GIS e-Science: developing GIS e-Science: developing a roadmapa roadmap

Paul S. EllPaul S. EllCentre for Data Digitisation & Centre for Data Digitisation &

AnalysisAnalysisQueen’s BelfastQueen’s Belfast

Definition of e-ScienceDefinition of e-Science““What is meant by e-Science? In the future, e-Science will What is meant by e-Science? In the future, e-Science will

refer to the large scale science that will increasingly be refer to the large scale science that will increasingly be carried out through distributed global collaborations enabled carried out through distributed global collaborations enabled

by the Internet. Typically, a feature of such collaborative by the Internet. Typically, a feature of such collaborative scientific enterprises is that they will require access to very scientific enterprises is that they will require access to very large data collections, very large scale computing resources large data collections, very large scale computing resources

and high performance visualisation back to the individual and high performance visualisation back to the individual user scientists.user scientists.

The Grid is an architecture proposed to bring all these issues The Grid is an architecture proposed to bring all these issues together and make a reality of such a vision for e-Science. together and make a reality of such a vision for e-Science.

Ian Foster and Carl Kesselman, inventors of the Globus Ian Foster and Carl Kesselman, inventors of the Globus approach to the Grid define the Grid as an enabler for Virtual approach to the Grid define the Grid as an enabler for Virtual

Organisations: ‘An infrastructure that enables flexible, Organisations: ‘An infrastructure that enables flexible, secure, coordinated resource sharing among dynamic secure, coordinated resource sharing among dynamic

collections of individuals, institutions and resources.' It is collections of individuals, institutions and resources.' It is important to recognize that resource in this context includes important to recognize that resource in this context includes

computational systems and data storage and specialized computational systems and data storage and specialized experimental facilities.”experimental facilities.”

RCUK e-Science HomepageRCUK e-Science Homepage

But how does this relate to the But how does this relate to the humanities?humanities?

AHRC e-Science website probably has the best definition: AHRC e-Science website probably has the best definition: “Digital resources in the A&H have grown at an astonishing “Digital resources in the A&H have grown at an astonishing rate in the last ten or twenty years. Out of over £100m spent rate in the last ten or twenty years. Out of over £100m spent by the AHRC since 1999 on research project awards, half has by the AHRC since 1999 on research project awards, half has been given to projects with some kind of digital output. The been given to projects with some kind of digital output. The problem is that researchers do not yet have the technology to problem is that researchers do not yet have the technology to make the fullest use of these resources, because they are make the fullest use of these resources, because they are generally not connected together. e-Science provides a set of generally not connected together. e-Science provides a set of solutions for this problem, and for the related development of solutions for this problem, and for the related development of facilities for research collaboration using the Internet. e-facilities for research collaboration using the Internet. e-Science thus stands for a specific set of advanced technologies Science thus stands for a specific set of advanced technologies for Internet resource-sharing and collaboration: so-called grid for Internet resource-sharing and collaboration: so-called grid technologies, and technologies integrated with them, for technologies, and technologies integrated with them, for instance for authentication, data-mining and visualization. This instance for authentication, data-mining and visualization. This has allowed more powerful and innovative research designs in has allowed more powerful and innovative research designs in many areas of scientific research, and is capable of many areas of scientific research, and is capable of transforming the A&H as well.”transforming the A&H as well.”

Grid technologiesGrid technologies

The AHRC have got it right with the ‘data-focussed’ The AHRC have got it right with the ‘data-focussed’ emphasis on e-Science. “Grid technologies fall into three emphasis on e-Science. “Grid technologies fall into three main strands, with different degrees of significance for the main strands, with different degrees of significance for the A&H:”A&H:”

The three aspects of e-Science are likely to have varying The three aspects of e-Science are likely to have varying impacts in the humanities and artsimpacts in the humanities and arts

Access Gird: Is this really distance learning with a better Access Gird: Is this really distance learning with a better internet connection? Are humanities scholars going to internet connection? Are humanities scholars going to change the fundamental way they do research?change the fundamental way they do research?

Computation Grid: Do humanities and arts scholars need Computation Grid: Do humanities and arts scholars need high-powered computing power?high-powered computing power?

