BootCamp: Putting the Digital Humanities in its place … what, why and how to map
Presented by Ian Johnson.
This session was an excellent practical introduction into digital mapping. Ian provided some very good information about the basics of GIS (Geographic Information System) and the types of tools and databases used to generate visualisations that intersected data with mapping.
To begin with, the group was taken through an overview of GIS, which I found particularly helpful as I have not had any formal training in this area and have a great interest in learning skills in mapping and GIS.
The presentation then focused on a number of projects that have used GIS technologies, for example: Macquarie map of Indigenous Australia 2007; South Seas Project; Digital Harlem 1915 – 1930 and Dictionary of Sydney.
Ian then provided a list of tools that are used for developing these projects – most significantly Time Maps and Heurist.
I am looking forward to learning much more about digital mapping and building technical skills with some of the tools mentioned in the blog post.
Some dot points about – digital mapping tools and technologies:
- AusStage mapping service
- what is spatial data? Vector – points lines, polygons – objects recorded with coordinates. Raster – aerial photos, satellite images, airborn scanner images, historical maps and plans.
- Formats – CSV
- shapefile – (old formats .shp .dbf .shx =ESRI) http://www.mapshaper.com/test/demo.html
- KML (.kml, .kmx = Google Earth)
- Databases – Access, MySql, ostgres, Oracle
- TIF, GeoTiff = Remore sensed data
- JPEG2000, MrSID, Zoomify = Tled images http://www.zoomify.com doesn’t need a image server
- Projections, Datums, Coordinates – datum: point of reference and model of the earth; projecton: method of flattening earth on map; no such thing as a ‘correct’ projection, grid reference system (cartesian)
- Lat and Long – GPS – uses WGS84 lat-long, no projection
Some projects worth mentioning:
- Macquarie map of Indigenous Australia 2007
- georeferencing – way of matching data
- street address referencing
- Geographical names register
- Geonames
- georeferencing 2 – usually raster arc gis
- google earth and overlaying maps over time
- PHALMS Parramatta Heritage Archeological Landscape Management Study
- Digitising (Heurist)
- South Seas Project
- Digital Harlem 1915 – 1930
- Dictionary of Sydney
- CHGIS (Harvard, Griffith, Fudan, Russian Academy of Science)
- A vision of Britain over time
- Sydney Harbour landfill
- BioMap – biofuel research in Europe
- simile timeline MIT
- Angkot fly through – real map with data vis laid on top
Some tools:
- Field collection – i-pad looks very promising 3g model
- smart phones – embedded GeoTags in images
- FieldHelper Vsn 2 – GPS/camera mapping
- abc innovation – using google earth and timeline
- Sydney TimeMap – ARC SPIRT Grant (2000 – 2002)
- TimeMap – useful tool – mobile version in development
- Heurist Vsn 3 http://www.heuristscholar.org/heurist
- http://acl.arts.usyd.edu.au/bootcamp/
Mediakult 