‘Buried Beneath the Waves’: Using GIS to Examine the Physical and Social Impact of a Historical Flood

Authors

Mathew Novak, The University of Western Ontario
Jason Gilliland, The University of Western Ontario

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2009

Volume

1

Issue

2

Journal

Digital Studies

URL with Digital Object Identifier

http://doi.org/10.16995/dscn.114

Abstract

Natural disasters such as floods can periodically disturb and destroy the built and social fabric of communities. Despite their importance, specific ramifications of natural disasters can be overlooked in local histories due to a paucity of data. In this article we bring together several disparate sources of data within a historical geographic information system (HGIS) to study certain physical and social details of the flood which devastated the Town of London West, Canada on 11 July 1883. The integration of historical and contemporary data sources allow for the construction of a three-dimensional model of where the flood likely occurred. With the location of the flood determined, it is possible to discern which residents were impacted and the legacy of the disaster on the community. This study demonstrates how digital technologies such as GIS can help provide a richer understanding of urban and environmental history.

Notes

Also available open access in Digital Studies at: http://doi.org/10.16995/dscn.114

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Citation of this paper:

Novak, M., & Gilliland, J. (2009). ‘Buried Beneath the Waves’: Using GIS to Examine the Physical and Social Impact of a Historical Flood. Digital Studies/le Champ Numérique, 1(2). DOI: http://doi.org/10.16995/dscn.114