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I wonder if anyone has experience about the digitizing of old maps to be
analyzed and compared by GIS? I have been playing with Grid Analyst, a
programme that enables the analysis of the rough scanned data in a matrix
format, i.e. it requires no reinterpretation into vector form (in
principle). The quality of the maps has varied from watercolour-painted
18-c. surveys to more modern printed maps and the initial results have
been encouraging, although many obstacles remain.
 
I would like to find out about any historical landscape analyses done
with computer:
 
- What kind of programmes have proved successful?
- How has the information been fed in?
- How has the 'noise' been cleaned out and what has been done to align
the systems of coordinates, to correct the scale differences and distortions?
- How have the historic types of land use given in the maps been reinterpreted?
- What kinds of comparative analyses have been made (to detect the
surviving historic elements of landscape, to establish a pattern of
change etc.)?
- Have 3-D visualisations been made directly from old maps (to examine
historic views)?
- How have the results been utilized in land use planning?
 
 
Maunu Hayrynen
Helsinki University of Technology
Finland
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