How historical maps support geographical names study in Agam Regency, Indonesia

The designation of a geographical location serves as a significant historical reference for understanding the socio-cultural and physical characteristics of a certain area. The process of mapping geographical names can offer valuable insights into several aspects, including cultural legacy, linguistic diversity, patterns of migration, and dynamics of metropolitan areas. The disparities observed in geographical nomenclature between ancient maps and contemporary maps might enhance the robustness of historical data by visually illustrating the transformations that have transpired over time. Hence, the objectives of this research endeavor are: The objectives of this study are as follows: 1.) To acquire information on the state of the maps and the completeness of toponymic information in the historical maps that were utilized. 2.) To quantify the number of geographical names that can be derived from these maps. 3.) To compare the number of geographical names extracted from the historical maps with those found in more modern maps. The primary focus of this study included the digitization of geographical names extracted from historical topographic maps. These maps were sourced from the Topografische Dienst van Nederlands Indië, dated 1889, the Army Maps Service, dated 1943, and the Indonesian official topographic maps (Peta Rupabumi Indonesia-RBI), dated 2014. The findings of this research project have yielded a comprehensive geo-database including the names of Nagari in Agam Regency, spanning the years 1889, 1943, and 2014. © 2024 SPIE.