Despite much good work in the past century, fundamental research
about portolan charts remains to be done.
- Some of it could be fairly simple, such as gathering more information
about them so that comparisons of their physical characteristics
can be made.
- The handwriting on them could be studied with the same care that
is given to other manuscripts, since this may contain valuable
clues about their creation.
- Some comparisons of outlines of coasts have been made where two
or more portolan charts were produced in the same location; with
todays sophisticated digital cameras and photocopiers, better
reproductions for researchers can be made.
- More needs to be known about the inks and paints used on the portolan
charts.
- The question of the relationship between the use of the compass
in the Mediterranean (beginning in the thirteenth century) and
the making of portolan charts should be pursued, particularly
about the effect of magnetic variation (see works of Kelley and
Lanman).
- Questions concerning projection in the portolan charts are important,
and more research is needed.
- Stylistic elements, such as flags, should be studied.
- Finally, it would be wonderful to know more about the forty-six
chart-makers known from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries,
and indeed, about the trade that employed them (Campbell 1987).
The tendency to focus only on the part of the portolan chart which
is of the greatest interest the western islands, for example
does not help in learning more about the larger picture with
regard to these fascinating maps.