The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), launched 1983 January 25, has been conducting a high-sensitivity, high-resolution all-sky photometric survey at wavelengths of 12, 25, 60, and 100 μm in the infrared. One of the data products from the survey will be a map of the entire Milky Way within latitude limits of 10 degrees at a resolution of 4 arcminutes. Since the IRAS detector system is DC-coupled and has demonstrated excellent stability, this map will contain reliable information on all spatial scales larger than the map resolution. The extremely high sensitivity of the IRAS instrument for the detection of interstellar material in the survey mode is illustrated here in terms of visual extinction and dust and gas column densities.