How do you use GIS to map historical data and patterns?

1 What is GIS and why use it?

GIS is a computer-based system that integrates data, software, hardware, and methods to capture, store, manipulate, display, and analyze spatial information. GIS can help you answer questions such as: Where did historical events or phenomena occur? How did they change over time and space? What spatial relationships or patterns exist among them? How did they affect or interact with the environment, society, culture, or politics? By using GIS, you can create maps, charts, graphs, and models that reveal historical insights and narratives that might otherwise be hidden or overlooked.

2 How to find and prepare historical data for GIS?

Before you can use GIS to map historical data and patterns, you need to find and prepare your data sources. Historical data can come from various types of sources, such as archives, libraries, museums, publications, databases, websites, or oral histories. You need to evaluate the quality, reliability, accuracy, and relevance of your data sources, and consider their limitations and biases. You also need to prepare your data for GIS by converting them into digital formats, georeferencing them to a common coordinate system, and organizing them into layers, attributes, and tables.

3 How to create and customize historical maps with GIS?

Once you have your historical data ready for GIS, you can create and customize your maps according to your research questions and goals. You can use different types of maps, such as point, line, polygon, raster, or thematic maps, to represent different aspects of your historical data and patterns. You can also use various symbols, colors, scales, labels, legends, and layouts to enhance the clarity, readability, and aesthetics of your maps. You can also add annotations, images, or multimedia elements to enrich your maps with additional information or context.

4 How to analyze and interpret historical data and patterns with GIS?

Creating maps is not enough for historical research. You also need to analyze and interpret your historical data and patterns with GIS. You can use various analytical tools and techniques, such as queries, buffers, overlays, spatial statistics, or network analysis, to explore, measure, compare, or test your historical data and patterns. You can also use GIS to generate hypotheses, identify trends, detect anomalies, or discover new perspectives or connections. You need to be critical and reflective of your analysis and interpretation, and acknowledge the uncertainties, assumptions, or limitations of your GIS results.

5 How to communicate and share your historical GIS results?

The final step of using GIS to map historical data and patterns is to communicate and share your results with your audience. You can use different formats and platforms, such as reports, presentations, publications, websites, blogs, or social media, to disseminate your historical GIS results. You need to consider the purpose, scope, and tone of your communication, and tailor your message and style to suit your audience. You also need to cite your sources, acknowledge your collaborators, and respect the ethical and legal issues of using historical data and GIS.