MAGIC 2.0: Maps and Geographic
Data meet Interactivity
http://magic.lib.uconn.edu
Digitizing the Past to Empower
21st Century Research

The University of Connecticut Libraries’ Map and
Geographic Information Center (MAGIC) collaborates
with university departments and state agencies to
provide the citizens of the state of Connecticut and
researchers across the globe with access to
Connecticut focused geographic information. With a
focus on providing access to maps, geographic data
and resources MAGIC is committed to “Digitizing the
Past to Empower 21st Century Research” through
providing online access to Connecticut geographic
data via the world wide web with tools and resources
which enable anyone to explore our resources.
MAGIC’s Mission

MAGIC: User Experience Issues
• Plug-ins needed to view imagery
• Multiple formats
• Advanced User Focused
• Hard to use
• Storage Space Limitations
• Metadata more prominent than Images of
Maps

MAGIC 2.0 Online Maps
1
Special Thanks to: Benjamin Spaulding
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009

Horizon Report 2009
2 • Geotagging
• GPS
• Geolocation
• Flickr
• Google
Maps/Earth
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009

MAGIC News & Updates
3 Blogger
• Easy to
update
• Free
• RSS
• Multiple
Authors
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009

Website
4
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009

Data Analysis – Fall 2008
Key Indicators:
Average Time on site
1 minute 58 seconds
Pageviews
42,167
Pages/Visit
1.79
Content
/ (homepage) 26,380
/help/help_sid 4,058

Website Redesign Focus
User Focused Needs MAGIC Focused Needs
• Improved Layout • Improved Layout
• What’s New • Code Clean-up
• Images of Maps • Usage Data collection
• Less Metadata more improvements
visuals • News & Updates
• Increased Interactivity • Increased Interactivity
• Aerial Photos easy to • Flexible
find/explore • Increase discovery
• Self-service Maps tools
• Web 2.0 friendly

Flickr + Historical Maps = WOW!
5 Why use Flickr?
• Price $24.95/yr
• Unlimited Storage
• Download ability
• Rights-
management
• Multiple Image
sizes
• Tagging
• Searchable
Special Thanks to: Jacqui Boothroyd
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009

Cooliris + Flickr
6
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009

Historical Maps Transformed

New Website – Feb 13, 2009
7
Enhancements:
• Cooliris 3D
Wall
• Research
Help
• News,
Events &
Updates
• MAGIC 2.0
Online Maps
• Mac + PC
friendly
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009

Mash-Ups
8
Mash-ups:
• Historical
Maps
• WMS feed
• Custom
overlays
• Searchable
• Add to your
website
Special Thanks to: Benjamin Spaulding
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009

Web Mapping Service (WMS)
9
WMS:
• ArcGIS friendly
• Mash-up friendly
• Add data without
downloading!
• No plug-ins!
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009

And Much more…
Study Abroad
10 Resources
Add Mash-up to
11 your website
12 Custom Search
13 Delicious
Special Thanks to: Diana Deng
10 11 12 13
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009

Data Analysis – Spring 2009
Key Indicators:
Average Time on site
3 minute 27 seconds
Pageviews
74,746
Pages/Visit
3.37
Content
/ (homepage) 23,558
/historical_maps 6,718
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009

Coming Attractions
• Additional “Embed • Data Page Redesign
This” options for mash- – User Friendly formats
up pages – KML
• Historical Maps Page – (Google Map Preview of
Redesign data?)
• Links Simplification • More Connecticut
Historic Maps via Flickr
• YouTube How-To
Videos • MAGIC Road Show
• GeoCommons • Faculty Learning
Community

Data Sharing & Collaborating
• MAGIC is interested in collaborating with
any agency, department or higher
education institution that has Connecticut
geospatial data which can be shared
publicly.
• Willing to collaborate on grants and other
opportunities which enhance public access
to spatial data and maps for Connecticut.

Questions?
Map and Geographic Information Center - MAGIC
Homer Babbidge Library, Level 4
369 Fairfield Way
Phone: 860-486-4589 (p)
E-mail: magic@uconn.edu
IM (AOL): uconnlibmagic
magic.lib.uconn.edu