This document summarizes a presentation on topographic maps of Taiwan produced by the Japanese and U.S. armies during World War 2. It discusses the production timelines and methods of 1:50,000 scale maps by each, including Japan's use of triangulation networks and aerial photography. It also describes how the U.S. Army Map Service compiled and revised maps from various Japanese sources and aerial photos from 1943-1945. Finally, it introduces a web-based GIS system for viewing the historical cartographic maps.

1. IGU 2013 Kyoto Regional conference
JS102-3 Modern mapping process of East Asian countries:
from imperial cartography to GIS
The military cartography in WWII:
A comparative study of the 1/50,000 topographic mapping
between the U.S. and Japanese army in Taiwan, 1944-1945
Chun-Lin Kuo
Assistant Professor, Department of Taiwan and Regional Studies,
National Dong-Hwa University, Taiwan
Hsiung-Ming Liao
Assistant Research Specialist, Research Center of Humanities and Social
Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan

2. 1. Background- study area

3. 1.1 Background- the topographical survey in Taiwan
• After the first Sino-Japanese War (Japan–Qing War, 1894-1895)
Taiwan became the first colony of Japan.
• During the colonial period, several important topographical
survey were conducted by which 5 series of cartographic maps
were produced.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1895
1895
1896-1904
1907-1916
1921-1928
1924-1945
1/50,000 Taiwan Provisional Surveyed Map
1/20,000 Taiwan Bao Map
1/50,000 Taiwan Banchi Cartographic Map
1/25,000 Taiwan Cartographic Map
1/50,000 Taiwan Cartographic Map
1914
1930
1944

4. 1.2 Background-the catalog published by Japanese army
• The survey of the latest 1/50000 cartographic interrupted in
1938, the year Japanese army invaded China.
• However, a large number of 1/50,000 topographic maps
were reproduced or redrawn in 1944 -45.
• Why the Japanese army redraw the maps in the end of the
war? Did they finish the cartographical survey covering the
whole island of Taiwan?
The catalog of
1:50,000 maps,
Published by the
Japanese imperial
Land survey
institute in 1944

6. 1.3 Background- Maps produced by the AMS
• After the Battle of Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war
on Japan in 1941.
• The Japanese colony-Taiwan became the attack target for the
U.S. army. the U.S. Army Map Serves (AMS) also produced
several sets of color topographic map of Taiwan.
– 1944
Formosa city maps (26 cities)
– 1944 1:25,000 Cartographic maps
– 1944-45 1:50,000 Cartographic maps

7. 1. Background –issues for Gaihozu studies
• The Army Map Service (AMS) was the premier map making
agency of the U.S. department of defense from 1941 to 1968.
• The major task of AMS was the compilation, publication and
distribution of military topographic maps required by the U.S.
army.
• How the AMS produced the 1:50,000 cartographic maps of
Taiwan in 1944-45? What are the differences between the AMS
cartographic maps and the Japanese maps.
1895
1914
1930
1944
1944

8. 1.4 Background- the usage of aerial photographs
• Throughout the war, military cartographers used every
means at their disposal to obtain the latest intelligence
and to incorporate this information into their maps. But
the most useful source was aerial photographs taken
from an aircraft.
• In the last two years of the War, both of Japanese and
U.S. used aerial photograph to correct their map source.
• How the aerial photographs were used in producing
cartographic maps by U.S. and Japanese army?

9. 2. Objectives
• This study aims to investigate the 1/50,000 topographic map sets
produced by U.S. and Japanese military for their differences of
mapping contents and survey methods in Taiwan.
– Why the Japanese army redraw the maps in the end of the
war? Did they finish the cartographical survey covering the
whole island of Taiwan?
– How the AMS produced the 1:50,000 cartographic maps of
Taiwan in 1944-45? What are the differences between the
AMS cartographic maps and the Japanese maps.
– Furthermore, with the usage of Geographic Information
System (GIS), we also introduce a web map service for
representing the geospatial landscape of Taiwan before the
end of WW2.

10. Part1
The 1:50,000 cartographic map produced
by the Japanese Army
(1924-1945)

11. 1.The 1:50,000 cartographic maps produced before the 2nd
Sino-Japanese war (1924-1938)

12. 1. The 1:50,000 cartographic maps produced before the
2nd Sino-Japanese war (1924-1938)
•
1.
2.
3.
4.
The production of 1:50,000
cartographic maps can be divided to 4
stages:
1924-1926: compiled from 1:25,000
cartographic maps (western flat areas)
1927-1928: Field measurements by
Triangulation networks (south Taiwan
except the central mountain areas)
1929-1930: Field measurements by
Triangulation networks ( mainly in
Eastern Taiwan)
1931-1938: Ground photographic
survey and field measurement by
Triangulation networks (North central
mountain areas)

13. 1. The 1:50,000 cartographic maps produced before the
2nd Sino-Japanese war (1924-1938)
• For the following reason 7 sheets
were redraw in 1930s:
1. Fill the blank of mountain area in
the provisional version.
2. Resurvey the landscape changed
by the earthquake in 1930.

