From plan press to button push: The development of technology for cartographic archiving and access

Abstract

Properly archiving cartographic artefacts once involved only the need of providing plan presses (or drawers) within which to store paper maps, drawings and diagrams. Access to the archive was made via manual processes that involved physically handling the documents during retrieval, inspection and return to storage. This methodology, whilst still in use, has, in many instances been replaced or complemented with electronic counterparts. The method for storing cartographic artefacts has changed from the use of a plan press to a button press (via a computerised cartographic archive system). This chapter traces the development of technology-based cartographic archiving systems – from microfiche, to videodisc, to CDROM, to the Internet, the Web and Web 2.0. It provides examples of cartographic collections that have been built and delivered using these different media.