This is a probing note to start discussing connecting geometries from the Wikimaps project to the Wikimedia knowledge base.

If you are new to Wikimaps, have a look in http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Wikimaps. We aim to bring old maps to the Commons, georeference them and use for historical mapping in the Open Historical Map environment. 

Wikimaps has a preliminary workflow that can be tested, from Wikimedia Commons to the Wikimaps Warper and further on to the iD editor in the Open Historical Map sandbox. See http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Wikimaps/Wikimaps_Tartu%E2%80%93Hong_Kong#Tools

From this point, we need to know how to advance. We would like to invite you to discuss the options, and the properties for data concerning space, time and change over time.

- Wikidata is ready as a structure to handle the cross-references of the spatiotemporal data. Adding the geopolygon datatype is needed to complete the tools.

- We are hoping Wikimaps will be a necessary use and test case.

- We want to gather experiences from describing places over time, how to handle uncertain or imprecise information. Also, from a mappers point of view, how to interpret & express information that is stated on a map.

- We can create a "spatiotemporal data" task force in Wikidata

Are you interested in taking part in this discussion?

I am cross-posting this to the Wikimedia maps-l and the OpenStreetMap Historic lists. Let's find a way to discuss together!

Cheers,

Susanna Ånäs