National Atlas of India (Fascicule)
India · · 1977
Related Reviews & Articles
Cartographic representation of data in the National Atlas of India
G. K. Dutt · 1968
This study examines cartographic techniques for socio-economic maps at 1:6,000,000 scale in the National Atlas of India. Traditional dot symbols remain effective for agricultural distributions, while proportional squares replace circles for urban population mapping. For concentrated industrial areas, combinations of proportional sectors, squares, and circles represent multi-unit data clearly. Pictorial symbols arranged linearly improve readability over conventional geometric marks. The findings offer practical guidance for thematic map design.
Cartographic representation of data in the National Atlas of India
G. K. Dutt · 1972
After completing the Hindi volume of the National Atlas of India in 1957, the English edition was planned as fascicules with about 300 plates. This paper examines the cartographic methods used for the 1:6 million socio-economic maps, covering agriculture, livestock, industry, commerce, finance, economy and social conditions. Because published statistics were often too generalized or unsuitable for mapping, the Atlas made special requisitions to state agencies, used co-ordinating officers, and processed data in a statistical section. For crops and livestock, dot maps were adopted, with dots placed on arable land and values averaged over five years. Proportional circles were found unsuitable at 1:6 million and were replaced by proportional squares for urban population and hospital beds, with insets for congested areas. A combination of circles and squares distinguished livestock markets from fairs. Sector diagrams proved effective for showing several activities at one location, while semi-circles represented production and capacity in cement, water supply and port maps. The chemical and pharmaceutical map had to combine sectors, squares and circles for data measured in tonnes, litres and units. For handicrafts and house types, realistic pictorial symbols and photographically reduced pictures were more effective. The study concludes that the choice of graphic method must depend on map scale, data characteristics and congestion; when carefully selected and combined, these methods can present a clear, accurate and integrated picture of the country's socio-economic conditions.
The National Atlas of India
S. P. Chatterjee · 1958
This article, authored by Dr. S. P. Chatterjee, Director of the National Atlas Organization of India, provides a comprehensive account of the background, objectives, organizational structure, cartographic methods, and specific map compilation processes of the National Atlas Project. The article first traces the project's history from its proposal in 1953 to the formal establishment of the National Atlas Organization in 1956, outlining five key objectives: publishing the National Atlas in Hindi, English, and regional languages to depict India's physical and socio-economic characteristics; using atlas maps to delineate planning regions for effective resource development; helping citizens visualize regional characters in the context of development plans; disseminating fundamental geographic facts about India to the world; and providing employment opportunities for graduates in geography and related fields. The article then discusses the limitations of existing mapping organizations (such as the Survey of India) and underscores the need for a strong central cartographic department. In the organization and methods section, it details the division of labor between the Research Office and Drawing Office, including data collection, analysis, experimental cartography, and final drafting. The article focuses on the compilation techniques for the Population Map, including the dot method for rural population (with dots of varying radii representing different population counts) and the circle method for urban population, achieving for the first time a unified scale for both rural and urban symbols. Additionally, it mentions the Landuse Map (piloted in the Damodar Valley region) and the Communication Map (showing roads, railways, waterways, airways, and other infrastructure). The author concludes that while the National Atlas Organization has made initial contributions, it still faces challenges in data acquisition, technical equipment, and personnel training, requiring further refinement in the future.
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