Atlas Information Systems: Design, Creation, and Use

This article reviews the concept of atlas information systems (AISs) and their characteristics, principles of creation, history of development, and development experience. The common features and differences of AISs with traditional paper atlas cartography, as well as automated cartographic systems (ACSs) and geographic information systems (GISs), are presented. The advantages of multimedia atlas information systems (MAISs) for displaying and evaluating the studied objects are emphasized. It is noted that atlas information systems as a whole are designed to solve the problems of integrating and creating cartographic and multimedia data on research objects from various sources; creating various thematic data blocks; informing about problems in various fields of research; creating manuals for students, researchers, local historians, and tourists; working out development scenarios; forecasting; management; territorial planning; and compliance with a special environmental management regime. Stages of AIS design and operation are defined which include both technical and substantive aspects. A brief historical background of the creation and development of AISs is given. The potential of organizing the projected Atlas of Asian Russia in the form of an AIS is considered. The advantages of using AISs in the development of large atlas projects are shown.