The International Map Year (IMY) is a worldwide celebration of maps and their unique role in our world. Supported by the United Nations, IMY provides opportunities to demonstrate, follow, and get involved in the art, science and technology of making and using maps and geographic information.

International Map Year was officially opened at the ICA conference in Rio de Janeiro in August, 2015 and then continue until December 2016.

The purposes of the International Map Year are …

• making maps visible to citizens and school children in a global context,
• demonstrating how maps and atlases can be used in society,
• showing how information technology can be used in getting geographic information and producing one’s own maps,
• displaying different types of maps and map production,
• showing the technical development of mapping and atlas production,
• showing the necessity of a sustainable development of geographic information infrastructures,
• increasing the recruitment of students to cartography and cartography-related disciplines.

A new book, The World of Maps, has been produced to help celebrate International Map Year.

To find out more about International Map Year and events planned around the world visit the web site.