Getting wiki to be able to handle geographic areas/features would begin to make mapping Wikipedia content more useful and increase the potential for integrating it with other geographic information - such as old historic maps and materials held by map libraries, government data, and gps data . The historic maps would be available in a more accessible form for the public, and allow us to perhaps use certain historic maps from one map library, others from other archives/libraries, and combined with other geographic information and wikicontent. People could find material more easily to use for articles.
We could possibly develop a "map generator" that adds value, extract, and synthesizes information from the historic maps and other data. People could make maps and use them with articles, and/or add "atlas" type pages somewhere (on commons, on wikipedia, somewhere) to augment articles, and the wiki format would allow people to add descriptive information and collaborate. That, in turn, would allow us to develop "atlas" type material about particular places.
Maybe as a pilot project effort, we could (1) pick one or two places (2) see what historic maps and other material would be useful for that place, and find basic base map data (3) develop a way for mediawiki to handle area/polygon geospatial data (gml files?) (4) make a set of historic maps for those particular places more available as an article supplement (5) make some thematic maps for the place, using information derived from the historic maps and other sources.
Another thing the libraries likely have is historic census data, which can often be mapped out in thematic maps. So, not just their map holdings but other records and material they have could be useful. I think that Penn State would be willing to work with us - I know folks there and they have done innovative things with GIS.
The benefit to the library/archive would be that their materials are available to the public in a more accessible way. Wikipedia tends to "summarize" things, and as always there would be links to the references and sources used for people that want more details beyond our summaries.
-Aude
On 1/13/07, Brianna Laugher brianna.laugher@gmail.com wrote:
Aude, I will look a bit at your GIS links, but remember that they specifically won't fund projects that are only digitising existing collections. Quote: "We encourage projects that explore new ways to share, examine, and interpret humanities collections in a digital environment and to develop new uses and audiences for existing digital resources." Hm... actually some kind of GIS project might work well, especially if it making them more accessible. OK, two things to think about: What will the benefit to a potential partner be? Anything besides a credit acknowledgement? Secondly how would such a project exploit the benefits of using a wiki? Or would it not at all?
cheers, Brianna
On 13/01/07, Aude audevivere@gmail.com wrote:
One of the greatest shortcomings I see with Wikipedia and Wikimedia
projects
is with our use of maps and geospatial data. I have seen ideas here and there on this mailing list and other places, but it's a big issue to
work
through.
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