Belgium比利时

A. de Ghellinck

This article argues that a national atlas is a reliable test of a country's development in scientific geography. Unlike dictionary-style atlases, which merely assemble selected data, a national atlas should systematically and comprehensively present the nation's geographical phenomena. After reviewing major national atlases worldwide, it focuses on the Belgian National Committee of Geography's organization of the Atlas de Belgique: its working methods, planned content (covering geomorphology, climate, hydrography, biology, human, economic and regional geography), format, and the participation of the Military Geographic Institute. State-funded and expected to issue its first plates by the end of 1947, the atlas is regarded as an essential scientific tool and cultural ambassador.

Paul Fourmarier

This article introduces the National Atlas of Belgium, a systematic presentation of the country's scientific geography initiated by the National Geography Committee under the Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium. Unlike ordinary atlases, it analytically covers physical, human, and economic geographical phenomena. First proposed in 1932 and interrupted by World War II, the project resumed through a dedicated commission and will comprise 52 plates at 1:500,000 scale, covering geology, soils, climatology, hydrography, coastal areas, biogeography, human and economic geography, regional geography, and administration. Each plate includes brief explanatory notes on its reverse. Despite declining state funding, 18 sheets are now available and 9 more are forthcoming, with supplementary commentaries by map authors already in preparation.

O. Tulippe

Although applied geography is a term of recent origin, the phenomenon it denotes has a long history. Written in 1956, this article aims to clarify the concept and role of applied geography. It points out that applied geography emerged as geography evolved from a purely "contemplative" discipline into an applied science serving society and national spatial planning. Regional geography serves as a bridge between pure geography and applied geography, because it provides a direct and comprehensive understanding of regional environments, enabling geographers to make diagnoses and foresee the effects of management measures. The author compares France, the United Kingdom, and Belgium as examples: French academia acknowledges the value of geography in territorial development, yet the government rarely employs geographers; the United Kingdom systematically incorporates geographical surveys into regional and national planning; in Belgium, regional monographs have led authorities to invite geographers to participate in planning teams. The article also discusses French scholars' concerns about disciplinary fragmentation, encroachment by neighboring disciplines, and conceptual differences in regional geography: France adheres to traditional descriptive methods, while Britain and the United States place greater emphasis on planning and practical improvement. The latter half focuses on developments in teaching and training, including fieldwork in France and overseas, as well as practical exercises organized by the University of Liège's geography seminar to cultivate students' applied skills. At the University of Rennes, under the leadership of Meynier, Philipponneau completed the first national doctoral thesis in purely applied geography in France; the University of Bordeaux collaborates with applied humanities institutions and conducts overseas research. The author concludes that applied geography is a logical extension of pure geography, and the two constitute the same aspect of human knowledge; the practical value of applied geography is beyond doubt. He also suggests that the establishment of specialized teaching be discussed at international geographical congresses, and clarifies the distinction between geographers' applied geography and the "geonomy" proposed by urban planners: the latter focuses on coordinating the investigative tasks of various specialists, and if urban planners were to replace geographers, it would be a regrettable transfer of responsibilities.

O. Tulippe

This article introduces the "Atlas of Belgium," compiled by the National Geographical Committee of Belgium. It points out that a national atlas differs from an ordinary geographical dictionary, emphasizing a systematic, comprehensive, and explanatory presentation of the country's geographical phenomena. The atlas began planning in the 1930s, was interrupted by war, resumed in 1946, received state funding in 1947, and has been published in installments since 1948. The work comprises approximately fifty map plates, organized into eight thematic sections, covering Belgium's position in Europe, cartography and geophysics, physical geography, biogeography, human geography, economic geography, regional geography, and administration. The maps are printed by the Military Geographical Institute in a large folio format, with each plate accompanied by methodological notes and presented bilingually in French and Dutch. The article also describes subscription methods and future plans, including accompanying commentaries and aerial photographs. The atlas serves both as a scientific tool for geographical research and as a showcase of Belgium to domestic and international audiences.

O. Tulippe

This article presents the origins, methodology, and publication progress of the Atlas du Survey National (National Survey Atlas) in Belgium. The author explains that, in order to provide a scientific basis for future national territorial planning, the National Plan Commission proposed in 1947 to collect and coordinate general geographic data on the country. Consequently, the Administration of Urbanism created the National Survey Service in 1949, tasked with inventorying existing cartographic documents and converting statistical data into thematic maps. Some 400 original map sheets were produced, classified under twenty headings including climate, relief, population, agriculture, industry, transport, tourism, nature protection, housing, and urban equipment. To avoid duplication with the Atlas de Belgique, selected materials were reproduced in colour at the scale of 1:1,000,000. By 1957, sixty plates had been published, mainly covering population structure, employment and unemployment, tourist traffic, landscape and site protection, housing, and urban facilities. Each plate is accompanied by a notice, and the sheets are issued in a loose-leaf binder to allow additions. The author considers this atlas a fundamental tool for national land-use planning and notes that Belgium thereby became one of the few countries possessing such a work. The article also mentions the procedures for obtaining free copies, plans for distribution to educational institutions, and the preparation of a companion commentary.

Omer Tulippe

This article presents the Atlas du Survey National, published by the Ministry of Public Works of Belgium as part of the national land-use planning survey. The atlas aims to provide a scientific basis for future territorial planning by collecting, comparing, and coordinating physical, human, and economic data on Belgium. It is designed as a continuation of the Atlas de Belgique, offering more detailed maps directly relevant to spatial planning. Since 1954, sixty color plates at 1:1,000,000 scale have been issued, most on a communal base, with explanatory notes and references. The article also explains how to obtain the atlas and ongoing efforts to supply educational institutions. This atlas represents an important tool for integrating geographic information into national planning.

