The national atlas of Cuba ‘LX anniversary’. Toward a living atlas

Summary

This scientific note describes the development of the National Atlas of Cuba “LX Anniversary,” a digital geographic‑cartographic work designed as a “living atlas.” Led by the Institute of Tropical Geography (IGT) in collaboration with Geocuba I.C., CITMATEL, the University of Havana, and numerous other national entities, the atlas is the first of its kind produced entirely by Cuban institutions and specialists. Building on the heritage of the 1970, 1979, and 1989 atlases, the new atlas is structured into six thematic sections (General and Reference Maps, Nature, Population, Economy, Strategic Topics, and History). The project follows a six‑stage methodology: organizational design; creation of digital map prototypes using GIS (EPSG 4326); conversion of maps to HTML format via TileMill and Leaflet; assembly of the multimedia product; development of a web geoportal; and development of a mobile application (APK). Version 1.0 of the multimedia was released in 2019, containing 230 maps together with thematic texts, photographs, tables, and graphs. Version 1.1, currently being finalized, expands content and interactivity. The final platform will provide online services and mobile access, enabling systematic, rapid, and economical updates. The atlas synthesizes scientific results from national and international projects and serves as a tool for territorial planning, environmental management, education, and decision‑making. This initiative marks a pivotal shift in Cuban cartography from printed atlases to a dynamic, continuously updated digital framework, fostering accessibility and institutional integration.