On October 20, the "Topographic Map of Hunan Province (Raised-relief Braille Edition)" was released. This is China's first provincial-level raised-relief braille map, replicating Hunan's terrain and elevation differences to scale and filling the gap in provincial-level braille elevation maps for visually impaired users.

The map was compiled by the Third Surveying and Mapping Institute of Hunan Province, drawing on its self-developed 3D relief map printing system and based on digital modeling of elevation data. Through engraving, UV printing, and thermoplastic vacuum forming, the elevation differences of Hunan's mountainous areas, plains, rivers, and lakes are reproduced as a continuous tactile relief, with mountain ranges raised and lake areas sunken. With standardized braille and tactile legends, visually impaired users can identify the distribution of mountains and water systems by touch, as well as administrative divisions and the locations of major cities.
 
Most previous braille tactile maps of provinces in China were administrative division maps, with flat bases that used only raised lines to mark administrative boundaries and braille dots to indicate place names, and were unable to intuitively present terrain elevation changes in a relief form. To adapt to the perceptual habits of visually impaired users, the producer invited teachers and students from provincial secondary vocational schools for special education to take part throughout the testing and verification of the map, repeatedly fine-tuning the height of the raised relief and the spacing between braille dots, with all technical parameters aligned with users' tactile experience.

This topographic map will be distributed free of charge to associations for the blind, special education schools, braille reading rooms in libraries, and community service centers for people with disabilities across the province, supporting geography teaching, accessible reading, and public benefit exhibitions, and helping visually impaired people develop a spatial understanding of their hometown's terrain.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Translator: Pang Yuehui 

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn