This week I did not do much work with the map itself or
background research into Father De Smet and his travels. This week has
primarily been research into the digital aspect of this particular project.
This is when the work gets really hard, but becomes particularly rewarding!
The main obstacle I have been
wrestling with is how to be able to use a digital copy of Father De Smet’s map
that depicts the Rocky Mountain missions as well as U.S. Army forts in the area
as well as trading posts. In order for such a feat to be accomplished, I am
hoping to use the mapping platform MacGPS Pro. With this software, if I am able
to figure out the datum and projection of the map, which is normally labeled on
the edges of a map, I can have the program upload the digital copy of the De
Smet map as an ordinary digital map. Once that is complete all I need to do
next is pinpoint two to four exact points on the map with GPS coordinates. Two
will not be a problem for both St. Mary’s mission and the Coeur d’Alenes
mission due to local records. The last two points I can find on my trip to the
area in early May.
In the course of my research on the
technology aspect, which actually blends well with a class i am taking ( Digital History), a website came to my
attention that will be the model for me to work from. The website is called
“Digital Harlem” and has most of the elements I want to incorporate for my
project. This includes the making of different overlays to illustrate routes
taken as well as possible Native American boundaries of the area.
However, I want to take this model
and go a step further. I want to incorporate the ability to change the map type
to aerial views such as seen on Google Earth though it’s satellite view. At the
same time, during my trip I plan to take pictures of the exact locations of
missions in hopes of creating a Street view add on so that these areas as they
appear today can be seen as well. By putting all these elements together into
one project I believe that this will help create a better overall picture of
the life in the Rocky Mountains in the 1840’s, including not only distances that were traveled, but terrain as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment