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17th March 2007, 07:12 PM
Hello all -
I don't know if you're aware but Oxford Archaeology recently opened up a WMS (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_Map_Service) / WFS (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_Feature_Service) of their data.
I built a demo to display this info on a Google Map.
You can see the results here:
http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk/Goog...ges/oa.htm
Instructions here:
http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk/wordpress/
It's a proof of concept exercise, but I think it has value to engage people with archaeology.
I'd be interested in hearing what people think of using this method to open access to spatial archaeology data and to display it.
thanks,
Steve
http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk
Steve White
Steve White
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17th March 2007, 08:05 PM
slap me sideways and call me Molly... Was supposed to do this!!! sorry Steve. er... and due to certain difficulties on Britarch... could someone do the homours and copy and paste this to there please.
As Steve says this is the concept... and we both know that this is only the tip of a BIG iceberg!! Shall we say that you think this is good... Just wait till you see what Steve really can do.. I have been privilaged to work with Steve. And this is jsut the start... The whole concept of publically accessible records which truely are accessible is amazing... real open source!!
What you waiting for Wessex? Hurry up Headland..? Any takers AOC..? Yer chance is here YAT and Come on Cotswolds? Have you got info on sites.. thats bursting to break free? Archaeology for all... and this could be an amazing way to get it out.
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu
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17th March 2007, 08:51 PM
Sorry to jump the gun Hosty, was too excited!
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18th March 2007, 03:18 AM
and so you should be!! So should peeps in general!
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu
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18th March 2007, 04:47 PM
Could somebody clarify for me to what level the Oxford data reduces? As it stands it is a nice graphic, maybe suitable for an annual report, but is this where the exercise stops?
I am guessing that there is the potential to look at individual context records or features on any site, but Steves intro doesn't say whether that is the purpose of the exercise (or whether the Oxford GIS is far enough integrated to present the whole of the data).
Sorry as well for being really dim this afternoon, but 'proof of concept' exercise means.....?
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18th March 2007, 05:10 PM
Kevin -
This is far from the end of the exercise, but you'r right about the level of detail. When Oxford Archaeology add a FeatureID that links back to more details, that will also be added to the InfoWindow.
This layer will be the first of many different layers that can be toggled in the browser so it's easily possible to mix many different datasets from many different sources. That will be the real benefit of this exercise - merging data that is usually only available separately.
I intentionally left detail out of my post to encourage discussion. For example, clicking on a feature could, if the data was available, show polyline/polygon data of actual features, or the results on field surveys. The InfoWindow can be tabbed to display a one to many relationship between feature and more details. You could for example show 1995 excavation details on one Tab, 2005 excavation details on another Tab.
The proof of concept was that the freely available Google Maps API can be used as a neutral interface to display archaeological data from many different sources with minimal effort and cost. Should more data become open access in this manner, it would be possible to embed media (dig videos/commentaries/tutorials) inside an InfoWindow.
thanks,
Steve
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20th March 2007, 12:57 PM
So peeps..... what ya thinking?
Do you have public DATA?
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu
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20th March 2007, 03:12 PM
I am very interested in the potential of any systems that use GIS generated data, but think that to be of any great value to archaeological researchers this has to go the WFS rather than WMS route. And I wonder if 'commercial' archaeologists in the UK are prepared to go that route off their own backs and whether 'non-commercial' archaeologists have the means and motivation.
I understand that Google Earth is 'open access' material but surely there must still be restrictions on uploading copyrighted material onto any 'open access' system without the express permission of the copyright owner. I am guessing that OAU are licenced by Ordnance Survey to use OS maps and map data in a regulated fashion, but would this extend to making Google Earth 'maps' created from OAU data, created by using OS data, freely available on the internet?
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21st March 2007, 10:12 PM
The map and techniques used are aimed at both archaeological researchers and non-archaeologists. The point here is that it's easily possible to merge spatial data from different sources and display it on a web page at low cost.
The WMS method was chosen because it allows for a holistic view of 1000s of point data at high zoom. It could just as easily be WFS and process the raw GML data.
Oxford Archaeology made their own decision to provide open access to their data:
http://thehumanjourney.net/index.php?opt...Itemid=158 and since they invite people to use the services as they see fit, I see no problem with using it.
I was hoping for a more positive response to this but I can understand the questions on copyright. However, I think you're missing the point. If data is not under copyright restriction then showing it using this freely available technology is nothing to be feared, but should be embraced.
Steve White
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22nd March 2007, 11:13 AM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by SteveI was hoping for a more positive response to this but I can understand the questions on copyright. However, I think you're missing the point. If data is not under copyright restriction then showing it using this freely available technology is nothing to be feared, but should be embraced.
Apologies Steve, I had missed the OAU website announcement about their open access policy. I am guessing that they have taken a commercial decision that both the data collection and data display can be achieved without any significant increase in costs and I hope that their lead is taken up by other archaeological bodies.
Where I am presently employed 'we' are happy to purchase and use state of the art survey equipment to capture GIS data, but are having difficulty in embracing the full implications of the uses of GIS in archaeology. So at present it's very nice to be able to produce, quickly and efficiently, pretty maps, plans and report illustrations, but frustrating not to be able to fully exploit the archaeological potential of GIS.
I absolutely agree with you that this is technology that should be embraced. A web site such as yours displaying archaeological GIS data is a valuable aid to us who need to show the fruits of other peoples labours, to convince 'the boss' that our organisation can go down the same route.
So please, please, please keep supplying the ammo......
