Spatial Humanities: An Integrated Approach to Spatiotemporal Research

Abstract

Spatial humanities are a sub-discipline of digital humanities based on geographic information systems (GIS) and timelines providing an effective integrating and contextualizing function for geo-cultural attributes. As information systems from multiple sources and in multiple formats they create visual indexes for diverse cultural data. Spatiotemporal interfaces provide new methods of integrating primary source materials into web-based interactive and 3D visualizations. We are able to chart the extent of specific traits of cultural information via maps using GIS gazetteer style spreadsheets for collecting and curating datasets.\r\n\r\nThe system is based on GIS point locations, routes, and regions linked to enriched attribute information. These are charted and visualized in maps and can be analyzed with network analysis, creating an innovative digital infrastructure for scholarly collaboration and creation of customizable visualizations. This method gives the researchers an expanse of data in layers of time across space providing new tools to advance humanistic inquiry. This in turn becomes a Web-based bulletin board for local community and scholarly knowledge exchange.