Andreas KUNZ, Institute of European History, Mainz, Germany Preserving Spatial Information Based on Geographic Coordinates 2011 TELDAP International Conference Taipei / Taiwan Academia Sinica March 19, 2011

Outline 1.The problem stated 2. The extent of geodata collected from the mid-1980s up to Spatial data available from projects, geocoded and non-geocoded 4. Current strategies for sustainability 5. Future tasks and perspectives 6. Three examples for strengthening sustainability

1. The problem stated 1.1 The creation of geocoded data (time and cost factors) 1.2 Sustainability as a required, but poorly financed task 1.3 The position/dilemma of the individual researcher

2. The extent of data collected from the mid-1980s to The “Berlin Data Pool” (since 1985) 2.2 The Mainz-based mapserver “IEG-Maps” (since 2000) 2.3 The historical information system “HGIS Germany” ( ) 2.4 The “Digital Atlas on European History” (since 2008)

Server IEG-Maps: Bishoprics in Central Europe 1500, (digital cartography)

HGIS Germany: „Control Panel“ of the GUI (GIS – ArcGIS/UMN Mapserver)

The Atlas of Europe since 1500 (GIS and conventional digital cartography)

Europe in 1850 Religious/confessional divisons in European countries, 1850 [GIS-based map, working stage!]

3. Spatial data available from various projects, geocoded and non-geocoded 3.1 Geocoded data: a) From “HGIS Germany”: German boundaries, places, and infrastructures ( ) - Polygon data: territories and administrative units - Line data: roads, waterways, railways - Point data: capitals of states and adminstrative units;

Polygon, line, and point information in HGIS Germany

3.2 Non-geocoded data: a) “Berlin Data Pool”: 1919 – 2000: German boundaries, places, infrastructures 1500 – 1820: Central European boundaries and places b) “Digital Atlas of Europe” 1500 – 2008: European boundaries and places (capitals) (For 1820 to 2008 this data is already available in GIS- format, but not yet geocoded)

4. Current strategies for sustainability 1)Conversion of non-geocoded data into geocoded, GIS- compatible formats (ArcGIS “shapefiles”, possibly Google Earth “kmz/kml-files”) 2) Recurrent use of own data: Creation of new online GIS projects 3) Cooperation with other GIS-based projects, both nationally and internationally 4) Cooperation with museums: PC-Stations at the “German Historical Museum” in Berlin 5) Cooperation with libraries: Data to be deposited in the “Harvard Geospatial Library” (HGL)

Integration of existing data into a new project

5. Future tasks and perspectives 1) Full conversion (=geocoding) of data 2) Building of an open access “shapefile repository” (possibly in cooperation with a - yet unkown - partner) 3) Partial integration of data in global mapping enterprises like Harvard’s “World Map” or ECAI’s “Clearing House” 4) Archiving of data (HGL at Harvard, USA / Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany / an Asian partner?)

Example 1: An online open access “shapefile repository”

Aim: provide shapefiles on individual territories (e.g., Duchies of Anhalt)

Example 2: Cooperation with libraries: - Registering online output as “electronic resources” - Datasets to be deposited in the “Harvard Geospatial Library” (HGL) for open access use

Example 3: Cooperation with museums: - Supplying maps to a number of museums in Germany - PC-Stations at the German Historical Museum in Berlin

PC-Station on the German Confederation, (installed in 2007)

PC-Station on German Railways, 1835 – 1885 (first installed in 2007, revised and expanded in 2010)

Thank you for your attention!