Geodata as Social Data for Historical Longitudinal Analyses?

The project “Geodata as Social Data for Historical Longitudinal Analyses?” explores the use of drones and deep mapping in contemporary historical research. It examines processes of socio-spatial change by looking at transformations of cultural landscapes in Berlin’s hinterland. Historical maps and plans from the Scientific Collections of the IRS and other regional archives provide points of reference by showing the state of the landscape in the past. The project uses drone overflights to record the current state of the spaces. Issues of land use, property rights and restrictions on access lie at the centre of interest. In turn, the project investigates social relations and their changes that manifest themselves in space. Its aim is to explore to what extent historical social changes can be understood via spatial data.

The project will also discuss the extent to which methods of ‘deep’ or ‘thick mapping’ can be used for historical longitudinal analysis instead of visualization of research results only will be discussed in a further step. Deep maps are not only based on the assumption that spaces are subject to diverse climatic, geological, social and economic changes, but also on the understanding that people and their experiences are central to the identity of a space. Hence, deep maps rely on participatory processes which involve local (historical) actors in the construction of knowledge by applying approaches of citizen science.

Funding for the project is provided by the Incubator Funds of the National Research Data Initiative “NFDI4Memory”. NFDI4Memory is the consortium for historical humanities within the German initiative to establish a national research data infrastructure. The initiative is funded by the German Research Foundation. The project also draws on the expertise of the working group “Social Data and Contemporary History” based at the Werner Reimers Foundation, which allows it to explore to what extent geodata can be used as a source for historical research.