Zada Law, Director, Fullerton Laboratory for Spatial Technology at Middle Tennessee State University
Proposal Type: Roundtable
Abstract: We would like to initiate a conversation with other professionals in the digital humanities who are using mapping programs to connect with the public to collect and/or present research. This discussion can include an exchange of lessons learned, ideas for moving forward and creating project sustainability, coordinating workflow, troubleshooting problems, defining best practices, or simply sharing examples of work that has been done.
Seeking:
The GIS lab at Middle Tennessee State University is currently working on multiple historical mapping projects, including a digitization of historic structure surveys from the Tennessee Historical Commission and creating the data for the Tennessee Civil War GIS project (http://tnmap.tn.gov/civilwar/). Our GIS techs have also provided mapping support to MTSU Center for Historic Preservation projects for the Trail of Tears and the history of the Tennessee marble industry. We are currently using ArcGIS 10.2. In our work we have come across problems with user interface, questions of data ownership, ethical questions surrounding research results, as well as basic work-flow issues concomitant with collaborative research efforts.
We would like to initiate a conversation with other professionals in the digital humanities who are using place-based and map-centered platforms to connect with the public to collect and/or present research. This discussion can include an exchange of lessons learned, ideas for moving forward and creating project sustainability, coordinating workflow, troubleshooting problems, defining best practices, or simply sharing examples of work that has been done. We hope to learn how others are designing their maps, how they are initiating outreach for crowd sourcing, what software programs have worked well and what platforms have failed, what types of data are being shared with the public, and how they are evaluating project success.
Related Topics: Digital, Civic Engagement, Praxis
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to share contact information for other people the proposer should reach out to, please get in contact directly: Zada Law, zada.law[at]mtsu.edu
If you have general ideas or feedback to share please feel free to use the comments feature below.
It seems to me that you could join forces with the other crowd sourcing proposal in the topics list.
At the risk of revealing my vast ignorance, I think that potential attendees would be curious about the pros and cons of using arcGIS, as opposed to something like Historypin or Google Earth. The decision making process of choosing a platform could be very helpful to those curious about mapping, but not sure where to begin.
I agree with Modupe on her suggestion, but would extend to say that the folks at the UNC Digital Innovation Lab (http://digitalinnovation.unc.edu/), including Pam Lach and Stephanie Barnwell, have had a good bit of experience now building a tool (DH Press) that allows mapping-based interpretation within WordPress. You might connect with them to discuss what that tool (which is more layperson friendly than ARC GIS) offers. Also, the folks at UVA’s Scholars Lab have developed Neatline, another map-based interpretive software (which I think works with Omeka). In any case, making a choice for tool/approach is an important part of the conversation.