Trade routes, shipwreck sites, travelers tales are all potential sources for information on 15th century Asian political, economic, and social dynamics. Data contributed by different scholars can be mapped and visualized in GIS. This integration of material can be especially useful in studies where sources are scarce, fragmented, or oblique. This demonstration of the ECAI Southeast Asia illustrates the principle of interoperable datasets created by a range of scholars for varied purposes that can be brought together and be retrieved and mapped simultaneously, offering the potential for comparison and context.

This presentation explores the usefulness of geographic information systems in creating a virtual community for humanities research. Using the customized, time-enabled GIS developed for humanities data by the Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative (ECAI), cultural data can be mapped, and digital resources such as photographs and text linked to the map interface. Mapping can suggest patterns and hypotheses for future research. Linked resources can be expanded as research continues. The infrastructure is one that invites change, comparison, and an ever-expanding digital community.