Digital Elevation Models, old maps and cultural heritage: Geospatial assets for the digital humanities

Britta Ricker ^1,2*

• ¹ Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
• ² Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands, Netherlands

A spatial approach to the digital humanities can connect tangible geographic sources from the past with clues found in the present-day landscape. Landscapes inspire regional and national identity and maps of elevation can foster understanding of landscapes. Digital Elevation Models (DEM) visualized with effective cartographic design principles can reveal spatial patterns that humans and nature have left in the landscape, and that may otherwise go unnoticed. Different types of DEMs are useful to compare with old maps, thereby highlighting environmental relationships with cultural heritage. Cartography, the art and science of mapmaking, is riddled with decision when creating a narrative to communicate cultural heritage. In this example from the Netherlands, I illustrate how this explorative process can reveal minute spatial patterns that demonstrate years of incredible control over the rivers in the landscape and can act as artifacts that illuminate examples of cultural heritage. The process of modifying DEM can lead to valuable digital literacy skills and cartographic communication and can spark critical thinking about cultural heritage. This type of precision mapping could be an asset to the digital humanities.