O. Tulippe

This article reports on the publication of the Atlas du Survey National in Belgium, including its format, acquisition procedure, and growing national and international success. It states that copies are issued upon application to the Ministry of Public Works and Reconstruction. A commentary similar to that of the Atlas de Belgique is planned, and three preliminary studies have already appeared in Cahiers d'Urbanisme. The author also acknowledges the contributions of the ministry services, the National Statistical Institute, and individuals who supported the atlas. The text highlights the atlas's importance for geographical research and planning.

O. Tulippe

The Atlas of Belgium is a systematic scientific geographical work compiled by a commission established in 1946 under the Belgian National Committee of Geography. It comprises about 52 plates covering Belgium's position in Europe, cartography and geophysics, physical geography, biogeography, human geography, economic geography, regional geography, and administration. The atlas uses a uniform large format with multiple scales; each plate includes a note on the mapping method and sources. From 1956 onward, bilingual explanatory commentaries have been published plate by plate, forming a roughly 1,000-page geographical encyclopedia of Belgium. The atlas serves scientific research, education, administration, and international publicity, and stands as a key indicator of the development of geography in Belgium.

O. Tulippe

This article introduces the Atlas du Survey National, a national atlas of Belgium produced by the Administration de l'Urbanisme with the scientific collaboration of the Survey National service. The project originated in 1947 when the National Planning Commission proposed collecting and coordinating general geographic and statistical data on Belgium for urban planning. A dedicated service was created in 1949, staffed by geographers and economists, which inventoried existing cartographic materials, gathered data from various administrations, and converted census and statistical records into maps and cartograms. The atlas emphasized both current spatial distributions and recent changes, following the approach of human geography. By late 1959, 73 color plates had been published at 1:1,000,000 scale, based on the larger-scale maps of the General Atlas, which comprised more than 400 documents classified into twenty categories, including population, economy, housing, transport, tourism and nature protection. The maps, usually by commune, used absolute numbers and percentages to show phenomena such as demographic change, migration, employment, unemployment, tourism and housing conditions. Each series is accompanied by explanatory notes and references. The publication was intended to serve national and regional planning, assist the administration in reviewing local and regional plans, and support education. It complemented rather than duplicated the Atlas de Belgique, focusing on applied planning issues. Belgium thus joined the few countries possessing such a comprehensive planning atlas.

Ena L. Yonge

This article is a comprehensive review of regional atlases, written by Ena L. Yonge. The author begins by noting that, given the ever-increasing flood of atlases from around the world, individual reviews of each publication are impossible; therefore, a summary survey is adopted. She also stresses that no single reviewer can be sufficiently expert in all aspects of geography, cartography, and linguistics to render sound critical judgments. The roughly one hundred regional atlases discussed are grouped primarily by continent or large region and then arranged alphabetically by country. In the European section, the author evaluates national and thematic atlases from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, and other countries, covering topics such as road transport, historical geography, climate, population, economy, and land use. She comments in detail on cartographic quality, scales, printing techniques, and practical utility. For example, the Austrian national atlas, directed by Hans Bobek and Erik Arnberger under the Commission for Land Planning of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, was published in five annual parts and demonstrates excellent cartography and printing. The Atlas de Belgique and the Atlas du Survey National supplement each other with plates on hydrogeology, phytogeography, agriculture, basic industries, waterways, and railways. The Climatic Atlas of Czechoslovakia is praised for its beautiful large-scale maps of temperature and precipitation. The article then turns to North America, focusing on state atlases in the United States, including Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. These atlases cover agriculture, forestry, economic resources, historical geography, and population, often compiled by universities or state agencies for educational and planning purposes. In the South American section, the author highlights notable publications such as the Atlas do Brasil, the Atlas de economía colombiana, and Venezuelan climatic and forest atlases. Throughout the review, the author acknowledges the scholarly value and cartographic achievements of many works while also pointing out occasional problems such as overly large formats or inappropriate scales. Overall, the article provides a broad and informative reference guide to regional atlases for scholars in geography, cartography, and related fields.

This article is a compilation of news and letters to the editor from the 1968 issue of The Geographical Magazine, covering diverse topics: increased iron ore output in Common Market countries, the near-completion of the Belgian National Atlas after eighteen years, a new air link between Ethiopia and India, and two academic letters. The first letter refutes a 'Geography Graduate's' critique of the discipline, emphasizing geography's unique role as a unifying force between physical and psycho-social sciences, and arguing that specialization and advanced research are essential for its progress. The second letter challenges the discovery narrative of the Casiquiare Canal, asserting that Spanish adventurer Aguirre traversed it in 1560-61, predating Humboldt and Father Roman. The article also reports on the 21st International Geographical Congress, held for the first time in Asia (New Delhi), detailing British contributions including papers and a book exhibition.

The Atlas de Belgique is a large comprehensive national atlas compiled by the Belgian National Atlas Committee, initiated in 1947 and published in loose-leaf form from 1951 to 1972, comprising 53 plates covering physical and socioeconomic conditions. It is well printed, with particularly detailed geological and forest maps, population maps showing dynamic changes, and economic maps combining absolute and relative indicators, accompanied by explanatory texts. From 1957 to 1958, another atlas, the National Survey Atlas of Belgium, was compiled based on the original, expanding themes essential for planning, architecture, environmental protection and tourism, using graded ratio maps and symbols, with all sources noted, for educational and practical use. The two atlases reflect Belgium's advanced cartographic standards and provide significant value for geographical research and spatial planning.