Konrad Großer; Christian Hanewinkel; Sabine Tzschaschel · 2007
Großer, Hanewinkel and Tzschaschel describe the compilation of the twelve-volume Nationalatlas Bundesrepublik Deutschland, published between January 2000 and August 2006. More than 600 unpaid authors contributed, with volume coordinators developing thematic plans and the Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography in Leipzig managing editing and production. Base maps were generalized from DLM 1000 data, principally at 1:2,750,000, and progressively supplemented for individual volumes. The account details the conversion of heterogeneous submissions into standardized maps, repeated corrections, coordination of maps and text, layout, and documentation of original data sources. Funding and contributors’ schedules determined publication order. The authors report broad library availability but modest sales and limited awareness and use, particularly among teachers; they describe a planned online portal while noting that a new edition of the twelve-volume work was not then envisaged.
Sabine Tzschaschel · 2007
This article reviews the "National Atlas of the Federal Republic of Germany," which was completed in spring 2007. In a concluding overall assessment, it reflects on the conceptual design and the form in which it was realized. To enable an evaluation, the work is compared with other recent national atlases. Before a final section addresses the various options for keeping the atlas current and updating it, some thoughts are expressed on how relevant national atlases still are today and what their societal role and future entail.
Konrad Großer · 2007
This article continues the report on the National Atlas of the Federal Republic of Germany published in KN 4/2007 (Tzschaschel, 2007). The focus is on the cartographic editorial and cartographic work on the twelve printed volumes of the atlas and related issues. It addresses the initial situation for the project, the map bases, and the workflow for one volume. Finally, comparisons are drawn and an attempt at evaluation is made. A further article in one of the next issues of KN will deal with the electronic edition of the atlas.