Digitizing and Geocoding Old Maps?

alobar72 writes "I have quite a few old maps (several hundreds; 100+ years old, some are already damaged – so time is not on my side). What I want to do is to digitize them and to apply geo-coordinates to them so I can use them as overlays for openstreetmap data or such. Obviously I cannot put those maps onto my €80 scanner and go. Some of them are really large (1.5m x 1.5m roughly, I believe) and they need to be treated with great care because the paper is partly damaged. So firstly I need a method or service provider that can do the digitizing without damaging them. Secondly I need a hint what the best method is to apply geo coordinates to those maps then. The maps are old and landscape and places have changed, it maybe difficult to identify exact spots. So: are there any experiences or tips I could use?"

Comments

Re:Blue print company

[networkBoy]

no macro lens.

What the OP needs is called a large format copy stand.
You want a lens that is "normal" to your film size, thus 50mm on 35mm film as an example.

for an APSc size sensor in a digital camera I think the normal lens would be ~30mm.

I don't know if you want color information or not but honestly either way I would shoot film, then scan the result.
For B&W, shoot Technical Pan film as an ISO of 6, develop in technidol developer (enlist advanced photo class people at a UNI to help with this). For color use Fuji Velvia at 50.

The photo class people will have the copy stands and appropriate cover glass / filters to get the contrast you want as well.

While I have not done maps, I have done large hand drawn artwork this way and the result is vastly better than you would get from directly shooting on a digital (IMHO).
Cheers,
-nB