The Geographic Information System (GIS) has been used in museums for many years. This is one of the ways to document and make available historic gardens and interiors of historic buildings along with their artistic decor. The geographic database allows for the collection, storage and sharing of data on museum resources, including various documentation and archival materials, in an ordered, logical structure. The system enables the integration of all the knowledge necessary to manage and maintain the historic space in good condition – both geographic (two- and three-dimensional) and descriptive data. This allows you to perform analyses and visualisations, monitor and track changes over time.
Use of GIS at the National Museum in Szczecin
Also the National Museum in Szczecin uses the GIS to present its resources, but in a slightly different way. The activities undertaken as part of the "www.muzeach" project are used to present own resources and constitute the first such undertaking in this institution. The fulfilment of the task required the purchase of software and the construction of a geoinformatic system, as well as staff training.
Two categories of museum items were included in the project: archaeological collections and archival documentation of Pomeranian geographic and local names. Both groups are characterised by a strong link to geographic data and a large number of features with extensive descriptive and contextual information. This makes the use of a geographic database particularly appropriate, as it enables the integration of the collected messages, and also facilitates consistent sharing and further use. The geoinformation system based on the purchased ArcGIS platform was built to manage data and present information in both thematic groups of objects. The commencement of the task was preceded by the preparation of documentation for both resources. The planned scope of their presentation with the use of the GIS was coordinated with the broader assumptions and other effects of the project.
Course of work
In the field of archaeological collections, assembled since the 1820s, the presentation covered 400 finds. In order to obtain geographic data, archival, scientific and bibliographic documentation was queried. Descriptive data, prepared as part of the publication at inmuseums.pl, common to all partner institutions in the project "www.muzeach", were adapted for presentation in the GIS. The items are presented in the geoportal divided into several categories related to the chronology, the context of the discovery, as well as the raw material from which they are made.
From the archival documentation of the geographic and local nomenclature, which was digitised and made available almost entirely at inmuseums.pl (35 preserved volumes of files and 291 maps), 4 groups concerning former administrative units of the county rank (Kreis) were selected from the pre-war province of Pomerania for presentation with the use of the GIS: Belgard, Bütow, Naugard and Saatzig. The data for the presentation was obtained directly from the source documentation – descriptive on the basis of name lists, and geographic from topographic maps. Ultimately, over 14,500 items were included in the geodatabase. Each of them has information explaining the origin of the name added to it. A layer with an index of old map sheets and the boundaries of administrative units corresponding to individual lists was also included.
Project effects
The implementation and planned development of the Geographic Information System in terms of both groups of museum exhibits allow increasing access to public sector information, and the combination of data from the geoportal and the inmuseums.pl website contributes to the increase of the usefulness of the information. The institutional stakeholders in the task include entities operating in the field of culture and education, on the research and development level, as well as in tourism and regional promotion. The group of potential individual recipients includes regionalists, tourists, teachers, pupils, students and scientists.
The access to the source documentation of the old geographic nomenclature, the cognitive value of which is unique, is particularly important. Attempting to present it with the use of the GIS broadens the study and cognitive possibilities in many fields of science. It also enables the use of the old microtoponymy in activities related to geographic planning or in historical, cultural and tourist projects.
The project “www.muzeach” is co-financed from European Funds and from the funds of the Ministry of Culture and National of the Republic of Poland. The project is implemented under the Operational Programme Digital Poland for the years 2014-2020, Priority Axis 2 “E-government and open government,” Action 2.3 “Digital availability and usefulness of public sector information,” Sub-action 2.3.2 “Digital availability of culture resources.”
