diff --git a/autofill.lua b/autofill.lua
index c2bd8ea..c5bdd0e 100644
--- a/autofill.lua
+++ b/autofill.lua
@@ -2,40 +2,41 @@
 -- chunk: The chunk coordinate conversion API
 -- scanner: The map scanning API
 -- maps: The map API
-local chunk, scanner, maps = ...;
+-- settings: The mod settings
+local chunk, scanner, maps, settings = ...;
 
--- Periodically-called function to fill in maps and queue chunks for manual
--- scanning
-local function fill_loop()
-    -- Fill in all player-held maps
-    for _,p in ipairs(minetest.get_connected_players()) do
-        local inventory = p:get_inventory();
-        local pos = p:get_pos();
-        if pos.y > -10 then
-            for i = 1,inventory:get_size("main") do
-                local stack = inventory:get_stack("main", i);
-                local map = maps.get(stack:get_meta():get_int("cartographer:map_id"));
+-- Periodically-called function to fill in maps and queue chunks for backup
+-- scans
+if settings.autofill_freq ~= 0 then
+    -- scanning
+    local function fill_loop()
+        -- Fill in all player-held maps
+        for _,p in ipairs(minetest.get_connected_players()) do
+            local inventory = p:get_inventory();
+            local pos = p:get_pos();
+            if pos.y > -10 then
+                for i = 1,inventory:get_size("main") do
+                    local stack = inventory:get_stack("main", i);
+                    local map = maps.get(stack:get_meta():get_int("cartographer:map_id"));
 
-                if map then
-                    map:fill_local(pos.x, pos.z);
+                    if map then
+                        map:fill_local(pos.x, pos.z);
+                    end
                 end
-            end
-            for i = -2,2 do
-                for j = -2,2 do
-                    local adjusted_pos = {
-                        x = pos.x + chunk.from(i),
-                        y = pos.y,
-                        z = pos.z + chunk.from(j),
-                    }
-                    scanner.queue_region(adjusted_pos);
+                for i = -2,2 do
+                    for j = -2,2 do
+                        local adjusted_pos = {
+                            x = pos.x + chunk.from(i),
+                            y = pos.y,
+                            z = pos.z + chunk.from(j),
+                        }
+                        scanner.queue_region(adjusted_pos);
+                    end
                 end
             end
         end
+        minetest.after(settings.autofill_freq, fill_loop);
     end
 
-    for _ = 1,10 do
-        scanner.scan_regions();
-    end
-    minetest.after(5, fill_loop);
+    minetest.after(settings.autofill_freq, fill_loop);
 end
-minetest.after(5, fill_loop);
diff --git a/commands.lua b/commands.lua
index 90bac33..ac093da 100644
--- a/commands.lua
+++ b/commands.lua
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 -- chunk: The chunk coordinate conversion API
 -- audio: The audio playback API
 -- map_formspec: The map display API
-local chunk, audio, map_formspec = ...;
-
+-- settings: The mod settings
+local chunk, audio, map_formspec, settings = ...;
 local MAXINT = 2147483647;
 
 minetest.register_privilege("cartographer", {
@@ -41,7 +41,13 @@ minetest.register_chatcommand("map", {
         local player_z = math.floor((chunk.to(pos.z) / scale) + 0.5);
 
         audio.play_feedback("cartographer_open_map", player);
-        minetest.show_formspec(name, "map", map_formspec.from_coords(player_x, player_z, 40, 40, detail, scale, true));
+        minetest.show_formspec(name, "map", map_formspec.from_coords(player_x,
+                                                                     player_z,
+                                                                     settings.default_size,
+                                                                     settings.default_size,
+                                                                     detail,
+                                                                     scale,
+                                                                     true));
     end,
 })
 
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index c65b68c..4e73e58 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
 -- The path to this mod, for including files
 local modpath = minetest.get_modpath("cartographer");
 