14. <Boke-yama>,surveyed in 1929
Abstract of <Tosei> surveyed in 1925
<Noko-zan>,surveyed in 1933
Abstract of <Tosei> surveyed in 1938

15. 1. The 1:50,000 cartographic maps produced before
the 2nd Sino-Japanese war (1924-1938)
• Due to the outbreak of the
second Sino-Japanese war,
the survey of the 1/50000
cartographic maps was
interrupted in 1938.
• The incomplete area (mainly
in the southern Central
Mountain area) covered
6141 square kilometers,
about 17% of Taiwan.
• During the 14 years, among
the published 108 sheets , 18
sheets had blank areas, and 5
sheets were not mapped.

16. 2.The urgent military reprinting in 1944
• In 1944, the war became
unfavorable for the Japanese side.
• The general staff headquarters of
Japanese army reprint the
catalogue of the 1:25,000 and
1:50,000 cartographic maps.

17. 2.The urgent military mapping in 1944
• The unmeasured
mountain areas were
compiled by the early
1:50,000 Ban-chi
cartographic maps
published by the police
office of colonial
government in 1910s.

18. <Choshu>,surveyed in 1928
<Shushu>,surveyed in 1929
<Choshu>, compiled in 1944
<Shushu>,compiled in 1944

19. 3.The Usage of cartographic maps in the end of WW2
• In the last few
years of WW2, the
cartographic maps
were used for
commanding the
fortress placement.
• The whole Taiwan
island became a
military fortress of
Japanese army.
• The 1:50,000
cartographic maps
became the base
map of military
cartography.

20. •
•
The Ninth Division
of fortress placement
map was made up by
11 sheets of 1:50,000
cartographic maps.
The military
divisions covers
almost the range of a
prefecture including
the mountain areas.

21. • The Tainan fortress placement map was made
up by 6 sheets of 1:50,000 cartographic maps.
• The information of the military arrangements
were written by hands or pasted notes on it.

22. 4.The aerial photogrammetry in 1945
• In 1945, Japanese army applied aerial
photogrammetry to revise the
1:50,000 cartographic maps.
• With the reference of map archives in
the world, only 9 sheets can be found.
– Possible reason1: The Japanese army
destroyed the maps after the war.
– Possible reason2: The Japanese army
did not have enough resource to
finish the survey.
• 6 sheets located in southern mountain
areas, half of the sheets remain
uncompleted (sketched map).
• 3 sheets located in military zones
near the port, one of the sheets
remain uncompleted (sketched map).

23. 4.The aerial photogrammetry in 1945

24. <Ari-San> compiled in 1944
<Riran> compiled in 1944
<Ari-San> revised in 1945
<Rian> revised in 1944 (uncompleted)

25. 4.The aerial photogrammetry in 1945
Abstract of <Tainan S>,surveyed in 1927
Abstract of <Tainan S>,revised in 1945

26. The map of “Toko” was issused in 1945
has a red sketch with the reference of
aerial photos (1944. Aug.) on the original
cartographic map published in 1928.

27. 5. Summary
• The production of 1:50,000 cartographic maps can be
divided to 4 stages:
–
–
–
–
1924-1930 Surveyed by triangulation network in flat areas
1931-1938 completed the survey of north mountain areas
1944: compiled the early maps in southern mountain areas
1945: applied aerial photogrammetry in selected areas
• In the last few years of WW2, Taiwan island became a
military fortress of Japanese army, and the 1:50,000
cartographic maps were used for commanding the fortress
placement.
• In 1945, Japanese army applied aerial photogrammetry to
revise the 1:50,000 cartographic maps, only few maps
were completed.

28. Part2
The 1:50,000 cartographic map produced
by U.S. AMS
(1944-1945)

29. Between 1941 and 1945, the Army Map Service prepared 40.000 maps of
all types, covering 400,000 square miles of the earth’s surfaces. Over 500
million copies were produced during the war,

30. 1.The 1:50,000 cartographic maps produced by AMS
in 1944-1945 with 4 editions

31. Compare the AMS maps with the Japanese 1:50,000
cartographic maps

32. The features of the AMS’s 1:50,000 maps
For use by War
and Navy
department
agencies only
Sheet name,
translated
from Japanese
map
Taihoku
(Taipei
city)revised
by aerial
photos
Compiled or
redraw from
different
Japanese maps
Explanation
of map
sources
Legend
Explanation
of Military
grids
Administration
boundaries and
compilation
methods