Data Grid: The key technology that will fundamentally Data Grid: The key technology that will fundamentally change scholarship in the humanities and arts. Also the key change scholarship in the humanities and arts. Also the key challengeschallenges

Unique challenges in the Unique challenges in the humanities and arts: The Data Gridhumanities and arts: The Data Grid

In the humanities the data grid is less In the humanities the data grid is less concerned with moving large amounts of concerned with moving large amounts of data around…data around…

Heterogeneous, fragmented, partial, Heterogeneous, fragmented, partial, disparate e-resourcesdisparate e-resources

Information overloadInformation overload Resource discovery problemsResource discovery problems Interface and data harvesting problemsInterface and data harvesting problems Integratory difficultiesIntegratory difficulties Data in ever more complex multimedia Data in ever more complex multimedia

formatsformats

The ‘GIS’ e-Science ‘solutionThe ‘GIS’ e-Science ‘solution

All(?) humanities and arts e-resources All(?) humanities and arts e-resources have spatial, chronological and subject have spatial, chronological and subject components which can assist with components which can assist with information managementinformation management

GIS technology provides a geo-temporal GIS technology provides a geo-temporal framework in which to manage, visualise framework in which to manage, visualise and interrogate these resources.and interrogate these resources.

GIS technology can deal with multimedia GIS technology can deal with multimedia material as the methodology abandons its material as the methodology abandons its quantitative polygon-based origins. quantitative polygon-based origins.

The proof: early exemplarsThe proof: early exemplars The Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative The Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative

UC Berkeley-based project with almost UC Berkeley-based project with almost 1,000 humanities and arts academic 1,000 humanities and arts academic affiliates from around the world holding affiliates from around the world holding spatially referenced e-resourcesspatially referenced e-resources

Metadata that allows registered Metadata that allows registered distributed datasets to be retrieved on the distributed datasets to be retrieved on the fly at object levelfly at object level

Software – TimeMap – which allows Software – TimeMap – which allows retrieved data to be selected and retrieved data to be selected and visualised and exportedvisualised and exported

The proof: early exemplarsThe proof: early exemplars The Vision of Britain through time The Vision of Britain through time

Based on a ‘traditional’ HGIS of Based on a ‘traditional’ HGIS of quantitative data and polygonsquantitative data and polygons

Supplemented with additional e-Supplemented with additional e-resources – historical gazetteers resources – historical gazetteers describing places in time, travellers describing places in time, travellers tales, historical mapstales, historical maps

Materials organised by place, time Materials organised by place, time and subjectand subject

Other examplesOther examples

History of the book

Source: MacDonald B and Black F (2000) “Using GIS for spatial and temporal analyses in print culture studies” Social Science History, 24, pp. 505-536

GIS e-Science developmentsGIS e-Science developments Examples ‘fixed’ to a degreeExamples ‘fixed’ to a degree Need for e-infrastructure – place name Need for e-infrastructure – place name

gazetteers (JISC EPNS Project); gazetteers (JISC EPNS Project); chronological gazetteers (‘Going Places in chronological gazetteers (‘Going Places in the Catalog: Time Periods’ from US the Catalog: Time Periods’ from US National Leadership Grant for Libraries); National Leadership Grant for Libraries); subject indexes (ECAI ‘Support for the subject indexes (ECAI ‘Support for the Learner: What, Where, When, and Who’ – Learner: What, Where, When, and Who’ – second NLGL grant) second NLGL grant)

Need for a geo-temporal data browserNeed for a geo-temporal data browser Enhanced metadata or context sensitive Enhanced metadata or context sensitive

intelligent searchingintelligent searching

Aims of GIS e-Science workshopAims of GIS e-Science workshop

To establish current activity in GIS e-To establish current activity in GIS e-ScienceScience

To examine barriers to developmentTo examine barriers to development To review the potentialTo review the potential To develop a roadmap and To develop a roadmap and

implementation programmeimplementation programme

ConclusionsConclusions The Data Grid will be the key area of e-The Data Grid will be the key area of e-

Science activity in the humanities and artsScience activity in the humanities and arts Data Grid based e-Science in the Data Grid based e-Science in the

humanities and arts is far more humanities and arts is far more challenging than in the scienceschallenging than in the sciences

Key infrastructure is required together Key infrastructure is required together with enhanced search capabilitieswith enhanced search capabilities

Opportunity for fundamental change in Opportunity for fundamental change in humanities and arts researchhumanities and arts research

Chance to fully exploit the vast array of e-Chance to fully exploit the vast array of e-resources already availableresources already available

Integrating e-resources by place and chronology: GIS e-Science: statistics, maps, photographs, text,manuscripts, existing e-resources, websites, museum objects . . .