Abstract: This paper described several points in designing and developing the Internet Version of National Physical Atlas of China (NPAC), including conceptual designing, WebGIS technology and strategy in development, main functions and characteristics, as well as maintenance and data updating of the system. As for the conceptual designing, the system consists of three parts, i. e. , software of server, software of browser, and support of NPAC database. The technology and strategy of the system includes the strategy of concentrating both server end and client end, the browser technology based on Java Applet , and the server technology based on Map Object. The functions and characteristics of the system includes five points, i. e. , scientific and logic structure of the content, clear and concise interface, special information query function, multiple representation of maps, and functions of spatial information analysis and mapping. In the scheme of system maintenance and data updating, the paper expounds from three points on, i. e. , network technology, data updating, and function expanding.

Key words: multiple representation of maps, National Physical Atlas of China, spatial data query, spatial information analysis and statistical mapping, WebGIS