В. Г. Плешков; А. В. Ребрий; Я. В. Степанова · 2004
This article proposes a conceptual and technological framework for developing an electronic version of the National Atlas of Russia (NAR). The project is designed as two complementary components: an Internet portal and CD-ROM editions distributed with the corresponding printed volumes. The Internet component is intended to publicize the atlas, provide online access to selected cartographic and thematic resources, offer search and reference services, and support ordering and payment for CD-ROM products. Each CD-ROM should reproduce the maps and thematic content of its printed volume in full, provide higher-quality cartographic visualization than the online version, and optionally include editorially approved multimedia, databases, spreadsheets, and hypertext materials. The distinction in quality reflects both network bandwidth limitations and the commercial need to differentiate freely accessible resources from purchasable editions. Both components should support unified navigation, thematic-layer control, geographical-name searches, and printing, while the Internet system may additionally integrate external resources such as the State Catalogue of Geographical Names. The authors compare raster visualization, scalable vector graphics (SVG), and Flash/SWF technology in terms of image quality, file size, interactivity, platform independence, browser compatibility, and client-side software requirements. Raster formats such as JPEG and PNG are broadly compatible but offer limited interaction and lose quality when scaled. SVG provides an open, XML-based, searchable, scalable, and semantically rich framework for interactive mapping, although its practical performance depends on plug-ins and data volume. Flash combines compact vector graphics, animation, multimedia, scripting, database connectivity, and cross-platform delivery, making it the recommended primary format for cartographic presentation. Dreamweaver and Flash are proposed for interface development, while HTML is selected for text, tables, statistics, and related thematic information. Databases may be delivered through web-enabled database systems or XML files; JPEG/PNG and AVI/MPEG are recommended for images and multimedia. The study emphasizes maximum unification of formats and processing technologies across online and offline versions to reduce costs for data preparation, software development, maintenance, and distribution. It concludes that the electronic NAR should become an integrated, information-rich and continuously updated environment for accessing reliable spatial and thematic knowledge about Russia. Future development should focus on sustained content renewal, expansion of search and analytical services, and architectural compatibility with the standards, protocols, and technologies of a national spatial data infrastructure.
Alexander N. Krayukhin; Vladimir S. Tikunov · 2010
The National Atlas of Russia, released in 2009, is a fundamental integrated cartographic product designed to comprehensively represent the nature, population, economy, ecology, history, and culture of Russia. It comprises four volumes covering general territory characteristics, nature and ecology, population and economy, and history and culture, employing four spatial levels: global, all-Russian, regional, and local. Published in both printed and electronic formats, the atlas was commissioned by the Russian Government and supervised by the Federal Agency of Geodesy and Cartography. Volume 1 details territorial formation and federal structure; Volume 2 examines the natural environment and ecological conditions; Volume 3 analyzes population, economy, and regional development; and Volume 4 systematically addresses historical and cultural evolution. Serving as an authoritative national reference, the atlas supports applications in economic management, education, science, and defense.
A. Krayukhin; G. Pozdnyak; V. Ryabchikova · 2011
Krayukhin, Pozdnyak and Ryabchikova describe the planning, compilation and contents of the four-volume National Atlas of Russia. Discussion of a national atlas developed from the late 1950s and early 1960s; practical preparation included a late-1980s Moscow State University report commissioned by Kartografija. A 1994 federal programme supported the project, and specialists prepared a ten-volume concept in 1995, with a 57 × 45 cm format and a proposed national map scale of 1:10,000,000. Funding shortages prevented approval of that edition. Kartografija and Roscartographya reduced the format to 43 × 29.5 cm, adjusted scales and reorganized the contents, using existing cartographic work to facilitate compilation of Volume 1. The article dates the four volumes to 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2008.
Each volume contains 496 pages. Volume 1, General Characteristics of the Territory, covers geography, territorial formation, exploration, mapping and federal divisions, with a place-name index exceeding 53,000 entries. The authors identify its integrated history of territorial formation and mapping as a first in Russian atlas cartography. Volume 2, Nature and Ecology, covers natural conditions and resources, environmental evolution, human impacts and conservation in fifteen sections. Volume 3, Population and Economy, addresses population, social development, economic sectors and regional development. It draws on official statistics, including the 2002 census, combines several socioeconomic mapping approaches and uses analytical, complex and synthetic levels of generalization. Volume 4, History and Culture, expands Volume 1’s historical coverage and maps cultural and natural heritage, modern cultural institutions and heritage protection.
The authors describe coordination within and between volumes, thematic maps on a common cartographic base, and mapping at global/Eurasian, national, regional and local levels. About 1,000 contributors from more than fifty scientific organizations participated, with map compilation and preparation using GIS–Neva. They present the atlas as an official state reference resource for research, education and public administration. Electronic editions of the first three volumes had been released; an electronic fourth volume and GIS editions of all four remained planned. The article concludes with awards received by Volumes 1–3 and the complete set, including the GEO-SIBIR-2010 gold medal.
