National Geographic opens its cartography archive with Google Maps Engine

National Geographic has announced it is participating in the Google Maps Engine public data program and will be sharing over 500 maps with the public by putting them online. The maps will include historic, travel and reference maps from the National Geographic Society's huge archive, and will be laid over the top of Google Maps for curious viewers to browse freely.

Google recently launched its Maps Engine public data program, stating that it wants people to "use Google's advanced mapping infrastructure to create custom maps". It's allowing both individuals and organisations to submit mapping data and create layers on top of Google Maps, which can then potentially surface in response to search requests through products such as Google Maps, Maps Gallery or Google Earth.

Google has given assurances that users will be able to retain the rights to their data if they choose to submit it and will also be able to enforce usage restrictions and an optional end user licensing agreement. Submitted content will not be incorporated into the base map, it also adds, unless users choose to nominate data through Google's Base Map Partner Program. Google Maps Engine is intended to make available more specialist data, for example crisis and emergency management content, marathon routes, travel itineraries or civic and government information.
National Geographic is one of the first organisations to participate in the public data program, which will allow public access to material that has been primarily hidden away for years in its archives or collected in paper format by individuals. Founded in 1888, National Geographic has a long history of creating and publishing maps as part of research, conservation and exploration projects. Two maps are currently available to view over on Google's blog. One is a map of medieval England, containing some historical information about the country (who knew, for example, that Nottingham used to be called Snotingham?), and an adventure map of the Dominican Republic, which presumably is aimed at tourists.
"People have collected our magazine fold-out maps for over a hundred years, and many of those maps are sequestered away in attics and garages. The public data program gives us the opportunity to release our amazing map collection to the wider world," writes Frank Biasi, Director of Digital Development at National Geographic Map in a blog post.
"We will also use Maps Engine to overlay our maps with interactive editorial content, so the maps can 'tell stories' and raise awareness about environmental issues and historic events." The plan, writes Biasi, is to add articles, photography and information to maps, which would allow people to follow along with expeditions, or retrace ones that have happened in the past.

National Geographic also plans to sell and license high-resolution and print versions of its maps in order to raise extra funds for its not-for-profit missions.