Proceedings: ICA National and Regional Atlases Commission Meeting, May 1992, Madrid

Summary

This article reviews the first meeting of the ICA Commission on National and Regional Atlases, held in Madrid, Spain, and provides a detailed account of the progress of the National Atlas of Spain. The meeting took place from May 18 to 22, 1991, hosted by the Spanish National Geographic Institute (IGN), bringing together experts from various countries to discuss topics such as innovative atlas production techniques, educational atlases, and national atlas information systems. The article first expresses gratitude to the organizers and participants, emphasizing the role of technical facilities (e.g., audio-visual materials, simultaneous translation, computer equipment) in facilitating successful discussions, while underscoring the importance of human collaboration. It then focuses on the current status and future plans of the National Atlas of Spain: initiated in 1930, the project employs the Intergraph system for digital cartography, with plans to publish two volumes—the first containing 13 sections and the second 14 sections—targeting completion by the end of 1993. The article also presents workload statistics, including 278 base maps, 99 photographs, 355 graphics, and other elements, and discusses technical challenges such as text justification issues, system suitability limitations, and bureaucratic administrative processes. Finally, it introduces a puzzle product developed with a toy factory as an extension of the atlas. Overall, the article summarizes the meeting's outcomes, showcases Spain's innovative practices in atlas production, and suggests areas for future improvement.