Using open source tools, Azavea developed a system enabling users to query and visualize a large and diverse geospatial dataset, ranging from historical maps to faculty ethnographic research.

Client: Harvard University, Center for Geographic Analysis

Challenge: Harvard University is home to a substantial collection of information relating to Africa, ranging from period paper maps to data produced by faculty research. However, much of this data is dispersed across departments, meaning that researchers working in the same geographical area but in different fields of study might be unaware of each other’s work. Rather than simply creating a common repository for geospatial data about Africa, the Center for Geographic Analysis (CGA) embarked on an ambitious project to promote interdisciplinary collaboration by integrating these maps into a single, easy-to-use web application.

Solution: After developing the open source Harvard University Geospatial Infrastructure (HUG) platform that serves as the framework for AfricaMap, CGA approached Azavea to develop advanced search and display capabilities. Azavea used the GeoNames database as a starting point to compile a gazetteer of places names for cities, farms, streams, wells, schools, and more. Using open source mapping servers GeoServer and MapServer and the Web Map Service (WMS) standard, Azavea developed a straightforward web application that returns results from the gazetteer as well as from other searchable layers in a single map display. As an alternative to searching, users can choose to display particular subsets of place data—such as waterfalls or railroad stations—for the whole continent. AfricaMap also deepens users’ understanding of a given region by enabling the display of multiple layers of data. For instance, a digitized and geo-referenced 1889 map of Catholic missions could be overlaid with a map layer of language families produced in 2001.

Outcomes: AfricaMap is built using open standards and codebase that is easily adapted to other areas and shared with other organizations— particularly relevant for those based in Africa. In the initial public release of the site, users can search over 1 million places and features listed in the gazetteer and can visualize more than 50 map layers of historical, political, economic, environmental, and ethnographic data. AfricaMap facilitates data exploration and collaboration by allowing users to share any map view through a dynamically generated permalink.

Websites:
http://AfricaMap.harvard.edu