34. Sample of the 1:50,000 Formosa maps, 1st edition
Type1

35. Sample of the 1:50,000 Formosa maps, 1st edition
Type2

36. Sample of the 1:50,000 Formosa maps, 2nd edition
67 sheets

37. Sample of the 1:50,000 Formosa maps, 3rd edition

38. Sample of the 1:50,000 Formosa maps, 4th ed. & F type

39. 2.Compilation methods and data sources of the
1:50,000 cartographic maps
Compilation methods
1. Completely copied from a Japanese map
2. Simply compiled from different Japanese maps
3. Redraw or revised from aerial photos
Data sources
– J1- 1:50,000 Taiwan government general civil affair bureau, police office map,
1907-1914
– J2 -1:50,000 Japanese imperial Land survey 1924-1938
– J3 -1:20,000 Special Taiwan Land Investigation Office Map, 1904
– J4 -1:100,000 Special Taiwan Land Investigation Office Map, 1904-1905
– J5 -1:25,000 Japanese imperial Land survey 1921-1926
– J6- 1:200,000 Japanese imperial land survey 1930s
– J7- Japanese Hydrographic Chart, 1930
– A1- Intelligence reports, 1943-1944
– A2- photo planimetric methods from photos dataed 1943-1944
– A3- photo stereogrammetric from photos dataed 1943-1944
– A4- other AMS maps or resources, 1944

40. Completely copied from a Japanese map
1st edition maps

41. J1- 1:50,000 Taiwan government general civil affair bureau, police office map, 1907-1914
J2 -1:50,000 Japanese imperial Land survey 1924-1938

42. Simply compiled from different Japanese maps

43. Simply compiled from different Japanese maps
J1- 1:50,000 Taiwan government general civil affair bureau, police office map, 1907-1914
J2 -1:50,000 Japanese imperial Land survey 1924-1938
J3 -1:20,000 Special Taiwan Land Investigation Office Map, 1904
J4 -1:100,000 Special Taiwan Land Investigation Office Map, 1904-1905
J5 -1:25,000 Japanese imperial Land survey 1921-1926
J6- 1:200,000 Japanese imperial land survey 1930s
J7- Japanese Hydrographic Chart, 1930
A1- Intelligence reports, 1943-1944
A2- photo planimetric methods from photos dataed 1943-1944
A3- photo stereogrammetric from photos dataed 1943-1944
A4- other AMS maps or resources, 1944

44. Redraw or revised from aerial photos

45. J1- 1:50,000 Taiwan government general civil affair bureau, police office map, 1907-1914
J2 -1:50,000 Japanese imperial Land survey 1924-1938
J3 -1:20,000 Special Taiwan Land Investigation Office Map, 1904
J4 -1:100,000 Special Taiwan Land Investigation Office Map, 1904-1905
J5 -1:25,000 Japanese imperial Land survey 1921-1926
J6- 1:200,000 Japanese imperial land survey 1930s
J7- Japanese Hydrographic Chart, 1930
A1- Intelligence reports, 1943-1944
A2- photo planimetric methods from photos dataed 1943-1944
A3- photo stereogrammetric from photos dataed 1943-1944
A4- other AMS maps or resources, 1944

46. 3.The Usage of the 1:50,000 cartographic maps
produced by AMS during the war

47. 3.The Usage of the 1:50,000 cartographic maps
produced by AMS during the war
Frequency of air raids (gray bars) in Taiwan during WW2 and the count for
each month (the black time series).
Source: Chih-wen Hung (2012) Air Raids in Taiwan during World War II

48. The bombing locations in Taiwan for each month during WW2.
Source: Chih-wen Hung (2012) Air Raids in Taiwan during World War II

49. 4. Summary
• Four editions of the 1:50,000 cartographic maps were
produced by AMS in 1944, only several sheets were
revised in 1945.
• Three compilation methods were used in AMS maps:
– Completely copied from a Japanese map
– Simply compiled from different Japanese maps
– Redraw or revised from aerial photos
• 11 kinds of data sources were used in producing the maps,
and 81% of the maps were redrawn or revised from aerial
photos.
• During the war, these maps were used as a reference for
air raids in Taiwan.

50. Part 3
The GIS-based web map service for
representing these historical cartographic
maps

51. Taiwan Century-old Maps System ( developed by GIS center ,Academia Sinica)

55. WMS
services

57. Taiwan Century-old Maps System
APP for mobile usage
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rchss.twhgis

58. Conclusion-1
• This study investigated two sets of modern Taiwan’s
1/50,000 topographic map sets produced by Japanese and U.S.
military for their differences of mapping contents and survey
methods.
• The Japanese 1/50,000 topographic maps were the most
completed medium-scale topographic map in colonial Taiwan;
the AMS’s maps were continuing used and revised by Taiwan
government after the War.
• Both of them has became valuable spatial information
representing the geographic changes of Taiwan in the middle
of 20 century.

59. Conclusion-2
• Studies of these maps are important research subjects for
scholars who are interested in the intersection of modern
history and the military cartography.
• By considering the circumstances in which the maps were
created, their limitations, or even their reliability, this
study thus revealed the value of these spatial materials.
• Since the related digital archives of historical maps and
aerial photos are gradually released in recent years, we
will also highlight the two 1/50,000 cartographic map sets’
research value -the key reference for the aerial photos
taking by the U.S. army during the WWII- among the
digital archives’ map collections.

60. Thank You