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Even in the quickly advancing world of geospatial information, sometimes you need to step back to step forward. Historical and archival materials can be a very powerful resource in modern geographic information systems (GIS) and mapping. Identifying, preserving, ingesting, analyzing historical data in order to better understand relationships through time is a critical tool with various applications.
Uncovering and inventorying historical data is a key and often challenging step in putting this geospatial resource to work. Sometimes buried in the National Archives or in the basement of the local county courthouse, sometimes carefully documented and cared for, while sometimes sitting in a water damaged cardboard filing box, historical information can be discovered in just about any location and in just about any condition. The research phase can take plenty of tenacity and patience, but can reap valuable information.
Once found, most likely the material will require transitioning into a digital geographic information format. Many historical mapping resources are stored as paper maps, film negatives, contact prints, or even verbal descriptions in some cases. Moreover, these materials can be in fragile and precarious condition requiring professional special care to lift the information without damaging the integrity of the original. With this is mind, it is sometimes necessary to abide by strict measures of archival procedure in the transition process - most often through digitization or scanning of the original.
Making this information useful for geospatial analysis is the next step. This can be approached many different ways relative to the media and data type. Basically, it is the process of assigning data to a 'known' referenced location so that the information is spatially accurate and applicable, making it possible to integrate or 'overlay' the historical data within a GIS environment. There are varying degrees of detail that this georeferencing can be approached based on the goals of the application.
Once the historical mapping data is harvested and integrated, you have a versatile geospatial dataset at your disposal that can be used to document the past as well as analyze changes through time. Application options are quite extensive spanning from modeling land-use and environmental impact trends to assessing parcel ownership, or even the 3D visualization or physical 3D Printed Model of a historic landscape.
Historical geography can be an important resource for building solid and effective geographic information systems. Let Access Geographic help build a bridge between the past and a stronger geospatial perspective on the future.
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