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M. Jobst:
"Hybrid considerations on the sustainability of cartographic heritage";
Talk: First International Workshop on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage, Thessaloniki; 2006-05-18 - 2006-05-19; in: "Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage", National Center for Maps and Cartographic Heritage, Thessaloniki (2006), ISBN: 9607999185; 33 - 40.

The unmistakable importance of cartographic heritage mainly seems to base upon the special
treatment of spatial related information within maps. Due to a more effective understanding of the
map content spatial data have and had to be simplified and thus interpreted, which generally is and
was influenced by political, economical or religious conditions. Thus a deeper insight into a specific
time, political system or economic condition with the help of map semiotics and projection may be
provided for a historical point of view. Some striking examples may be found in the book "How to
lie with maps" by Mark Monmonier. Additionally, maps may be the only available documents in
order to explore and prove past situations of real world objects, e.g a natural riverbed before its
modification, which is an important issue in actual and future planning processes. It becomes
obvious that maps are indispensable documents for attesting various kinds of spatial related
situations.
When thinking of sustainability of cartographic heritage two main important questions have to be
seen: The first one asks for the best and high quality processes to save as well as make
accessible historical maps/documents also in a far future. These aspects generally will try to
reproduce and copy the original document in order to disseminate some material for ongoing
working processes. The second important question focuses on solutions to save and keep
accessibility to cartographic products/states of today, including multimedia and Internet
applications.
This contribution focuses on the first question of cartographic heritage sustainability and should
present some considerations on actual and alternate reproduction methods of historical maps. By
using the essence of the small project HYREP (hybrid reproduction) - where actual available
reproduction methods/techniques were identified, their applicability for damageable
documents/maps considered, alternate possibilities of hybrid reproduction developed and a rough
comparison of reproduced qualities for the fine line arts in maps was given - an exclusive digital
approach for saving the cartographic heritage should be scrutinised and opened for discussion.

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