Issues of digitization in archiving processes

Abstract

Cartographic cultural heritage constitutes an important part of world cultural heritage; therefore, it deserves appropriate attention of cartographers, computer specialists and archiving specialists simultaneously. In the past, archiving met problems of appropriate storage of original items and making of precise copies. Recent development of information technologies allows storage of digital representations. These are suitable especially for dissemination of valuable materials to wide public and also a possible way of archiving. On the other hand, usage of digital technologies for long term archiving is not sufficiently solved. Therefore, there is a need for long term archiving techniques in our rapidly changing digital society. This contribution describes possibilities for digitization of old maps. Most used digitization technologies are mentioned and evaluated. There is proposed a quality evaluation of different graphic formats, resolution and color schemes for digitization of old maps. The presented work has profound implications for future digitization of map archive of Institute of Geography, Masaryk University.