The 1986 Domesday Project

This paper provides an overview of the 1986 Domesday project. The intention is to document the origins of the major research effort that is culminating in the BBC publishing video discs which aim to reflect all aspects of Britain in the mid-1980s. The paper outlines the prominent role of geographers in the design and fulfillment of key features of the Domesday's data base. In particular, the geographical basis to some methods of accessing information on both National and Community discs is outlined. The paper concludes by considering some of the wider issues of public access to information that are raised by the kind of advance in information technology which the Domesday project represents.