The Socio-Economic Atlas of Europe (1850-2000) is the final objective of current research that investigates the historical geography of Europe. This work plan begins with the design and construction of digital cartography that covers the administrative units of the whole of Western and Central Europe (with Map 1 and Map 2 as examples). These entities and their respective boundaries have changed over time and for this reason their evolution has been plotted over a series of maps based on information contained in census data that have been presented at 10-year intervals

The basic cartography has been based on supramunicipal units (provinces, departments or counties, according to the country in question). The ultimate objective of the project is to provide a homogenous, comparable and precise vision of the evolution of these administrative boundaries within European territory.

With the content of the Atlas, it is possible to present data separately but then carry out a global analysis of the geographic distribution of complementary phenomena, such as: population density, urbanization, fecundity, literacy, industrialization, per capita income, agricultural productivity and the level of taxation. These indicators will permit a quantitative study of territorial disequilibria within Europe as a whole and also within each individual state. The project will also include a Geographical Information System (GIS) for transport infrastructure, including data relating to navigable waterways, railway lines and major roads established since 1825.