NLS Web-Mapping Applications

Using dynamic maps within web-based applications is becoming increasingly popular as a search method, and the web-mapping applications listed below demonstrate the potential of this technology. These applications have been developed by the National Library of Scotland to complement existing online services, such as our Catalogues and other Digital Library features, by providing new 'spatial search' methods to aid public access to our digital collections.

The following browsers are suitable to access these pilot applications: Mozilla Firefox, Netscape 6 or higher, or Internet Explorer version 5.5 or higher. We recommend that your screen resolution is set to 1024x768 pixels.

In late 2008, we have been pleased to add a range of geo-referenced historical map overlays, on Google and Virtual Earth maps and satellite imagery.

• Ordnance Survey Maps - Six-inch 1st edition, Scotland, 1843-1882
  This application allows the Ordnance Survey six-inch to the mile maps to be searched and viewed as a seamless, geo-referenced mosaic and as individual images. These maps form the earliest comprehensive topographic mapping of Scotland by Ordnance Survey, illustrating a very wide range of natural and man-made features for the first time. The six-inch to the mile scale (1:10,560) is the most detailed that covered the whole of Scotland, and the most detailed scale to show contours. The detail of the OS six-inch maps can be zoomed into using an interactive index map, as well as searched by county, parish and a gazetteer of place names. We also have the maps overlaid on a full-screen Google maps application.
• Ordnance Survey Maps - 25 inch 1st edition, Scotland, 1855-1882
  This application allows the Ordnance Survey 25 inch to the mile maps to be searched and viewed as individual map images. This series (1855-1882), is the earliest detailed mapping for all the inhabited regions of Scotland. All towns, villages and cultivated rural areas were mapped, comprising over a third of the total land area of Scotland. Their bold style and attractive, informative, hand-colouring allow easy interpretation for a wide range of uses. A zoomable map interface to the maps, also allows searching by counties, parishes, and place names.
• Roy Military Survey Map of Scotland, 1747-55
  This application allows the Roy Military Survey Map of Scotland to be searched and viewed as a seamless, geo-referenced mosaic. Known to its contemporaries as the 'Great Map', the Roy Map is a uniquely important historical cartographic document. It provides a uniform graphic snapshot of the entire Scottish mainland at a time when the landscape was beginning an era of rapid change. The detail of the Roy map can be zoomed to using an interactive index map, as well as searched by county, parish and a gazetteer of place names.
• Ordnance Survey National Grid paper maps for Scotland, 1944-1991
  This application illustrates web-mapping search methods to retrieve geo-referenced records for all Ordnance Survey National Grid paper maps for Scotland at 1:2,500 and 1:1,250 scales. Although the OS maps themselves are not viewable, this project makes essential map details available remotely for the first time. These include 45,000 records for sheet maps, surveyed between 1944 and 1991, in the National Library of Scotland's collections.
• Ordnance Survey large scale Scottish town plans, 1847-1895
  This application allows the Ordnance Survey large scale town plans to be searched and viewed as a set of seamless, geo-referenced mosaics. The maps cover 62 towns in Scotland, and form the earliest, most detailed urban mapping by Ordnance Survey. The detail of the OS town plans can be zoomed into using an interactive index map, as well as by National Grid Reference and a gazetteer of modern street names.
• Ordnance Survey Air Photo Mosaics of Scotland, 1944-1950
  This application allows the Ordnance Survey air photo mosaics to be searched and viewed as a geo-referenced layer on top of 1930s mapping. These air photo mosaics provide key information on the landscape of post-War Scotland, including good detail of urban topography and land-use. The mosaics can be zoomed into using an interactive index map, as well as by National Grid Reference and a gazetteer of place names.
• Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909
  Geo-referenced records for digital images relating to the Bathymetrical Survey of the Freshwater Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909 can be found using this web-mapping pilot application. The application includes 562 loch locations, shown as blue dots on the map, with records and zoomable map images from the original Bathymetrical Survey charts for each loch.

Please email geo@nls.uk for further assistance, or to provide general comments/feedback.