Joshua S. Campbell University of Kansas March 5, 2008 KSU Archaeological Field Methods: Survey Archaeological Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

What is a GIS? Geographic Information System " automated systems for the capture , storage, retrieval, analysis , and display of spatial data ." (Clarke, 1995, p. 13) Collection of hardware, software, and people

Geographic Information System

" automated systems for the capture , storage, retrieval, analysis , and display of spatial data ." (Clarke, 1995, p. 13)

Collection of hardware, software, and people

Where did GIS come from? GIS is built upon knowledge from geography, cartography, computer science and mathematics Geographic Information Science is a new interdisciplinary field built out of the use and theory of GIS

GIS is built upon knowledge from geography, cartography, computer science and mathematics

Geographic Information Science is a new interdisciplinary field built out of the use and theory of GIS

Defining GIS Geography is the organizing principle! All GIS definitions recognize that spatial data are unique because they are linked to maps A GIS at least consists of a database, map information, and a computer-based link between them

Geography is the organizing principle!

All GIS definitions recognize that spatial data are unique because they are linked to maps

A GIS at least consists of a database, map information, and a computer-based link between them

GIS as an information system " An information system that is designed to work with data referenced by spatial or geographic coordinates . In other words, a GIS is both a database system with specific capabilities for spatially-referenced data, as well as a set of operations for working with the data " (Star and Estes, 1990, p. 2).

" An information system that is designed to work with data referenced by spatial or geographic coordinates . In other words, a GIS is both a database system with specific capabilities for spatially-referenced data, as well as a set of operations for working with the data " (Star and Estes, 1990, p. 2).

Spatial and non-spatial data

Map Overlay

What do archaeologists study? Archaeologists are interested in culture and human behavior th rough time and space Emphasis on material culture remains All artifacts are located somewhere All artifacts can be described using attributes

Archaeologists are interested in culture and human behavior th rough time and space

Emphasis on material culture remains

All artifacts are located somewhere

All artifacts can be described using attributes

How can GIS help? Integrate vector data (point plotted artifacts, features, excavation units, sites) with raster data (feature and level photographs, geophysical data, remote-sensing images, i nterpolated artifact density surfaces). Scalable – works at the site level, local level, regional, and global levels.

Integrate vector data (point plotted artifacts, features, excavation units, sites) with raster data (feature and level photographs, geophysical data, remote-sensing images, i nterpolated artifact density surfaces).

Scalable – works at the site level, local level, regional, and global levels.

Capture / Data Acquisition Begins the geospatial workflow Obtain data in a digital format Digital acquisition will facilitate analysis and visualization components

Begins the geospatial workflow

Obtain data in a digital format

Digital acquisition will facilitate analysis and visualization components

Survey and Excavation Cataloging and Mapping Integration of GPS derived info Digital record keeping Visualize spatial relationships among artifacts or other geophysical measurements Statistical Analysis (cluster analysis, …) Magnetic Susceptibility, Sediment Texture, Organic Content, …

Cataloging and Mapping

Integration of GPS derived info

Digital record keeping

Visualize spatial relationships among artifacts or other geophysical measurements

Statistical Analysis (cluster analysis, …)

Magnetic Susceptibility, Sediment Texture, Organic Content, …

Survey and Excavation Examples Kirwin Reservoir Survey Fort Hood Survey Scott Site

Examples

Kirwin Reservoir Survey

Fort Hood Survey

Scott Site

Archival Construction of a digital database containing spatial data of all site locations with associated attribute data Required for Regional-level analysis KSHS site database and DASC data viewer

Construction of a digital database containing spatial data of all site locations with associated attribute data

Required for Regional-level analysis

KSHS site database and DASC data viewer

Analysis Predictive Modeling Surface Generation Least-Cost Paths Viewshed Analysis

Predictive Modeling

Surface Generation

Least-Cost Paths

Viewshed Analysis

Specific Applications Fort Hood, Texas 2D and 3D archaeological model integration Penetrometer survey Kirwin Reservoir, Kansas Geoarchaeological survey and hydrological predictions

Fort Hood, Texas

2D and 3D archaeological model integration

Penetrometer survey

Kirwin Reservoir, Kansas

Geoarchaeological survey and hydrological predictions

Specific Applications Stranger Creek / Scott Site Magnetic susceptibility metrics Trail Rut mapping Penetrometer survey SW Kansas Predictive Model

Stranger Creek / Scott Site

Magnetic susceptibility metrics

Trail Rut mapping

Penetrometer survey

SW Kansas Predictive Model

Display / Visualization 70% of the human brain is associated with vision GIS data can produce graphical outputs which greatly enhance the understanding of complex datasets

70% of the human brain is associated with vision

GIS data can produce graphical outputs which greatly enhance the understanding of complex datasets

Display / Visualization Predictive Model Surfaces Morton County Hydrological Predictions Kirwin Reservoir Analytical Surfaces Scott Site, Trail Ruts, and Ft. Hood survey

Predictive Model Surfaces

Morton County

Hydrological Predictions

Kirwin Reservoir

Analytical Surfaces

Scott Site, Trail Ruts, and Ft. Hood survey

Future Directions Google Earth / Sketchup Rapidly becoming the primary vehicle for the display of spatial data Integration with Open Source software to provide analytical functionality Also does not contain the high price tag!

Google Earth / Sketchup

Rapidly becoming the primary vehicle for the display of spatial data

Integration with Open Source software to provide analytical functionality

Also does not contain the high price tag!

Resources Computing, GIS and Archaeology in the UK http://www.archaeogeek.com/blog/ GIS for Archaeology and CRM http://www.gisarch.com Digging Digitally http://www.alexandriaarchive.org/blog/ Spatial Technology and Archaeology Wheatley and Gillings, 2002 Kansas Geospatial Commons (DASC) www.kansasgis.org

Computing, GIS and Archaeology in the UK

http://www.archaeogeek.com/blog/

GIS for Archaeology and CRM

http://www.gisarch.com

Digging Digitally

http://www.alexandriaarchive.org/blog/

Spatial Technology and Archaeology

Wheatley and Gillings, 2002

Kansas Geospatial Commons (DASC)

www.kansasgis.org

Joshua S. Campbell – jsc1@ku.edu