mapping and revision. Work had begun on seven of 21 main themes. Priority went to digital base maps, with the first folder nearly ready for printing, followed by physical geography and vegetation; agricultural and population themes were timed to use the 1979 and 1980 censuses. Interdisciplinary committees were developing proposals, participants and cost estimates for thematic projects. Dale presents coordinated data collection and comparable maps as intended benefits, while stressing the resources and cooperation required.
Jens Christian Hansen · 1998
Jens Christian Hansen, former chair of the National Atlas Council, critically recounts the development of Nasjonalatlas for Norge from early planning to its transition from loose maps and text booklets to a book series. He attributes its incomplete coverage and production delays to weak coordination, unstable funding, unrealistic expectations of external finance, and the loss of editorial expertise following the mapping authority’s 1991 reorganization. In his account, market-led publishing reduced the council’s influence over subject priorities and publication order. Health appeared in December 1996, Sport in 1997 and Vegetation Regions in 1998; Sport secured a publishing place through a contractual partner and external funding despite lacking the council’s academic priority, while other planned subjects remained unfinished or were shelved. Hansen acknowledges the published booklets, work on the new book format and improved thematic-mapping expertise. He nevertheless concludes that the ministry’s March 1996 decision ended the atlas as a coordinated project. By the time of writing, three books had appeared, but costs were high, sales insufficient and no new co-funded products had been developed. He presents a searchable map database as a possible future form, conditional on the atlas being revived.
