A conceptual framework for geovisualization of literary historical data: application to biblical and patristic data in the context of Biblindex Project
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Leyssens, T.; 2Davoine, P-A.; 3Mellerin, L.
1GRENOBLE-ALPES UNIVERSITY, LIG Email: thomas.leysens@imag.fr
2GRENOBLE-ALPES UNIVERSITY, LIG Email: paule-annick.davoine@imag.fr
3HISOMA LABORATORY Email: laurence.mellerin@mom.fr
Abstract
Biblindex is an on-line index of the biblical and patristic quotes referenced in the Jewish and Christian literature from the Antiquity to the Middle Ages. Biblindex takes the form of a database and a website (http://www.biblindex.mom.fr/), allowing the consultation of more than 40 0000 biblical references via queries on dates, authors, quotes or works. This data is situated in space and time with varying degrees of precision. Within the framework of the ANR Biblindex Project, we are currently developing cartographic and geovisualization methods for the exploration and the analysis of biblical and patristic data. The objective is to bring a new dimension in the analysis of literary historical data and more especially to promote the spatio-temporal approach in order to identify the spatial diffusion and the evolution processes of the biblical and patristic literature. For many years, there is a development of geovisualization interfaces combining spatial and temporal dimensions. These interfaces are based on the synchronized multiple windows principle and the use of multimedia, animated and interactive maps. But few of them propose a multiscale spatio-temporal approach or take into account the uncertainty feature of the data. Literary historical data visualization demands to take into consideration the multiple levels of temporal granularity and multiple scales of space . Data are uncertain, imprecise and potentially inconsistent. For example, situation of works, of authors, of quotes as well, in the spatio-temporal dimension is often approximate, ambiguous, ,vague and incomplete . The spatio-temporal visualization of these data requires to take into account all these characterizes and to develop specific methods. We propose to present the conceptual methods we have developed for the realization spatio-temporal webmapping interface to visualize literary historical data. Our approach is based on different cartographic and geovisualization approaches according to data to visualize: - The first one concerns the design of the interface based on the principle of multi-dimensional geovisualization interface composed by different frames. Each frame represents one dimension of the information. This approach is of interest in order to query database according time, space or thematic criteria. - The second one is related to the integration of the time dimension in order to represent spatio-temporal processes. We define semiological proposals to represent time and space dimensions in the 2D or 3D frameworks. We also refer to the Time-Geography theories and methods (especially the space-time prism), in order to visualize the spatio-temporal dimensions of the authors’ trajectories of life. The representation of the time dimension can be facilitated with the use of dynamism and 3rd dimension (altitude as temporal scale). The use of 3rd dimension has proven his efficiency to represent the “itinerary” of individual through space and time. - The third one is about the representation of the uncertainty. Different semiological approaches like blurriness, crispness, transparency or fuzziness, but also color and value are tested. We also propose to present the technology choices to implement ours proposals. They are based on the Python framework Django and some specific JavaScript libraries (Cesium, DC, D3, Crossfilter, …).
Keywords
Geovisualisation; literary historical data; space-time, uncertain data