Old PSI comes alive!
Source: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), UK
Portsmouth University unveils new web site of maps and statistical data from 1801 to 2001
Portsmouth: 7 July 2009
A BBC news video reports that a website designed by Portsmouth University has gone live. The service allows people to type in their postcode and find out information about where they live dating back 250 years has gone live.
The web site titled: A vision of Britain between 1801 and 2001. Including maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions.
The University of Portsmouth web sites states:
“Great Britain Historical Geographical Information System (GBHGIS)
The Great Britain Historical Geographical Information System is a unique digital collection of information about Britain's localities as they have changed over time. Information comes from census reports, historical gazetteers, travellers' tales and historic maps, assembled into a whole that is much more than the sum of its parts. This site tells you more about the project itself and about historical GIS.
A separate site, funded by the UK National Lottery, has been created to make this resource available on-line to everyone, presenting our information graphically and cartographically. This site is called A Vision of Britain Through Time and presents the history of Great Britain through places.”
“Mission
The mission of the Great Britain Historical GIS Project is to provide a systematic spatial framework for historical information about Britain. "Historical" means that we are focused on documentary evidence, not on archaelogical finds, so we work with extensive "places" and administrative units, not precise points on the ground - but dates are usually precise. We work only with sources which cover the whole or large parts of Britain, but these include statistics, boundary information, historical maps and even travel writing.
Although our mission is self-defined, the project has collaborative relationships with the Office of National Statistics, the National Archives, the British Library, English Heritage, the Environment Agency and many academic partners. Total funding since 1994 is approximately £2.1m.”
The UK National Archives news announcement Census maps from 1871 now online is another example of bringing old archive data ALIVE!
An interesting comparison of the two services is how the data is presented and whether the display contain messages that are encouraging use and are appropriate:
If you display a map say for Southampton, Hampshire
Then the Cassini service states under the map displayed:
“Registration District maps are © Crown Copyright Images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, England. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
The National Archives give no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided.
Images may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to The National Archives Image Library, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU. Infringement of the above condition may result in legal action.”
The Great Britain Historical Geographical Information System (GBHGIS) only displays information that encourages the viewer to explore further. In the footer of the page displayed are the words: ©2009 University of Portsmouth and others, which if selected displays the copyright information.
A real contrast!