New Tech for Mapping Cemeteries

[lupaglupa]

Attached is a fascinating article about using new technologies to map cemeteries. I think this is really neat!

Mapping cemeteries for class – how students used phones and drones to help a city count its headstones

Cemeteries are a treasure trove of local history and family connection. Technology and ingenuity have made mapping them easier.

theconversation.com

 

[debwallsmith]

Attached is a fascinating article about using new technologies to map cemeteries. I think this is really neat!

Mapping cemeteries for class – how students used phones and drones to help a city count its headstones

Cemeteries are a treasure trove of local history and family connection. Technology and ingenuity have made mapping them easier.

theconversation.com

Great use of technology. However, I can't see it completely replacing the old technology. GPS and/or Lidar is still going to be needed to detect and record unmarked graves.

 

[lupaglupa]

If this makes it easier for people to get the data collected, I'm all for it. But I agree, it won't replace the other technologies needed to do a complete job.

 

[John Winn]

That is interesting indeed. However, I do wonder how accurate the images are on which they placed said dots. GPS has limits and if the images are not spatially corrected they could just have equally limited spatial data. Now, a map could be made but it wouldn't necessarily be spatially accurate to the precision necessary to find a single stone out in the field. So, if someone wanted to use said map to locate a particular stone one might find one's self wandering about as the GPS coordinates might not be precise (they're generally only good to within 10 to 30 feet). Just sayin'

 

[Library Lady]

You can go in here and play with it. You can enlarge the drone photo so you can clearly see headstone placement. When you click on one of the yellow dots, you will eventually get the table entry for the grave. Be patient. It is a little slow.

Attachment Viewer

oxfordohio.maps.arcgis.com

 

[Library Lady]

They probably used one of these for data collection.

https://www.esri.com/~/media/files/pdfs/library/brochures/pdfs/arcgis-for-mobile.pdf

 

[debwallsmith]

That is interesting indeed. However, I do wonder how accurate the images are on which they placed said dots. GPS has limits and if the images are not spatially corrected they could just have equally limited spatial data. Now, a map could be made but it wouldn't necessarily be spatially accurate to the precision necessary to find a single stone out in the field. So, if someone wanted to use said map to locate a particular stone one might find one's self wandering about as the GPS coordinates might not be precise (they're generally only good to within 10 to 30 feet). Just sayin'

Archaeological mapping uses GPS software know as RTK/GNSS and is accurate to 1 - 3 centimeters.

 

[debwallsmith]

They probably used one of these for data collection.

https://www.esri.com/~/media/files/pdfs/library/brochures/pdfs/arcgis-for-mobile.pdf

Handheld units like those shown in the link aren't, on their own, usually accurate enough for this type of mapping. They are great for large scale or regional mapping.

 

[John Winn]

Archaeological mapping uses GPS software know as RTK/GNSS and is accurate to 1 - 3 centimeters.

Perhaps but would those using the described methodology have such equipment ? I don't think so. The article says they used a combination of cell phones and drones and notes. Coordinates from said sources (at least the drones civilians can buy) are often off, sometimes by quite a ways. As I said, one could make a map; just not a very precise map (i.e. not really to scale).

A map is better than no map for sure and might be accurate enough to get one to the vicinity of a given stone, just not to the stone precisely. If it were a large cemetery with a lot of stones in close rows you'd likely have to wander around a while to find what you are looking for.

 

[debwallsmith]

Perhaps but would those using the described methodology have such equipment ? I don't think so. The article says they used a combination of cell phones and drones and notes. Coordinates from said sources (at least the drones civilians can buy) are often off, sometimes by quite a ways. As I said, one could make a map; just not a very precise map (i.e. not really to scale).

A map is better than no map for sure and might be accurate enough to get one to the vicinity of a given stone, just not to the stone precisely. If it were a large cemetery with a lot of stones in close rows you'd likely have to wander around a while to find what you are looking for.

You are suggesting that they're doing sloppy work and producing unusable results. The article linked above was written for the general public leaving out all of the boring technical details that only geospatial specialists, archaeologists and those in similar fields would be interested in. The map you are concerned about already exists and was created using high-resolution photography. In the mapping program, a dot is assigned to each headstone. The data the students record off the headstones is linked to the dot in the database. The result is a map that is available online and searchable in a variety of different ways and you don't need GPS coordinates to find a specific grave. The mapping they are doing is accurate to within about 3 cm but what do I know? I'm only an archaeologist.

 

[John Winn]

You are suggesting that they're doing sloppy work and producing unusable results. The article linked above was written for the general public leaving out all of the boring technical details that only geospatial specialists, archaeologists and those in similar fields would be interested in. The map you are concerned about already exists and was created using high-resolution photography. In the mapping program, a dot is assigned to each headstone. The data the students record off the headstones is linked to the dot in the database. The result is a map that is available online and searchable in a variety of different ways and you don't need GPS coordinates to find a specific grave. The mapping they are doing is accurate to within about 3 cm but what do I know? I'm only an archaeologist.

