Nationalatlas und geographisches Informationssystem - Gedanken zur Weiterentwicklung der Konzeption Nationalatlas

Summary

This paper explores the relationship between national atlases and geographic information systems (GIS), reflecting on the further development of the national atlas concept. It first reviews the phenomenon, conception, and development trends of national atlases, highlighting their significant role in science, economy, planning, and education. The paper then analyzes the application of computer-assisted information processing in national atlas compilation, particularly its role and limitations in producing publication originals and design work. It emphasizes that while computer-assisted cartography has advanced in simple map production, it still cannot replace manual work in the high-quality design of complex thematic maps. Finally, the paper introduces the GIS developed by the Institute of Geography and Geoecology (IGG) and illustrates with examples how it supports national atlas compilation, proposing that national atlases should be regarded as a component of GIS and constitute an ongoing task.