Conclusion

As with any research project, it is important to consider the different kinds of knowledges, tools, resources, datasets, dates, and design decisions that went into the HGIS. This should also involve consideration of time and the kinds of labour required. In most cases, HGIS storymaps like Reconfiguring the “Region”and the Don Valley River Historical Mapping Project, tie together years of research from extensive primary and secondary sources. They involve applying for funding and research ethics; gaining access to digital and physical archives; reading, writing, and synthesizing texts; critically analyzing and working with available data; spatializing data and other relevant materials, factoring in aesthetic and inclusive design; warehousing decisions for hosting large data sets and imagery; and working with diverse regulations around copyright, licensing, and privacy. In other words, there is always much more beyond what comes up on the screen.