Contemporary European topographic maps in the scale of 1:25 000

Artykuł jest próbą wskazania różnic i podobieństw między mapami topograficznymi w skali 1:25 000 różnych krajów Europy. Analizie poddano mapy: belgijską, czeską, francuską, hiszpańską, holenderską, niemiecką, szwajcarską oraz włoską. Porównanie osnowy matematycznej, sposobów przedstawiania rzeźby terenu, prezentacji sieci wodnej, osadniczej i komunikacyjnej oraz pokrycia terenu uwidoczniło znaczne różnice między koncepcjami wydawanych współcześnie map topograficznych. Głównymi przyczynami zróżnicowania map wydają się być odmienne cechy środowiska geograficznego oraz różnice tradycji kartograficznych poszczególnych krajów.The first civilian topographic map in 1:25 000 published in Poland after WW II became, despite its short-comings, a basis for numerous thematic maps. It was reedited and used until the end of 1980-ies. Currently civilian topographic maps are available only in 1:10 000 and 1:50 000 (maps in '1992' coordinate system). Lack of a contemporary map in 1:25 000 makes it impossible to create thematic presentations comparable to the ones of the past, and makes it difficult to conduct field research. A new map in 1:25 000 should relate in its concept to the topographic maps in 1:10 000 and 1:50 000 mentioned above, and at the same time continue the best traditions of Polish cartography. It should also present a level similar to that of other European publications of the type. The article analyzes topographic maps in 1:25 000 currently published in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. The comparison shows that there are significant differences between them, visible even at the stage of analysis of their mathematical base. Various ellipsoids, systems of reference and cartographic projections are used, while altitudes are related to various sea levels. Maps also have different density of topographic grid and various ways of describing it. On all maps land relief is presented with contour lines, but with various contour intervals. Only some of the maps used hill shading. Also land cover differs (number of categories). Three approaches to the presentation of settlements can be distinguished. The first one is presentation of single buildings, the second - presentation of built-up areas, with the third being a combination of the first two. Significant differences appear in the presentation of functions of buildings and built-up areas (color, signatures, notes, lettering). Differences between maps are also visible in the presentation of surface waters and transportation infrastructure (roads, rail-roads). These result from different classification criteria. Graphic differences between analyzed maps are also well visible in the form of a variety of signatures and different color scales of print. The reason for such significant differences between European topographic maps in the scale of 1:25 000 results not only from different types of geographic environment, but mostly from different cartographic traditions of particular countries. Lack of common European standards of topographic map edition will probably make the concept of the future Polish map in 1:25 000 resemble the concepts of the topographic maps in 1:10 000 and 1:50 000 currently available in Poland