+local settings = {
+    default_size = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("default_size")) or 40,
+    autofill_freq = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("autofill_freq")) or 5,
+    autosave_freq = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("autosave_freq")) or 60,
+    backup_scan_freq = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("backup_scan_freq")) or 5,
+    backup_scan_count = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("backup_scan_count")) or 10,
+};
+
 -- Includes
-local map_data = loadfile(modpath .. "/storage.lua") ();
+local map_data = loadfile(modpath .. "/storage.lua") (settings);
 local chunk = loadfile(modpath .. "/chunk_api.lua") ();
 local gui = loadfile(modpath .. "/formspec.lua") ();
 local skin = loadfile(modpath .. "/skin_api.lua") ();
@@ -10,27 +18,29 @@ local util = loadfile(modpath .. "/util.lua") ();
 local audio = loadfile(modpath .. "/audio.lua") ();
 local biomes = loadfile(modpath .. "/biome_api.lua") (util);
 local markers = loadfile(modpath .. "/marker_api.lua") ();
-local scanner = loadfile(modpath .. "/scanner.lua") (map_data, chunk);
+local scanner = loadfile(modpath .. "/scanner.lua") (map_data, chunk, settings);
 local maps = loadfile(modpath .. "/map_api.lua") (map_data, chunk);
 local materials = loadfile(modpath .. "/material_api.lua") ();
 local map_formspec = loadfile(modpath .. "/map_formspec.lua") (map_data, gui, skin, util, biomes, markers);
-local map_item = loadfile(modpath .. "/items.lua") (chunk, gui, skin, audio, maps, markers, map_formspec);
-loadfile(modpath .. "/commands.lua") (chunk, audio, map_formspec);
-loadfile(modpath .. "/table.lua") (gui, skin, audio, maps, materials, map_item);
-loadfile(modpath .. "/autofill.lua") (chunk, scanner, maps);
+local map_item = loadfile(modpath .. "/items.lua") (chunk, gui, skin, audio, maps, markers, map_formspec, settings);
+loadfile(modpath .. "/commands.lua") (chunk, audio, map_formspec, settings);
+loadfile(modpath .. "/table.lua") (gui, skin, audio, maps, materials, map_item, settings);
+loadfile(modpath .. "/autofill.lua") (chunk, scanner, maps, settings);
 
 -- The API object
 cartographer = {
     -- skin_api.lua: Allows the visual customization of formspecs
-    skin = skin;
+    skin = skin,
     -- biome_api.lua: Allows biome data to be registered for display in maps
-    biomes = biomes;
+    biomes = biomes,
     -- marker_api.lua: Allows markers to be registered for placement on maps
-    markers = markers;
+    markers = markers,
     -- map_api.lua: Allows the creation, lookup, and management of map objects
-    maps = maps;
+    maps = maps,
     -- items.lua: Allows the creation of map items with proper metadata
-    map_item = map_item;
+    map_item = map_item,
     -- materials.lua: Allows items to be registered as mapmaking materials
-    materials = materials;
+    materials = materials,
+    -- scanner.lua: Exposes functions for queuing and performing terrain scans
+    scanner = scanner,
 };
diff --git a/items.lua b/items.lua
index e59796c..eb0a768 100644
--- a/items.lua
+++ b/items.lua
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
 -- maps: The map API
 -- markers: The marker API
 -- map_formspec: The map display API
-local chunk, gui, skin, audio, maps, markers, map_formspec = ...;
+-- settings: The mod settings
+local chunk, gui, skin, audio, maps, markers, map_formspec, settings = ...;
 
 -- The list of players looking at maps, and the map IDs that they're looking at
 local player_maps = {};
@@ -204,7 +205,7 @@ end
 local function map_from_meta(meta, player_x, player_z)
     local size = meta:get_int("cartographer:size");
     if size == 0 then
-        size = 40;
+        size = settings.default_size;
     end
 
     local detail = meta:get_int("cartographer:detail");
diff --git a/map_api.lua b/map_api.lua
index 5dc2ccc..f58399c 100644
--- a/map_api.lua
+++ b/map_api.lua
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ local maps = {
         setmetatable(map, Map);
 
         map_data.maps[id] = map;
-        if filled or true then
+        if filled then
             map:fill_area(0, 0, w, h);
         end
 
diff --git a/scanner.lua b/scanner.lua
index 58b3fff..f1524ce 100644
--- a/scanner.lua
+++ b/scanner.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 -- Arguments
 -- map_data: The cartographer map data table
 -- chunk: The chunk coordinate conversion API
-local map_data, chunk = ...;
+-- settings: The mod settings
+local map_data, chunk, settings = ...;
 
 local scan_queue = {};
 
