The scope of the information can only be properly appreciated with this 16-sheet immensely detailed Map. The work should be referred to as an atlas as the information is not limited to simple maps of the frozen ground but includes details of the conditions more generally which determine the special nature of the cold environment. The Map is of fundamental significance for the natural resource industries, for those concerned with the politics and economics of the region or with social and environmental issues, such as contaminant remediation. For those contemplating working in the regions on geotechnical projects it is indispensible. The English edition includes the complete set of the original maps as well as a large format booklet containing same-size copies of the legends but with English text.
Users place the English-language legend for the sheet they are examining beside the original.
In this way those with no knowledge of Russian are be able to take full advantage of the original maps. Those with some knowledge of Russian terms, who may for example have already worked in the regions, are able to see at once the corresponding words in the two languages. To further increase the value there is also a commentary on the technical meanings of the terms used on each sheet. The same institutions, together with a number of consulting specialists, have collaborated in a translation of the standard Russian work, E. D. Yershov's General Geocryology' ,which was published in August 1998 by Cambridge University Press .