It is a satisfaction and a privilege to present issue 100 of the Revista Cartográfica. As editor (since November 2017), I look at the past, present and future of a publication that was born in 1952 and that celebrates 68 years of life.

I look to the past of the Revista Cartográfica and think about its origin, at the moment when this magazine began to take its first steps. At this point, the acknowledgment and gratitude to the President of the General Cartography Commission, who before the Executive Committee meeting in Washington DC in 1952 proposed the idea of creating the Revista Cartográfica, in order to respond to the need of having a means of exchanging scientific-technical information.

General Levene was the editor of the first four issues, from 1952 to June 1955, assisted by Heliodoro Negri (Argentina).

During many years, until December 1996 the editors of the magazine were the presidents of the Cartography Commission, with the support of assistants in some issues. Acknowledgment and thanks to each of the editors that made its publication possible during so many tears: Félix M. F. Renault (Argentina) assisted by Heliodoro Negri (Argentina), Robert Randall (EUA), Juan J. Nano (Argentina) assisted by Heliodoro Negri y Pablo Dragan (Argentina), Oscar J. Colombo (Argentina) assisted by Leopoldo F. Rodríguez (Argentina), Porfirio García Gallont (Guatemala), José A. Villasana (Mexico), Álvaro González Fletcher (Colombia) y Luz M. Valencia Carvajal (Colombia), Paul Peeler (USA) and coeditors: Scott W. Mooney (USA), Carlos S. Galindo Contreras (Mexico), Antonio Hernández Navarro (Mexico), Hermann Manríquez Tirado (Chile) and Valeria Oliveira Henrique de Araújo (Brazil)²

Since 1952, the Revista Cartográfica has been published continuously. Planned with an annual frequency, it was alternated with other publications (semi-annual, annual and biannual), according to different circumstances. In 2016 its publication began with a biannual frequency, publishing a regular and a thematic issue. Starting in 2020, two regular issues began to be published to respond to indexing requirements. Also during its 68 years of life, the magazine has changed its “face” or presentation image. It was intended to reflect these changes on the cover of this issue 100.

I look at the present of the Revista Cartográfica, guiding its efforts in the fulfillment of requirements that will make possible its indexation in different indices, databases and catalogs. In order to achieve this, one of the first efforts has corresponded to have the technical infrastructure that allows the online presentation of articles and management of the entire editorial flow, through the Open Magazine Systems administration system of magazines accessible since July 2019 at: https://revistasipgh.org/index.php/rcar. The DOI (Digital Object Identifier) has also been registered at the CrossRef registration agency, guaranteeing direct access, visibility, intellectual property and interoperability of each article that is published. These actions have marked the present as a new era for the magazine, meeting technological requirements to continue advancing according to the scenarios and demands that currently govern the complex world of scientific magazines.

I look to the future of Revista Cartográfica, with the hope that will achieve greater visibility in the scientific community to which it is directed; that becomes attractive to publish, based on its indexation of indices, databases and catalogs recognized by research-related organization and continues to be accessible with a clear commitment for the free and open access, being joined to the Open Access movement.

The past and present have been possible thanks to the collective effort that allowed publishing each issue, editor, author, designer, production team, etc. In this point, I want to thank the authors who trusted this magazine as a scientific means to publish their research, transmit their ideas and knowledge, as well as the silent and efficient work of all reviewers who have participated in the evaluation of the articles. The future will also be possible thanks to the collective effort of the new indicators and requirements that arise for indexing. Therefore, it is essential not to forget the course that has governed the life of the Revista Cartográfica since its foundation in 1952: to be a means of communication, or in the words by General Levene, a means of exchanging scientific-technical information. It should not be forgotten that north that determines that in the end, magazines exist by and for their authors and readers.

The Revista Cartográfica began its journey in 1952 and today, 68 years later in times of great changes in the world of scientific publications, the objective is to continue advancing with the support of all who make each issue possible, hoping that in the future and editor will write “It is a satisfaction and a privilege to present the 200th issue of the Revista Cartográfica”.

Without further ado, I invite you to enjoy reading the issue 100 and to be part of the new era of Revista Cartográfica.