Ian Johnson
Archeological Computing Laboratory, Univ of Sydney, Australia

Cultural data is particularly rich in spatial, as well as temporal, information, and we have long-established analogue methods, in the form of maps, for representing such information. Computers extend the potential of the map with interaction, on-demand data-driven rendering, three dimensional visualisation and map animation. The Internet extends the potential further by providing new means of harvesting and combining information, and new channels for distributing results.

This paper will address the potential of interactive maps to add value to cultural data: 1. by providing an intuitive interface for geographically locating text and image information; 2. by visualisation of patterns, relationships and change through time and 3. by overlaying information from distributed sources spread across the Internet.

The TimeMap project aims to develop GIS methods for recording, analysing and displaying mappable cultural and natural features which are dated and/or change through time. In this paper I will focus on the design principles of an Internet-accessible metadata clearinghouse for spatio-temporal datasets conforming to the TimeMap data structuring standards. The clearinghouse allows the discovery of datasets and seamless querying and visualisation of the data through the TimeMap viewer software, TMView.

The paper will draw on practical experience gained through the implementation of an SQL server-based metadata clearinghouse for the Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative (www.ecai.org), the development of TimeMap-compatible datasets registered with the clearinghouse, and thebuilding of simple map animations of Chinese history.

Related URL: http://www.archaeology.usyd.edu.au/research/time_map/

International Workshop on Historical GIS Fudan University, Shanghai, August 23-25, 2001