National Geographic Institute launches Belgian landscape viewer

The National Geographic Institute (NGI) has launched the TopoFerrarisViewer, a digital tool allowing users to explore 250 years of Belgian landscape development. The viewer utilizes eight different map layers, ranging from the 1777 Ferraris map of the Austrian Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège to the most recent high-resolution topographic maps.

The tool enables users to compare different historical periods by displaying maps side-by-side or stacked, with synchronized movement to ensure the same geographic area remains visible. This functionality allows for the observation of urban growth, changes in road networks, watercourse diversions, and shifts in forest cover or residential areas. The viewer includes a search function for addresses, streets, or municipalities and is accessible via mobile devices for field use.