IGU/ICA Joint Working Group on Environmental Atlases

Summary

This paper introduces the World Digital Database for Environmental Science (WDDES) project, initiated in 1984 by a joint working group of the International Geographical Union (IGU) and the International Cartographic Association (ICA). The project aims to construct a global digital base map at a scale of 1:1 million (approximately 1 km resolution) to support correlation analysis and modeling in environmental sciences. Through a series of international workshops, the group evaluated various data sources and ultimately selected the ONC map series as the primary source, supplemented by GEBCO oceanographic data, a new compilation for Antarctica, and the Australian national database. Geotechnical experiments were conducted to validate the feasibility of digitizing and structuring map data. The paper details the project's management framework, comprising an International Editorial Board, a UK production team, and a worldwide distribution mechanism, and discusses the design of a Database Management System (DBMS), quality assurance strategies, and international/national linkages. With an estimated cost of £1.5-2 million, the project seeks to provide a unified and reliable geospatial data foundation for global environmental science research.