View attachment 574701

I did not suggest that what was reported was sloppy our unusable; just likely not precise. I simply noted that if they used drones and cell phones (as reported in the article) then it would likely not produce a map to scale. Also, while the imagery might have been very clear it, too, could have spatial error. What you are reporting was not mentioned in the article (as you note). If, in fact, the students had access to better technology than just cell phones and civilian drones I'm happy to hear that.

For the record I was a GIS specialist with the federal government for fifteen years. And I also did cemetery preservation in three historic cemeteries for fifteen years.

Sorry to have made you angry.

 

[Allyn]

I can agree that taking photos of gravestones rather than recording data by hand would save time, provided you are dealing with relatively new gravestones, in relatively good condition. I have tramped through many, many cemeteries, most of which were far off the beaten path and rarely in good condition. Yes, GPS coordinates would be helpful in locating the stones, more or less, but most stones required a lot more skill and finesse and time to capture the information inscribed.

 

[debwallsmith]

I did not suggest that what was reported was sloppy our unusable; just likely not precise. I simply noted that if they used drones and cell phones (as reported in the article) then it would likely not produce a map to scale. Also, while the imagery might have been very clear it, too, could have spatial error. What you are reporting was not mentioned in the article (as you note). If, in fact, the students had access to better technology than just cell phones and civilian drones I'm happy to hear that.

For the record I was a GIS specialist with the federal government for fifteen years. And I also did cemetery preservation in three historic cemeteries for fifteen years.

Sorry to have made you angry.

Technology has improved considerably in the 30 years since my team was one of the first to use total stations for mapping sites in Sinai. At that time, GPS data was still restricted to the military. When it became available for public use, we had to buy a license for post-processing software so we had 50 cm accuracy. Since then, universities have developed entire programs to push the limits of this new technology. The Geospatial Center at Miami U is on the forefront of new applications and well respected in the geospatial community.

 

[debwallsmith]

I can agree that taking photos of gravestones rather than recording data by hand would save time, provided you are dealing with relatively new gravestones, in relatively good condition. I have tramped through many, many cemeteries, most of which were far off the beaten path and rarely in good condition. Yes, GPS coordinates would be helpful in locating the stones, more or less, but most stones required a lot more skill and finesse and time to capture the information inscribed.

High resolution photographs are taken and, when possible, the photos are enhanced to try to "tease out" the inscriptions.

 

[John Winn]

Technology has improved considerably in the 30 years since my team was one of the first to use total stations for mapping sites in Sinai. At that time, GPS data was still restricted to the military. When it became available for public use, we had to buy a license for post-processing software so we had 50 cm accuracy. Since then, universities have developed entire programs to push the limits of this new technology. The Geospatial Center at Miami U is on the forefront of new applications and well respected in the geospatial community.

I'm sure it has improved considerably since my time, too. I worked for the Department of the Interior when it developed MOSS (Map Overlay Statistical System), which was the first interactive, vector-based, public-domain GIS. We partnered with ESRI on several projects when it was just developing ArcInfo (one involving use of pixelated satellite imagery which we got free from USGS). By the time I retired ESRI products had become common in many applications and ran on desktop computers (vs the UNIX mini-mainframes that MOSS and early Arc used).

Because I had college courses in surveying and had worked for a civil engineering company I worked with our Cadastral Surveyors so am quite familiar with land surveys and basic mapping.

I haven't kept up on spatial science much (retired in 2007) and didn't know about the Miami U program. But because of my later volunteer work in old cemeteries - some of which involved surveys and mapping - I do know the limits of cell phones and most civilian drones (and the inherent errors common to certain types of imagery).

Oh, and for several years I was cross-trained as an archeology tech (my degrees are in forestry) and have had several good archeologist friends (one of whom had a PhD and spoke fluent Swahili). I often thought that archeology might have been a good choice for me rather than forestry but I thought such was purely an academic exercise and one had to have a PhD and work for a university which I didn't want to do (I having been closely exposed to academia because my father was VP of a university).

More than likely a lot more than you really care about but you shared a bit of your background and it looked like we might share a few things.

Be well.

 

[debwallsmith]

I'm sure it has improved considerably since my time, too. I worked for the Department of the Interior when it developed MOSS (Map Overlay Statistical System), which was the first interactive, vector-based, public-domain GIS. We partnered with ESRI on several projects when it was just developing ArcInfo (one involving use of pixelated satellite imagery which we got free from USGS). By the time I retired ESRI products had become common in many applications and ran on desktop computers (vs the UNIX mini-mainframes that MOSS and early Arc used).

Because I had college courses in surveying and had worked for a civil engineering company I worked with our Cadastral Surveyors so am quite familiar with land surveys and basic mapping.

I haven't kept up on spatial science much (retired in 2007) and didn't know about the Miami U program. But because of my later volunteer work in old cemeteries - some of which involved surveys and mapping - I do know the limits of cell phones and most civilian drones (and the inherent errors common to certain types of imagery).

