Greetings Dinah,

My wife is a GIS Administrator for town government and previously worked in
a university GIS lab doing a number of environmental research projects.  A
couple of times she has created maps that were useful to/for me; an EPA
project regarding the historic development of New Bedford harbor, a
graveyard mapping project using GPS and GIS.  I would love to incorporate
GIS into a history research project but haven't got the time to learn the
software.

In my opinion, ARC/INFO, the leading GIS software -- created by ESRI, is
just too expensive to be used in most museum settings.  The exception would
be universities where a GIS lab is already set up; or archeology research
sites, where an analysis tool of this power will be valued as an aid to
research. ($10,000 - $15,000 for the software and license, plus the
learning curve creates expensive staffing needs.  ArcView, a less
sophisticated software also made by ESRI, at about $1000, is obviously more
cost effective and easier to learn and use.  But even that is expensive by
museum standards!)

Exhibit shops are not likely to have this ability on the shelf to just pull
down and make a map for an exhibit.  Right now, I'd love to be able to
query a geograpical database and have a map created for an exhibit that
would show how much of the US population lives within 50 miles of coast or
navigable river -- a perfect example of what GIS does -- analyze data and
create a graphic image displaying the information.  I'm not sure I can
afford the amount of good wine I'd have to purchase to convince my wife
that this would be a good use of her time at home.

Edward Baker



Dinah J. Crawford wrote:
>
> I am trying to find examples of museums using GIS (Geographic
> Information Systems). It is easier to find examples of applying GIS to
> collections research, but what about Development Departments, Exhibits,
> PR/Marketing, etc...? Is there anyone out there actually using this
> software? I am in the beginning stages of writing a thesis for a Museum
> Studies program and would appreciate any leads on this topic!
>
> Thank you,
> Dinah Crawford
> [log in to unmask]





Edward Baker
Assistant Director of Interpretation

MYSTIC SEAPORT
The Museum of America and the Sea
75 Greenmanville Avenue
Mystic, CT  06355  USA

860.572.0711 ext. 5080
[log in to unmask]
http://www.mysticseaport.org
http://www.alhfam.org

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