Development of cartography, a fundamental change in its role and functions in the economy and vital activities of modern society is discussed. Currently there is a major change in its role and functions in the economy and functioning of modern society. That caused revolutionary changes in the field of Informatization. The authors have proposed and substantiated a new concept in the contemporary cartography. It is the multi-purpose cartographic resource (MCR). This resource is to have a number of versatile qualities important for the user, both traditional and new ones. To that we can relate visualization, accuracy and readability on any level as well as qualities such as flexibility of updating the content, changing the completeness and detail of large-scale continuity. The resource is not just a passive carrier of information about spatial objects, but unlike traditional maps it’s an interactive system with a set of opportunities, ways and methods of interaction with the consumer. It is the consumer to control the multi- purpose mapping system and get a necessary information product.