Our Idea
We (Sam Chackerian, Alex Tananbaum, Emerson Lange, Alice Cutter, and Bennet Tefu) plan to make a useful interactive map of the arboretum that also gives users a sense of how it has changed over time. This interactive map will show different paths, their distance, an estimation of walking time, and what they are best used for whether that be running or skiing. Users will be able to search and filter by paved/unpaved as well. To give a sense of how the arb has changed over time, we will include any historical photos that we can find and if applicable, give descriptions of restoration that was done around the area where the historical photo was taken.
Methodology
Sources: We intend to use the most recent map of Carleton College’s arb. We will use the maps that Carleton has and supplement with actual pictures of forks in the road. If we can find any old photos of the arb we plan to use those to give viewers a sense of how the arb has changed over time. Finding information like the surface of trails might be a bit more challenging, but if we can’t find it online we can go out into the arb and gather that data ourselves.
Processes: We will layer onto the existing map paths that we think are suitable for people to travel on given their time constraints. Perhaps this could include a table where each path has a walking time, accessibility rating (paved/not paved) and total distance. The table or database then has user entered queries or check boxes and can filter the results.
Presentation: Our final presentation will be a map and a small dataset of trails. By filtering and searching through the dataset of trails, users can get a sense of which trails cater most to their needs. On top of this, we plan to include any historical artifacts that relate to the arb in our presentation
Deliverables and Timeline
In week 8 we plan to spend the majority of our time gathering both mapping and historical data. By the end of week 8 or the start of week 9 we should have all of our data collected, and we will clean up the data on all of our trails and begin creation of our map. By the middle of week 10 we plan on having our map complete with historical elements included. In week 10 we will put together our presentation.
DH Project Models
We took inspiration from run and route planning applications such as Plot a Route and Google Maps, which have the capability of calculating time based on mode of transportation (for us this would be walking or skiing) and the ability to create and choose a clear route based on photo data and geolocation.
Our Interest
Sam: I think the arb is one of the few resources that is truly unique to Carleton. I love how accessible it is. It is a great place to go on runs, short walks, and skiing in the winter. I am excited for this project because I think it could be useful for both Carleton students and the people of Northfield. Our project also could be useful in documenting restoration efforts. The Arb was originally created to preserve natural Minnesota wildlife and our project could help catalog the progress Carleton has made in that regard.
Alex: The Arb is one of the reasons I was really excited to attend Carleton because of it. I try to walk out there at least once a week (and often end up walking out there even more) but I always walk the same path. I’d love to create a system that can help people learn new paths to take.
Emerson: I hope this project makes the arb more accessible to everyone at Carleton, as I have come to appreciate it after running in it frequently. I am also excited to learn more about the arb’s history and the various restoration efforts that have kept it similar to its native state.
Alice: I am interested in this project because I spend a large amount of time each week running through the arb. It is always very exciting to get off the beaten path and explore new loops of varying distance. With this map, I hope to highlight some of my favorite loops and paths.
Bennet: During New Student Week (NSW) 2021, I got lost in the arb when NSW groups went there for planting. I was with a bunch of other students from my group and we walked around asking people for directions until we finally got a hold of our group. The experience was not fun. The arb covers a relatively large surface area and it is easy for someone, especially a visitor, to get lost in the woods. Thus, the idea of creating a map that helps people determine the best routes to take while exploring the arb is enticing to me.
