The continuing revision of the Australian National Atlas

The available opening and closing sections describe the near-completion of the second series of the Atlas of Australian Resources and planning for its third series. By September 1976, the second series was almost complete, with its final topic, “Natural vegetation,” possibly due by January 1977; several earlier topics were also being revised. Examples covering climate, water resources and use, land use, manufacturing, railways, government and major urban areas illustrate changes in data sources, classification, scale and presentation. These include compiling land-use maps with small-area agricultural statistics, using column symbols to quantify manufacturing, and combining multiple maps to present transport, electoral and urban information. The National Atlas Advisory Committee recommended continued serial publication for the third series, normally with several sheets integrating maps and commentary under each topic. Sheets would measure approximately 430 × 560 mm. About 45 topics were recommended for production within ten years and release in twice-yearly batches over no more than eight years after publication began. Topic selection drew on a user questionnaire and assessments by six specialist working groups. Staffing and expenditure restrictions delayed production; preliminary work concerned detailed topic planning, source assessment, specialist collaboration, base maps, layouts and standard symbols. Topics dependent on the 1976 population and housing census faced data-processing delays, with most required small-area detail and cross-classifications not expected until 1978.