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Digital Scholarship / Digital Humanities

Mapping vs. Geospatial Analysis

GIS (geographic information system) analysis involves using dedicated software to perform complex analyses beyond what is immediately visible
Mapping is more commonly used to describe a simpler plotting of geographic points to be analyzed by the human eye
Either can attach information or photographs to geographic points, demonstrating how "what" is attached to "where"
Although these techniques may be advanced, students can instead analyze existing examples

Mapping

Not looking for the complexity of GIS analysis? Try these simpler mapping tools instead.

Google My Maps
Sign in with your Google account to map and visualize data with geographic attributes.
Map Warper
An image and map georeferencing or "georectification" service to warp or stretch maps to fit on real world map coordinates. Free to use and open source.
OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license. OpenStreetMap emphasizes local knowledge. Contributors use aerial imagery, GPS devices, and low-tech field maps to verify that OSM is accurate and up to date.

StoryMap JS

StoryMapJS, from Northwestern University, is a free tool to help you tell stories on the web that highlight the locations of a series of events: https://storymap.knightlab.com/

StoryMap JS Intro Video

Geospatial analysis

Geospatial data is data with geographic location as an attribute
Geospatial analysis involved creating a "lasagna" of datasets that share geographic attributes to be analyzed
All geographic features (where something is) are connected to what/when something is!
Think spatially! Recognize situations when geographic data could enhance understanding

Examples

American Panorama
American Panorama is an historical atlas of the United States for the twenty-first century. It combines cutting-edge research with innovative interactive mapping techniques, designed to appeal to anyone with an interest in American history or a love of maps. Created by the Digital Scholarship Lab at the University of Richmond.
American Religious Sounds map
The American Religious Sounds Project offers resources for studying and interpreting the diversity of American religious life by attending to its varied sonic cultures.
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The American Religious Sounds Project is supported by a generous grant to Ohio State University's Center for the Study of Religion from the Henry Luce Foundation. Other support has been provided by the Humanities Without Walls Consortium, Michigan State University, and The Ohio State University.
Bomb Sight
The Bomb Sight project maps the London WW2 bomb census between 7/10/1940 and 06/06/1941. Bomb Sight makes the maps available to citizen researchers, academics and students. They will be able to explore where the bombs fell and to discover memories and photographs from the period.
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A project supported by the UK National Archives and University of Portsmouth
Camera and Locomotive
Combining maps and pictures from the Library of Congress collections can deepen appreciation for the fascinating connections between the two technologies (railroads and photography) as both came into maturity during the race to construct a railroad to the Pacific in the years 1863–69.
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Built using ESRI Story Maps, from the makers of ArcGIS (which is used on campus by environmental science courses).
Navigating the Green Book
The Green Book was a travel guide published between 1936 and 1966 that listed hotels, restaurants, bars, gas stations, etc. where black travelers would be welcome. The NYPL mapped locations from these publications for your exploration.
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A public domain remix by Brian Foo of NYPL Labs, using the data released by the New York Public Library.
ORBIS: The Stanford Geospatial Network Model of the Roman World
For the first time, ORBIS allows us to express Roman communication costs in terms of both time and expense. By simulating movement along the principal routes of the Roman road network, the main navigable rivers, and hundreds of sea routes in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and coastal Atlantic, this interactive model reconstructs the duration and financial cost of travel in antiquity.

ArcGIS Online

Not free, but can create a free public account with limited functionality. Select "Create an ArcGIS Public Account" here: https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/create-account

Web-based platform, similar to software used by RVCC environmental science courses
Proprietary software used by professionals in the GIS field
Learn more here (full functionality not available with free account): https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-online/overview

Introduction to ArcGIS Online video

Although this introductory video was made using Canadian maps, it provides an important glimpse at the functionality of the platform.