Mapping the Digital Frontier: The Making of the EOTopo Map of Australia

ExplorOz Podcast: Australian Overland Adventures and Mapping

Have you ever wondered about the magic behind creating digital maps? Cue the nostalgia as we take you back to our beginnings as a mapping publisher and the birth of our first map set, EOTopo 2013. We reveal the intricacies of our journey, from developing our digital mapping technology that allowed users to download and use our maps on various devices, to incorporating data from our research and user contributions.
In the second half of the episode, we delve into the fascinating transition from raster to vector mapping, explaining the differences and what it means for the user. Highlighting the technical challenges faced, we shed light on the incredible detail that goes into building our maps, with over 260 different data elements, each backed by its own database! You'll hear the backstory of how we have been able to produce a national product, integrating data sources to compile an outback topographic map that suits our users' needs. Listen in as we unfold the excitement and complexities of our mapmaking journey.