Technical Methodology Overview
ECAI projects research methods of linking cultural information to time and place. The ECAI Iraq project is a prototype for a new kind of Cultural Atlas. It is a combination of a dynamic website and a time and space framework.
The website is based on a content management database. The database drives the website and map display so that resources updated in the database are immediately visible. The database also serves as an initial point of entry for the project team to evaluate new resources for relevance, theme, and capacity to be mapped.
An initial digital gazetteer - a database of historical and modern place names and their coordinates - has been developed. Resources with spatial information (such as historical sites) are referenced using the gazetteer. Online resources associated with specific sites can be integrated through the gazetteer
ECAI Iraq is multimedia, including text, images, videos, and interactive Java maps with dynamic timelines. The interactive maps address themes such as historical eras, sites, and background information. A current internet browser may be required to view all the dynamic content. Javascript must be enabled and Java plug-in 1.3 is required for viewing the dynamic maps.
TimeMap™ software was used for map authoring and TMJava is used for the embedded Java maps. The spatial resources for the project have been cataloged in the ECAI Metadata Clearinghouse. For more information on ECAI's IT architecture and infrastructure, see: ECAI Technology.
Text based navigation allows browsing by topic such as news, preservation efforts, and cultural artifacts..
TimeMap™ is a registered trademark of the University of Sydney.
