GIS-facilitated spatial narratives: Danish plantations in Ghana

• Published in: Geografisk tidsskrift Vol. 108; no. 2; pp. 49 - 57
• Main Authors: Møller-Jensen, Lasse, Jeppesen, Henrik, Kofie, Richard Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: København Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2008; Kongelige danske geografiske selskab
• Subjects: Bgi / Prodig; General methodology; Geographic information systems; Ghana; GIS; Google Earth; GPS; portable devices; Spatial narratives; Ghana; Plantation; Geographical information system; Spatial narrative; Nineteenth Century; Global Positioning System
• ISSN: 0016-7223; 1903-2471
• DOI: 10.1080/00167223.2008.10649588

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 108(2):49-57, 2008 The paper examines the implementation and dissemination of spatial narratives within a geographical information system context with specific reference to portable GPS-enabled devices. The overall goal is to establish a framework for the creation of computer assisted 'guided tours' based on the thematically and narrative linking of a set of locations within an area. A spatial narrative that describes the-largely unsuccessful-history of Danish plantations on the Gold Coast (1788-1850) is implemented through the Google Earth client. This client is seen both as a type of media in itself for 'home-based' exploration of sites related to the narrative and as a tool that facilitates the design of spatial narratives before implementation within portable GIS devices. The Google Earth-based visualization of the spatial narrative is created by a Python script that outputs a web-accessible KML format file. The KML-file defines extended functionality for navigating within the narrative as well as additional data layers.