MIX, MASH AND SHARE: EMPOWERING
21ST CENTURY RESEARCH WITH MAPS
Michael Howser & William (Bill) Miller
University of Connecticut Libraries
Map and Geographic Information Center – MAGIC
November 5, 2009
,

OUR MISSION
The University of Connecticut Libraries’ Map and Geographic Information
Center (MAGIC) collaborates with university departments and state
agencies, and organizations to provide the citizens of the state of
Connecticut and researchers across the globe with access to
Connecticut f
C ti t focused geographic information. With a f
d hi i f ti focus on providing
idi
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
data and maps.
magic.lib.uconn.edu
Digitizing the Past to Empower
21st Century Research

WHO IS BEHIND MAGIC
• Bill Miller – Map Library Manager
p y g
• Michael Howser – Undergraduate Education/GIS Librarian
• Jeff Dunn – Geography PhD Student
• Cary Lynch – Geography PhD Student
• Thomas Bachant - Biomedical Engineering UG
• Joel CCinteron – History UGG
• Steven Daniels – Undecided UG
• Tia Hogan - Actuarial Science UG
• Anna Kuziara – Geography UG
• Doug Sands – Geography & Philosophy UG

Shifting the Paradigm
Content (Teaching) Paradigm
• We have what they want!
Interactive Paradigm
• Mapping made simple
Learning Paradigm
• What our users want
Discovery Paradigm
• What a great Idea! Empowering Users

The Content Paradigm:
Th C t t P di
We have what they want!
Pre June
Pre-June 2008

CONTENT PARADIGM
• “We know what the
We • Official Terminology
user wants” • Structure is preferable
• If the user really wants
y to searchingg
this data they can • 37800 = Connecticut
install a plug-in or • Advanced user
software focused
• Users want to see • Library focused
b a y ocused
metadata b f
d before the
h
map or data • 200,000+ maps in
p
print

LET S
LET’S FIND A MAP OF THE UNITED STATES

USABILITY ISSUES
• Difficult to Navigate,
Access, View - (NAV)
• Click, Click, Click,
, , ,
Click…
• Great Content Hidden
by Jargon/Terms
• Multiple Formats

The Interactive Paradigm:
Th I t ti P di
Mapping Made Simple
June 2008

MAGIC 2 0 ONLINE MAP VIEWER
2.0
• Implemented the
CadCorp online map
viewer
• Multiple formats with
no-plugins
• Custom Map Creation
• Training, support and
hosting provided by
Progeos

TRANSITIONING
• MAGIC 2.0 maps
streamlined and user
friendly
• MAGIC Website was
still difficult to navigate
• General vs. Advanced
Users

INITIAL FEEDBACK
Questions Responses
• Can I search for my • Town level search
address? • Mash-ups with Google
• Do you have more address search
data available? • More data added
• How can I create a • Streamlined custom
custom map? map c eat o
ap creation
• Web Map Service
(
(WMS) for GIS Users
)

The Learning P di
Th L i Paradigm:
What Our Users Want
June 2008 Present
2008-Present

WHAT OUR USERS WANT: A LEARNING
PARADIGM
Users Wanted What we Focused on
• Minimal learning curve • Downloadable Maps &
• Data/Maps they need Data
when they need them • Search Options
• Downloadable Maps & • Functionality
Data • Usage data &
• Self-discovery
Se d sco e y feedback
eedbac
• Search Options • Georeferenced Maps
• Georeferenced Maps • General Users

CLEARING THE FOG
• Provided vision for
initiatives related to:
• Website redesign
• Digitization Efforts
• Mash-ups
• GeoCommons
• Mobile Applications
Development
• Faculty Learning
Community
• Outside the Neatline Blog

THE SHIFT FROM EXPERT TO GENERAL
• Uploaded historical
maps to flickr
• Redesigned website,
g ,
streamlined data
pages, added dynamic
viewers

WEBSITE: DATA PAGE TRANSFORMATION
• Converted existing
data to uniform
formats
• KML and Google
Maps Preview
Options
• Ability to add data to
“My Maps”
“M M ”

WEBSITE: SEARCH OPTIONS
• Search Engine
Optimization
• Examine Keywords to
y
determine where to
focus efforts
• Develop search tools
• Enable serendipitous
discovery of your
content

GEOREFERENCING MAPS

MASH-UPS

GEOCOMMONS
• Collaborative learning
space
• Integrate Maps and
g p
“Geo-everything” into
• Presentations
• Videos
• Websites
• Research
• Create Maps &
Mashups

MOBILE APPLICATIONS
• iPhone Applications
• Campus focused
• Maps for bus routes
p
• Undergraduate Student
created

FACULTY LEARNING COMMUNITY
• Hands on
Hands-on immersive
learning on Mash-ups
• Focus on curriculum
integration
• 15 members
• Faculty (Art, Geography,
Physics, Nursing,
Marine Sciences
Sciences,
Chemistry…)
• Instructional Designers
g
• Librarians

OUTSIDE THE NEATLINE BLOG
• Featured Maps
• Did you Know
• Potential Lesson
Plans
outsidetheneatline.blogspot.com

The Discovery Paradigm:
What a great Idea!
Empowering Users
May 2009-Present
2009 Present

STUDENT AS SCHOLAR MODEL: A MODEL
FOR SUCCESS FOR STUDENT EMPLOYEES
Creativity Self‐motivated
Discovery
Interdisciplinary Collaborative
Paradigm
Learning
Paradigm
Teaching
Paradigm

EMPOWERING SCHOLARS
Our own Paradigm Shift Model Your Own Success
• Focus on • Foster creativity
Undergraduates and
g • Look forward
general users • Be aware of research
• Provide multiple
p • No is an unacceptable
options for various response
users
• Collaborate
• Instructions and tips
• Continue to learn
for integrating maps

EMPOWERING NEW SCHOLARSHIP
• Q: Where was the
Charter Oak located and
what is there today?
• A: 1640, 1850 & 1893
Georeferenced Map of
Hartford, CT + Google
Maps Mashup = Answer
http://outsidetheneatline.blogspot.com/

DATA: DEPTH AND TIME

DATA: VISITORS & PAGE VIEWS

CRITICAL PATH: WHAT CAN I DO AT MY
INSTITUTION?
• Scan maps • Explore hosted
• Obtain Data options
• Collaborate • Focus small first then
• Georeference expand
• Explore what others • Empower students to
p
are doing - David help create this
Rumsey’s Historical
u sey s sto ca content
Map Collection

QUESTIONS?
• Visit us at: magic lib uconn edu
magic.lib.uconn.edu

SOURCES
• Hodge, D., Pasquesi, K., Hirsh, M., & LePore, P. (2007, April) From
Convocation to Capstone: Developing the Student as Scholar. Paper
presented at the meeting of Association of American Colleges and
Universities, The Student as Scholar: Undergraduate Research and
Creative Practice, L
C ti P ti Long B
Beach, CA
h CA.
• New Media Consortium, & EDUCAUSE (Association). (2009). 2009
Horizon report, the web version. Austin, Texas: New Media
Consortium. htt //
C ti http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2009/.
/h i 2009/