might be able to satisfy the mapping requirements in 
these areas, i. e. the map compilation in medium and 
large scales. But how about map revision in these 
areas? Planimetry and even topography in urban 
areas change so fast — and will even faster change 
in the future — that map revision becomes a real 
bottleneck and we might have to consider complete 
remapping in cycles which will become always short- 
er and shorter. If we extend this kind of projection 
over the next few centuries, we might find that then 
the world’s population would have increased to such 
an amount that for each human being, there remains 
in average only a few sq. meters of living space. 
What will then happen with regard to mapping re- 
quirements, map specifications, map revision and re- 
mapping cycles? A real challenge of changing input 
data and output requirements! 
Significance of Cartographic Exploration 
for the Improvement of the Agriculture and 
Food Production 
  
To counteract undernutrition in the world, large 
agriculture projecis have to be realized in the nearesi 
possible future. Consequently, the first phase: the 
Table I 
cartography of the selected areas should be completed 
in the shortest possible time. This amounts to say 
that in most countries, the national cartographic pro- 
grams must be considerably accelerated. It is clear 
that such cartography programs are particularly ne- 
eded in the regions suffering from food shortage. In 
many countries in which such cartographic programs 
are only feasible through bilateral and international 
assistance programs, there is an urgent need for the 
determination of the most critical regions in this re- 
spect. The analysis of this problem as presented there- 
after is based on the net food production per inha- 
bitant in the various regions of the earth expressed 
in calories. These values are tabulated for the main 
regions of the world in Table I. 
It is generally admitted that the population of a 
country is subject to undernourishment if the net food 
production per inhabitant is less than 2500 calories. 
Applying this criterion to Table I and considering 
the present situation, the conclusion is that in spite ol 
external assistance still more than half of the world's 
population is actually undernourished. This situation 
is particularly critical in Asia. Furthermore, it must 
be taken into consideration that this situation might 
become worse in the future because of the population 
explosion. 
Population, Areas, Population Density, Net Food Production per Inhabitant and the Reference Years 
  
  
  
  
  
  
2 Density Net Food | Reference 
Continent or Region Population Area km* 2 Production, Calories/ 
[km à Year 
Inhabitant 
Africa 311,000,000 30,234,000 10 2,300 1965 
North America, Canada 
& USA 214,000,000 21,515,000 10 3.140 1955 
Central and 
South America 246,000,000 20,540,000 12 2,610 1955 
Asia, without USSR 1,830,000,000 22,814,000 80 2.110 1965 
Europe, without USSR 445,000,000 4,927,000 90 3,020 1955 
Oceania 18,000,000 8,532,000 2 3,210 1965 
USSR 231,000,000 22,402,000 10 ER E 
Total or Average 3,295,000,000 130,964,000 25 2:580 1965 
Average Average 
  
  
  
  
  
Consequently, it is urgent to increase efficiently 
the food production in these regions by means of ex- 
tensive agricultural projects in a time as short as pos- 
sible. Considering that an adequate cartographic pre- 
paration is the first requirement to start such projects, 
it is obvious that a substantial effort will have to be 
made in these regions for a timely completion of the 
cartographic phase. It will also be necessary that the 
bilateral and international assistance programs take 
into consideration these emergency cases and that 
they do foresee and plan special measures and efforts 
for the cartographic exploration of the underfed re- 
gions in general, and of Asia in particular. 
Relation Between Cartographic Progress 
and Population Explosion 
  
The world’s population actually amounts to about 
three billions. This figure increases each year by 2.1 96 
or about 62 millions of human beings. With such an 
annual increase, the world's population will be ap- 
proximately doubled in the year 2000. This means 
that in thirty years from now, the world's population 
will reach the six billions. Considering that at the 
present time, more than half of the world's popul- 
ation is underfed and that population increases faster - 
than the food supply, it is obvious that the food pro-