We are all familiar with interactive maps for navigation and most people have experience finding their way using technologies such as Google Maps.

Interactive mapping is also a vital tool in digital heritage. Maps can tell stories of natural and cultural heritage. They can be used to present a narrative of changing landscapes through history and time. They can be used to document names and locations in local culture or track where artifacts originated from and where they ended up. The migration of people and cultures can be tracked and viewed via interactive maps leading to a greater understanding through visualisation.

An example of mapping can be viewed at the Donegal Place Names Map. Communities are invited to add the place names to the map to create an archive of local culture. This includes the names of fields and town lands that are not part of services such as Google Maps or Ordnance survey data.

Creating an Interactive Map

There are various methods and technologies for creating interactive maps. One of the most widely used is ArcGIS.

Using ArcGIS you can create a map, add your own custom data and layers, interact with the map and share the map.

Advanced users or developers can utilise ArcGIS features with websites and applications. ArcGIS uses a standard geospatial format that makes the maps and data usable across many platforms.

ArcGIS  – Getting Started