@@ -207,14 +208,7 @@ function scanner.queue_region(pos)
     scan_queue[#scan_queue + 1] = converted;
 end
 
--- Scan the next tile on the queue, and remove it
-function scanner.scan_regions()
-    local len = #scan_queue;
-
-    if len == 0 then
-        return;
-    end
-
+local function scan_internal()
     local startpos = scan_queue[1];
     local chunk_x = chunk.to(startpos.x);
     local chunk_y = chunk.to(startpos.y);
@@ -239,4 +233,34 @@ function scanner.scan_regions()
     table.remove(scan_queue, 1);
 end
 
+-- Scan the next N tiles on the queue, and remove them
+-- N is determined by backup_scan_count
+--
+-- flush: Flush the entire scan queue, scanning all queued regions
+function scanner.scan_regions(flush)
+    local len = #scan_queue;
+
+    if len == 0 then
+        return;
+    end
+
+    if settings.backup_scan_count == 0 or flush then
+        while #scan_queue > 0 do
+            scan_internal();
+        end
+    else
+        for _=1,settings.backup_scan_count do
+            scan_internal();
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+if settings.backup_scan_freq ~= 0 then
+    local function periodic_scan()
+        scanner.scan_regions();
+        minetest.after(settings.backup_scan_freq, periodic_scan);
+    end
+    minetest.after(settings.backup_scan_freq, periodic_scan);
+end
+
 return scanner;
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..099554a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# The default size of new maps, in tiles
+default_size (Default Map Size) int 40 5 80
+
+# The frequency that maps are filled in as players explore, in seconds. Set to 0 to disable.
+autofill_freq (Map Auto-Fill Frequency) int 5 0 60
+
+# The frequency that this mod saves its data to mod storage, in seconds. Set to 0 to disable.
+autosave_freq (Data Auto-Save Frequency) int 60 0 3600
+
+# The frequency that this mod scans already-generated map data to fill in existing terrain, in seconds. Set to 0 to disable.
+backup_scan_freq (Map Scan Frequency) int 5 0 3600
+
+# The number of map sections that this mod scans at a time. Set to 0 to scan all relevant areas
+backup_scan_count (Map Scan Rate) int 10 0 100
diff --git a/storage.lua b/storage.lua
index c764f89..f280741 100644
--- a/storage.lua
+++ b/storage.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+-- Arguments
+-- settings: The mod settings
+local settings = ...;
+
 -- Storage and saving
 local mod_storage = minetest.get_mod_storage();
 local map_data = {
@@ -31,10 +35,12 @@ end
 minetest.register_on_shutdown(save);
 minetest.register_on_leaveplayer(save);
 
-local function periodic_save()
-    save();
-    minetest.after(60, periodic_save);
+if settings.autosave_freq ~= 0 then
+    local function periodic_save()
+        save();
+        minetest.after(settings.autosave_freq, periodic_save);
+    end
+    minetest.after(settings.autosave_freq, periodic_save);
 end
-minetest.after(60, periodic_save);
 
 return map_data;
diff --git a/table.lua b/table.lua
index fdabdff..709f675 100644
--- a/table.lua
+++ b/table.lua
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 -- maps: The map API
 -- materials: The material API
 -- map_item: The map item API
-local gui, gui_skin, audio, maps, materials, map_item = ...;
+-- settings: The mod settings
+local gui, gui_skin, audio, maps, materials, map_item, settings = ...;
 
-local MAP_SIZE = 40;
 local SCALE_SMALL = 1;
 local SCALE_MEDIUM = 2;
 local SCALE_LARGE = 4;
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ local function setup_table_node(pos)
     meta:get_inventory():set_size("copy_input", 1);
     meta:get_inventory():set_size("copy_output", 1);
 
-    meta:set_int("size", MAP_SIZE);
+    meta:set_int("size", settings.default_size);
     meta:set_int("scale", SCALE_SMALL);
     meta:set_int("detail", 0);
 end