E-book atlases for tablet computers: the Atlas of the Columbia River Basin

More e-books than traditional paper books are sold today, and tablet computers have become ubiquitous in recent years. Digital cartographic atlases have replaced traditional paper atlases, but cartographers have not yet fully embraced the potential of multi-touch tablet computers, such as the iPad. This article explores the characteristics of e-book atlases, which are positioned between traditional printed atlases and digital atlas information systems. We document available hardware and software for creating interactive maps and atlases for tablet computers, and illustrate the steps in building an interactive e-book atlas using the Atlas of the Columbia River Basin as an example.