HGIS or a Historical Geographic Information System, may be used to display, store and analyze geographical information. This data can then be represented on an interactive map. For the last 2 weeks in HIST 396 we have been studying exactly what HGIS is. In simple terms (my own understanding), GIS systems are a way for historians to link together spatial and attribute data. Spatial data consists of vectors, which can then be broken down into, points, lines and polygons. Attribute data consists of spreadsheets and databases. HGIS, a subfield of GIS can be used to digitize historical geographic information. Systems such as HGIS help to solidify the relevance of digital history in the modern day world. In much simpler terms HGIS allows us to represent time.
In class for the last few weeks we have viewed multiple HGIS projects. Recently we had Prof. Cheryl Troupe come in to present her work on the urbanization of the Métis population around Qu’Appelle River. Using GIS systems, Cheryl Troupe was able to map out the progression of the urbanization of Métis families around the Qu’Appelle River. After 2 weeks of learning what exactly GIS was, it was our turn to head to the computer labs to create our own maps.
Once we had headed down to the computer labs we opened up the software, ArcGIS. ArcGIS is a geographic information system that allows you to create maps and geographic information. Geoff Cunfer, has posted numerous lessons on Geospatial Historian to teach newcomers on how GIS software works. As someone who can easily pick up on instructions and follow them precisely, completing the lessons was quite easy for me. I found that I could get through his lessons within 20-30 minutes. His lessons were precise and clear. For anyone who wishes to pick up and learn GIS, I highly suggest downloading ArcGIS and following the lessons 1-5 by Geoff Cunfer. I found that as the lessons progressed, so did my confidence with ArcGIS. I was beginning to perform tasks on lesson 2 without needing to see the in-depth guide on where to select a tool. By lessons 3 and 4, I was able to skim through his lessons. However, by trying to complete the lessons as fast as I could, I believe I missed plenty of valuable information. I was skimming through his work, performing repetitive tasks. I knew exactly what tools to click but I wasn’t so sure what I was exactly creating. So I went back to his lessons to re-read them and to see if there was more I could learn. There are blocks and blocks of texts of Geoff Cunfer actually breaking down important definitions. I believe that these definitions of spatial data and attribute data are just as important as being able to fluently use GIS software. It’s one thing to perform a repetitive task over and over again but it is more important to understand what you’re creating.
Instead of just explaining what steps I followed and the geographic maps that I had created, I believe that it is just as important for me to reiterate what I have learned from my use of ArcGIS then to just paste multiple screenshots with me writing exactly what I did from Geoff Cunfer’s lessons. So what have I learned?
A GIS project usually begins with the process of collecting and loading data into a software program such as ArcGIS. Geoff Cunfer had already provided us with the necessary GIS data in order to create a map on the spatial distribution of populations in the Great Plains. Spatial data represents geographic features such as lines, points and polygons. A great example of spatial data is to look at google maps to view all the separate lines, points and polygons that create the map. A Feature Class is typically a individual layer in ArcGIS which consists of a collection of similar features. Each feature class can then be manipulated independently from the map and be represented by color or shapes on the map. Attribute data, which goes hand in hand with spatial data, consists of digitized data. All of this data can then be connected. Connection is the process in which attribute data and map data can be connected. By not only understanding how the software works but how the map is also created, historians are then able to answer historical questions.
In conclusion, ArcGIS is a great tool which allows users to create historical geographic maps. We see many of these maps featured on historical websites. HGIS gives us a never before seen visual representation of the past. Unfortunately we can’t travel in time to physically see historical events and cities but with HGIS projects we are able to obtain an accurate representation of what the past would have looked like. When it comes to challenges with creating HGIS projects one of the main issues that historians face is funding. Learning the actual software can be relatively easy. I couldn’t find any flaws in the software which prohibited the use of it. I never experienced any glitches/crashes while performing tasks. The only concern I ever faced was some of the lessons being a little vague. I believe that all historians should practice the new methodology of digital history. HGIS is just as important as regular old history. Textbooks can only provide us with certain information, however HGIS and digital history are breaking these barriers and providing us with new insights to the past.
Here are a few of the maps I had created using ArcGIS.
The lessons used to create these maps can be found at: https://geospatialhistorian.wordpress.com/
– Kharum