Modern trends in the development of complex atlases abroad

Summary

This article analyzes new trends in the development of comprehensive atlases abroad during the 1960s, focusing on three case studies: the Atlas of Normandy in France, the atlas 'The Federal Republic of Germany in Maps', and the Fitzroy Region resources atlas in Australia. The study finds that comprehensive atlases were shifting from purely scientific research tools to practical products serving regional planning and economic development. Their organization increasingly involved multi-institutional collaboration, content design emphasized thematic relevance and the integration of maps with textual commentary, while automated techniques for producing simplified statistical maps were emerging. The article also discusses mechanisms for atlas updating and the potential of automated cartographic methods.