Abstract: An automated map display system stores in an optical storage unit a plurality of map portion images generated from any assortment of physical maps having various geographical coverages, fields of view, map scales, cartographic projections, compass orientations, map overlaps, etc. Associated with each map portion image is specific data which permits the location (latitude and longitude) of any point in the image, the field of view and the unique relationship to all other map portion images to be efficiently determined. A keyboard and/or other input device is provided by which an operator can request the display of any map portion image which is spatially related (by field of view, adjacency, etc.) to the currently displayed image without need for any external map-related information whatsoever. A programmed processor automatically determines the unique map portion image which satisfies the user request, accesses the selected image from the optical storage unit and causes it to be displayed.