ECIA的南島計畫是由ECIA的創始者兼主席在「臺灣南島會議—回顧與展望」所提出。由於ECIA已開使用地理資訊系統（GIS）來研究文化地圖的可行性，以整合地方資產。這個計畫作為未來語言地圖的範例，因為透過結合舊的已出版的語言地圖與當代的語言區域資料，繼而以動態地圖顯示語言邊界的變動。

The Austronesian projects were proposed by the founder and chairman of ECAI, Lewis Lancaster, at a meeting entitled Austronesian Studies in Taiwan--Retrospective and Prospect. Since then collaborative teams have taken up the idea by researching the possibilities of cultural mapping using a geographic information system (GIS) to integrate the heritage of a place.This project is a model for future language mapping because it combines the generation of a digital version of older printed language maps with the collection of data on contemporary languages areas, and then the use of dynamic (time-enabled) map display techniques capable of showing visually the changes in language boundaries. The work will also give us an opportunity to advance our work on the design and use of gazetteers of language areas. A conventional gazetteer of Austronesian place-names would be supplemented (or complemented) by a directory of languages and dialects with the formal geographical specifications of where they are (or were) spoken at different times.