West Virginia GeoExplorer Keith Alexander and Christy TomsShepherd University

Main Goals of the Project

Put historic maps online

Create a digital reference library

Set up a searchable database of primary source materials

Create and make available online a series of digital map layers of historic resources

WVGP Website• Content Management System – Dotnetnuke

– Why a CMS?•Can quickly create a website•Allows volunteers/staff on project to collaborate on website

•Control whether pages are public or private

– How to choose a CMS:•Meets needs of the project•Learning Curve

Searchable Database

• Type of database:– Access converted to MySql

• Programming Language:– ASCX with C# (language of the CMS– Dotnetnuke)

• Start with the basics• Finding help with the programming side

– Programming students can be great but very few have the level of experience or time to work on the project

Browse Resources• Allows researchers to view resources used to

create WVGP database and GIS Maps–GIS Portal

•Links the WVGP GIS Server–Books

•Use coding from Google Books– Photo Browser

•Use Gallery module that comes with CMS–Map Gallery

•Use Adobe Zoomfly

• West Virginia GeoExplorer Website• www.wvgeohistory.org

Jefferson County map in Geoexplorer GISIncludes Historic resources and national register properties layers

Rattlesnake Run/ Taylor’s RunAn area of early settlement in jefferson county

Cold SpringA National Register listed historic house

Kindale Valley Mill

Barns

Land Grant LayersAnnual layers from 1730-1890

The first land grants, 1734-1735thomas shepherd’s purchase of the land that would become shepherdstown

Other tools for analysis on websiteMeasuring tool

Other tools for analysis on websiteBuffers

Time in a GIS

A GIS that can fully handle time should be able to address at least 3 different kinds of issues:

Changes to an object over time

Changes in an object’s spatial distribution over time

Changes in temporal relationships among multiple phenomena

Thanks to:

Bill Theriault

Tori Myers

Christie Ence

Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission

West Virginia Humanities Council