National atlases and development

Summary

This article examines national atlases, their functions, contents, design requirements and role in national development, using the production of the Atlas of the Netherlands as an example. A national atlas is defined as a fundamental multi-subject geographic atlas of a country, providing a systematic summary of contemporary scientific knowledge in physical, economic and political geography. The concept emerged during the 19th-century information explosion and first materialized in Finland in 1899. The International Geographical Union's commission promoted standardization and proliferation, so that by 1978 fifty-four countries had published national atlases. National atlases serve planning and decision-making, research, education, reference and cultural representation, and are particularly valuable in developing countries for social and economic development. Indirect benefits include establishing organizational networks for geographic data, stimulating interdisciplinary cooperation, improving local cartographic skills and standards, and supporting educational publishing. The Dutch experience demonstrates how modern production addresses user needs, data compatibility, design innovation and cost constraints. Looking ahead, digital technology and telecommunications are transforming national atlases into more dynamic geographic information systems: the traditional static paper atlas may become secondary to a digital data base that allows flexible access, rapid processing and up-to-date spatial information delivered on demand. Nevertheless, hard-copy atlases will not completely disappear, given their educational and reference functions. In developing countries, traditional paper atlases remain a worthwhile option because urgent development needs can still be met through their production. Whatever the medium, experts and cartographers will continue to play an essential role in structuring and presenting spatial information so that it remains relevant, reliable and comprehensible to users of future national atlas systems.