Temporal GIS (TGIS)
My thesis, “Developing a Quasi-Temporal Geographic System for the Capture, Analysis and Display of Historical Data Derived from Archival Maps” (WWU, 2003), is available from WWU’s Wilson Library.
This work included the development of a ‘quasi’-temporal GIS extension for ArcView 3.x (using the Avenue programing language and the ESRI shapefile data model) and a methodology for capturing and transferring data from archival maps into a GIS database. These were tested and evaluated by conducting a case study on Fairhaven, WA (1880-1930) using archival maps as the primary data source.
A condensed version of the same was presented at the 2003 ESRI User Conference in San Diego. The paper (including the full TGIS Reference bibliography from the thesis) and PowerPoint file from that conference are available below.
Developing a Quasi-Temporal GIS for Archival Map Data (Freelan, 2003)
Presented at the 2003 ESRI User Conference, San Diego, CA
Presented at the 2003 ESRI User Conference, San Diego, CA
Abstract
Despite considerable research, GIS remains two-dimensional (atemporal), limiting historical research. A prototype, “quasi”-temporal ArcView 3.x extension adds temporal functionality for the capture, analysis and display of historical data derived from archival maps. While the composite database model used is inherently inefficient in terms of database structure, modern computer hardware is sufficiently powerful to overcome this limitation, making temporal analysis feasible.
A methodology of using archival maps for temporal information only (presence/absence or ‘temporal location’ as opposed to spatial location) expedites historical database construction.
A case study (Fairhaven, WA) illustrates the possibilities and limitations of the extension and archival map data.