About the Cartography Lab

The University of Wisconsin Cartography Laboratory is a full-service cartographic production facility established in 1953 and located in Science Hall.

We serve the cartographic needs of the UW system, government agencies, authors and publishers as well as many commercial clients. See out Client list.

From the early days of creating maps by hand, we now do all of our work on powerful and flexible computer systems—but have not lost our cartographic craft. The Lab uses a variety of computer platforms and applications, and can scan existing products as well as digital files from geographic information systems (GIS) software.

In addition to map products, we can provide complete graphic design services for print brochures, online maps and websites, and interactive map products.

Final output is available on book- or poster-size paper, digital files, or 3200 dpi high-contrast film. We work closely with your publisher or printer to meet their exact spicifcations.

The Cartography Lab staff have access to the world-class resources of the Department of Geography academic staff, the Geography Library with over 50,000 volumes, and the Robinson Map Library with over 500,000 maps and aerial photographs.

If you are considering a new map or design project, please browse a sample of print projects, digital projects, and graphic deign projects from the menu at left. Then see the "How to Estimate" page.