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Digital Map Collection of the Faculty of Science of the Charles University

Publication |
2017

Abstract

The process of digitization has been contributing significantly to the reshaping of historical cartography and geography in recent years. It has brought about numerous positive consequences for the memory institutions maintaining map collections, researchers as well as for the general public, on the other hand, several problems have arisen, mainly regarding the long-term preservation of data and its public accessibility.

The Map Collection of the Faculty of Science of the Charles University faced similar difficulties back in 2011, when the large-scale digitization of its maps and atlases commenced. The article gives an insight into solutions applied to various issues ranging from cataloguing, through the process of scanning selected cartographic documents and metadata creation and processing, to making the old maps available to the public via online portals.

Special emphasis is placed on the Digital Map Collection as the primary manner of online presentation of cartographic heritage stored in the Map Collection. Its technical basis is thoroughly examined, as well as the user interface and various features it offers to the researchers.