HOW SHALL AFRICA BE MAPPED? FRENCH AND BRITISH RESPONSES TO THE NEEDS OF COLONIAL MAPPING.

摘要

Both France and Britain started from a similar base when, at the start of the twentieth century, they initiated mapping programmes in Africa south of the Maghreb. Both countries had some experience of colonial mapping, but due to institutional factors, this was often of little practical value when it came to mapping in Africa. In addition, the ground survey methods that had been developed and used elsewhere could not easily cope with the vast areas that needed mapping. As a result, by the outbreak of World War II progress had been patchy at best. On the other hand, there was a huge extension in the land area covered by topographic mapping in Africa in the period between the end of World War II and decolonisation. Some colonies had been completely mapped, and others were well on the way towards completion. None of this would have been possible if France and Britain had not reformed the institutional basis of the mapping or implemented the major technical improvements in survey and mapping, particularly the adoption of photogrammetry, made possible by World War II.