Small-scale mapping for the National Atlas of Indonesia

This paper describes scale selection, data constraints, and publication progress for the National Atlas of Indonesia. The dispersed archipelago and the concentration of economic activity on Java complicate the balance between detail and a manageable single-sheet format. Pattern maps use 1:5,000,000 and point-distribution maps 1:10,000,000, with printing costs also constraining these choices. Compilation has been hindered by scattered resource data, statistical gaps, and politically related changes. Thirty-five sheets have been published; reliance on data awaiting revision has led to their designation as provisional. The board’s policy is to publish using available information and revise sheets as better data become available. The author reports improvements in funding and facilities for data collection and anticipates more reliable population figures from the forthcoming census.