Blog Post 6: Mapping and Visualizations/3-D modeling

Chapter 8 of the reading highlights the variety of ways a map can be used within a DH project and how important this consideration is to the use of one’s map. Maps can be used to interpret, narrate, analyze, or just illustrate something. One important feature of digital maps is the spatial data which relies on GIS (geographic Information Systems). This type of system is good at putting data into a map for analysis and presentation purposes. Dealing with different coordinate systems and ways to provide accurate information, this allows the map to be easy to use and understand. Sometimes maps need to be told in a storytelling way rather than spatially when what happens at the place is more important.

Chapter 9 detailed a lot about virtual modeling and the art of 3-D representation. There are many considerations when creating this type of DH project like sustainability and accuracy due to what it takes to make them. These are used for a variety of reasons like providing context to what something may have looked like in history or, like we saw in class, show digital versions of in person museums for a tour like simulation. Things like file format, documentation, interaction, and texture are extremely important to the data and presentation for 3-D modeling.  The most important key to creating a visualization is the high-resolution digital photography. This is highlighted in our DH analysis presentation, specifically with the museum virtual tours. I remember one of our classmates did an analysis on a tour of the Louvre, which included a 3-D simulation of the whole museum, as if you were there in person. The student highlighted the 3-D photography that the creators had to use and how it was implemented into the project, which was really interesting to learn about. 

For my curation project, my group is creating a timeline for the UNH library. While aspects of a map or 3-D modeling could be useful, I do not see this being a huge part of our project. Instead, I could see how the concept of spatiality could come into play.  It might be important to denote where an event happened since there are many historical and monumental aspects to the campus. Maybe there is history to what buildings are named based on an event that took place in that area. With that in mind, speciality in the campus might be an important aspect to consider. In the same respect, it would be amazing if we could elevate the timeline to have virtual tour aspects, though I do not know if that is feasible. If we are talking about a specific event, it might help illustrate what happened if we could show the actual place it happened in.