Reflective Blog Post: Mapping

Did this process change your understanding of the spatial DH projects you explored earlier?

This project did not change my understanding of the projects we looked at earlier, instead, it introduced me to a new way of mapping. Mapping old data on new maps has always been interesting, but mapping old maps on new maps is something I had never seen.

Examine the This Map page, what formats can you access the map you rectified in?

You can access the map in four ways: Overlay, Grid, Swipe, and Spy Glass. The most useful of the four are probably overlay and grid. Swipe and Spyglass are unique ways to interact with the map, but seems like it would be hard to draw any further conclusions using those tools. Overlay (pictured above) allows the user to compare the maps on top of one another with differing levels of opacity. This view stacks the points we placed on each map on top of one another to try and “line up” the maps.

What possibilities do you see once you have a georectified map? What would be next steps?

Having a georectified map is like looking into the past with all the answers. We can look at what the map makers in the past thought existed and compare it to what was actually there. I think it would be very interesting to look at old maps and how they changed over time using a tool like this. Obviously comparing old maps to what we have today is cool, but I think adding that fourth dimension

Are there problems with georeferencing that you should consider?

I think the biggest issue with georeferencing is making sure you select the same (or close to the same) point on both maps. Selecting similar points ensures that the maps are accurately lined up, and is crucial for drawing any further conclusions about the mapping. The problem with this is that the maker of the old map may have been referring to a different spot than the one they put on the map. For instance, what if a map maker believed a distant city was on a peninsula when in reality that city was closer to the mainland? Should the digital mapper put the point where the city actually is, or where the map maker believed it was?

What research questions or areas would this method NOT be appropriate for?

I don’t think georeferencing would be appropriate for any research that doesn’t involve something changing. If the location of an object stays the same throughout its existence, there is no need to georeference it. Also, maybe an object does move around but if there is no meaning associated with that movement it probably isn’t worth georefrencing.