Oh, and for several years I was cross-trained as an archeology tech (my degrees are in forestry) and have had several good archeologist friends (one of whom had a PhD and spoke fluent Swahili). I often thought that archeology might have been a good choice for me rather than forestry but I thought such was purely an academic exercise and one had to have a PhD and work for a university which I didn't want to do (I having been closely exposed to academia because my father was VP of a university).

More than likely a lot more than you really care about but you shared a bit of your background and it looked like we might share a few things.

Be well.

Those aren't ordinary cell phone apps they've been using. The technology is now beyond me. I kept up with it until I retired from a Geography and Anthropology Department, my part-time gig. Full time I ended my career as a compliance archaeologist assigned to the state department of transportation and reviewed FHWA projects. Several major highway improvement projects crossed my desk. Projects like that have lots of funding for the latest technology so not only did I see reports on cemetery location/mapping but GPR studies of suspected unmarked cemeteries that included the use of cadaver dogs. It was at that point that I realized I was an old archaeologist given that my first mapping projects were carried out using an alidade and plane table and I use MS Access for my Camp Lawton/Millen database.

BTW - I am a PhD archaeologist who used to speak fluent Swahili. Too many years between me and Tanzanian fieldwork.

 

[John Winn]

Those aren't ordinary cell phone apps they've been using. The technology is now beyond me. I kept up with it until I retired from a Geography and Anthropology Department, my part-time gig. Full time I ended my career as a compliance archaeologist assigned to the state department of transportation and reviewed FHWA projects. Several major highway improvement projects crossed my desk. Projects like that have lots of funding for the latest technology so not only did I see reports on cemetery location/mapping but GPR studies of suspected unmarked cemeteries that included the use of cadaver dogs. It was at that point that I realized I was an old archaeologist given that my first mapping projects were carried out using an alidade and plane table and I use MS Access for my Camp Lawton/Millen database.

BTW - I am a PhD archaeologist who used to speak fluent Swahili. Too many years between me and Tanzanian fieldwork.

I think we could have a few interesting conversations over a glass or two of wine (or whatever you prefer). My archeology experience was in NE Nevada and eastern Oregon. And in Nevada I got to work with the dendrochronology lab out of Tucson and that had some archeological ties (as you know, dendrochronology having first been an archeological dating method).

As to GPR and cadaver dogs, I actually know someone who owned a cadaver dog and went to disaster locations. I tried to see if we could get a GPR contract at one of 'my' cemeteries as there is a large area where indigents were buried and I thought it would be great to try and locate the actual burials. Didn't work out as we couldn't get a grant. I'm retired from preservation/restoration work now, too.

Ah, youth. I'm glad I had the opportunities I had largely just because I was in the right place at the right time and was a curious sort.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

This topic interests me because I'm trying to map out my two local cemeteries. Both have their marked burials recorded and photographed on Findagrave, but it's very difficult to find any specific grave from the information available online because only the section is listed.

The smaller cemetery has been recorded with the aid of some volunteers. The larger has named sections, but only the pioneer section has neat, labeled blocks. There are four modern sections are just big blocks of roughly 25 rows of 25 plots each. The masoleums are surrounded by memorial benches and family estates. The newest section of the cemetery is a frustrating hodgepodge of rows of regular burials interspersed with rows of family estates.

I need to be able to find individual burials so I can expand my cemetery tour offerings beyond just the pioneer section, and also the long-term goal is to have every burial included in the historical society's Ancestry.com databases.

 

[debwallsmith]

This topic interests me because I'm trying to map out my two local cemeteries. Both have their marked burials recorded and photographed on Findagrave, but it's very difficult to find any specific grave from the information available online because only the section is listed.

The smaller cemetery has been recorded with the aid of some volunteers. The larger has named sections, but only the pioneer section has neat, labeled blocks. There are four modern sections are just big blocks of roughly 25 rows of 25 plots each. The masoleums are surrounded by memorial benches and family estates. The newest section of the cemetery is a frustrating hodgepodge of rows of regular burials interspersed with rows of family estates.

I need to be able to find individual burials so I can expand my cemetery tour offerings beyond just the pioneer section, and also the long-term goal is to have every burial included in the historical society's Ancestry.com databases.

If you want a low tech solution maybe you can get a good (meaning high resolution) aerial of the cemetery. Use it as your base map. Number the graves in a manner that makes sense to you (you can color code the numbers if necessary to designate specific time periods or families or . . . ). You could set up a spreadsheet that lists the graves by number, name on marker, findagrave designation, plus columns for other information you find important that cross-references your map.

 

[Library Lady]

@Josh The Lighthouse Guy , when you find the cemetery, try zooming in to see how high the resolution is. I'm assuming here that the cemetery is in Jupiter based on your location.

ArcGIS Web Application

toj.maps.arcgis.com

Are you close to any college/university that offers a GIS degree? The department chair might be interested in using your project as a research project for students. It couldn't hurt to ask.