Atlas Production for Southeast Asia: Vol 2 of the Proceedings of the International Workshop / Seminar 'Modern Cartography for Navigating the Information Highway' held in Bandung, Indonesia March 3-14,1997

Summary

This volume, derived from the 1997 Bandung seminar “Modern Cartography for Navigating the Information Highway,” examines the concepts, educational requirements, design principles, and production practices needed to develop national and school atlases, with particular attention to Southeast Asia. It argues that spatial data acquire meaning through relationships and patterns, making cartographic visualization indispensable for analysis, understanding, communication, and spatial decision-making. Although digital technologies and geographic information systems have greatly expanded access to mapping, they do not replace cartographic expertise; effective maps still require informed selection, generalization, symbolization, visual hierarchy, and adaptation to users’ needs. The collection clarifies atlas terminology and concepts, reviews the functions and production of national atlases, and treats them as important sources and infrastructural foundations for comprehensive school atlases. School-atlas cartography is distinguished by its educational purposes, intended age groups, cognitive demands, and close relationship with curricula. Comparisons between Indonesia and the Netherlands show that curriculum objectives determine the subjects, regions, scales, and spatial relationships represented, while analyses of Indonesian geography and social-science textbooks reveal the broader developmental role of map literacy. A proposed Southeast Asian production model stresses coherent structure, appropriate thematic coverage, regional relevance, technical quality, collaboration among cartographers, educators, officials, and publishers, and careful control of costs and workflows. The volume also considers electronic school atlases, illustrated by Japanese primary education, emphasizing their potential for interaction, flexible display, exploration, and learner engagement while recognizing the continuing importance of sound cartographic design. Particular attention is given to geographical names. Choices involving spelling, exonyms, diacritics, transliteration, and transcription from alphabetic and ideographic writing systems affect pronunciation, identity, standardization, and long-term public usage. Indonesian and Javanese examples demonstrate how forms introduced on authoritative maps may become conventional even when linguistically inaccurate. The volume therefore concludes that atlas production is not merely a technical publishing activity but an educational and cultural responsibility. Successful atlases require reliable national spatial information, curriculum-sensitive visualization, professional cartographic judgment, early consultation with toponymic specialists, and sustained regional cooperation. By integrating traditional practice with emerging electronic media, the proceedings seek to strengthen school-atlas development and spatial literacy throughout Southeast Asia.