Atlas of the Federal Republic of Germany - Concept and implementation status

Summary

Alois Mayr and Sabine Tzschaschel describe the conceptual development and implementation plans for the Atlas Bundesrepublik Deutschland, including the planned pilot volume (Pilotband), termed a “volume zero.” They review national atlases’ planning, educational, research, and representational functions, and international developments toward user-oriented thematic organization, multimedia presentation, and complementary printed and electronic editions. The German initiative began in 1990–1992 with a six-volume proposal: approximately 300 maps and 300 accompanying pages, a principal scale of 1:2 million, an eight-year production schedule, and a budget of DM 29.3 million. Federal funding was not secured. Following external review, the Institute for Regional Geography in Leipzig (IfL) received responsibility for publication in January 1995 and freedom to revise the concept. Its provisional plan comprised thirteen smaller volumes, predominantly problem-oriented content, two volumes of basic physical and socioeconomic structures, and regional examples integrated into thematic volumes. Scales would vary by subject, with national maps at 1:2.5 million. Digital production, updated databases, accessible print design, and an interactive electronic edition were envisaged; two trial atlas sheets had already tested format, scales, and combinations of maps, photographs, graphics, and tables. The pilot volume was planned for early 1997. Coordinated research proposals were to generate exemplary sheets across subject areas, test technical and substantive procedures, establish quality standards, and attract subscriptions and funding. Further work included recruiting contributors and volume editors, establishing an editorial team and common specifications, and building multiscale boundary and topographic databases linked to spatial-monitoring data. Modular base layers, symbols, and software would support authors’ digital preparation, with final editing and cartographic completion at the IfL. The authors leave the project’s feasibility dependent on contributions, funding, demand, and changing technology and media use. They suggest that a continually revised subscription atlas published simultaneously online might prove more suitable than a fixed edition. This is an account of plans and initial trials, not a report of the pilot volume’s completed publication.