China has released a collection of maps recording the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that hit southwestern Sichuan and neighboring provinces on May 12 last year.

With 228 maps, the collection offers a panoramic view of the disaster, including the geology of the region, disaster damage, response and reconstruction. It is the first such effort in China to record the whole process of an earthquake through maps.

With its authoritative information, the collection could be a reference for disaster prevention, said Li Weisen, deputy director of the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, the sponsor of the collection.

The collection features images gathered through advanced technology such as aerial photography, three-dimensional views, remote sensing, digital cartography and digital printing. In some cases, maps, images, pictures, diagrams and characters were combined.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2009)