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

set course

[Anonymous Coward]

for first post

I see what's going on here

[Anonymous Coward]

Let me guess, they are historical maps from the Revolutionary War, aren't they? Well, let me cut to the chase and give you the spoiler: WE WON. Your maps of British front lines and troop movements just serve to document how the British "empire" got its ass handed to it by a bunch of pilgrims and white wigged hippies. Pathetic. Burn them, you poofter.