back to basics - cultural landscape analysis from an informational & perceptual perspective

Back to basics

Cultural landscape analysis from an

informational & perceptional perspective

J. Sophie Visser ICHGLandZij August 2009PhD-research University Utrecht Kyoto

Background

1978 M.Sc. Chemistry (including Informatics)

+ 20 years Information Systems (IS), Modeling & Management

2006 M.A. (Historical) Geography, Utrecht University (Dr. Hans Renes)

2007 Start PhD Research, based on Master Research

Presentation Outline

-Problems and insights from Master research-historic landscape analysis at a local level -use of existing information systems-e.g.: example

- Concepts: knowledge, values, information

- Perception and consequences

- Conclusions

Master Research - 2004-2006

Rotterdam

The HagueUtrecht

“Green Heart of Holland”- (now) National Landscape- Peat area- Some natural rivers- Reclamation 1000-1300 AD- Digging for fuel >1600 AD

‘Characteristic landscape’-landscape structure-many canals-man-made lakes

Study area-Reeuwijk + surroundings-’natural boundaries’

Amsterdam

Reeuwijk from the air:

Reeuwijk in higher government systems: usable information?

National level (KICH)*:Aim:-(inter)national values, presented as knowledge

Content in Reeuwijk area:- 0 element (2004) to 3 (in 2005) to 1 (in 2009): only canals -data per element: 1 function (Defense line) 1 period

*excl. Archaeology & monuments

Reeuwijk in higher government systems: usable information?

National level (KICH)*:Aim:-(inter)national values, presented as knowledge

Content in Reeuwijk area:- 0 element (2004) to 3 (in 2005) to 1 (in 2009): only canals -data per element: 1 function (Defense Line) 1 period

Provincial level (South Holland)*:Aim:- characteristic landscape elements- Values

Content in Reeuwijk area:-selection of landscape structure, canals, etc-data in map legend: ‘type’ and “before 1950”

- *excl. Archaeology & monuments

-Value-driven => (too) selective-Values not transparant-hardly any data-implicit knowledge/information

-Mainly ‘statements’ -confusion knowledge <=> values-hardly usable at

- a local level- other purposes

(although pretentions)

Reeuwijk in higher government system: usable information?

Ob-ject

ObjectVer-sion

Event Event year

Year New event/ end

Type Function(s)

Water mgt.

Ship-ping

De-fense

05 0 Watermgt. ~1250 ~1367 Canal X

05 1 Watermgt. ~1367 1672 Canal X x

05 2 Part of De-fense Line

>1672 1815 Canal X x x

05 3 End De-fense Line

1815 ….. Canal X x

05 4 …………….

Situation => solution:“Different values upon (more or less) shared landscape history knowledge”

=> start from knowledge!

Example: Dubbele Wiericke- complex history- events => changes => ‘object versions’ - e.g. in a record structure:

…… and keep values seperate!

Ob-ject

ObjectVer-sion

Event Event year

Year New event/ end

Type Function(s)

Water mgt.

Trans-port

De-fense

05 0 Mgt. water ~1250 ~1367 Canal X

05 1 Mgt. water ~1367 1672 Canal X X

05 2 Part of OHWL

>1672 1815 Canal X X X

05 3 End OHWL 1815 ….. Canal X X

Values

Natio-nal

Provin-cial

Local

~ x

~ x

X X x

~ x

depends

Selections: whatever purpose

e.g. Spatial quality plan

e.g. Heritage plan

Concept In information system

knowledge ‘the base’

Values derived fromknowledge,by criteria

Information view(s) on knowledge, values, …

Knowledge, values, information (1)

knowledge

values

criteria

Enhanced transparency:making values, knowledge and criteria (more) explicit

Concepts Definitions In information system

knowledge = body of meaningful concepts ‘the base’ and associations

Values = combined qualities (suitability, derived fromneed, knowledge), giving some knowledgethings significance over others by criteria

Information = communicated knowledge view(s) on (and values, ……………) knowledge,

values, …

(Data = elementary ‘facts’)

knowledge

values

criteria

Knowledge, values, information (2)

Perception => influence in many ways

(1) Perception mechanism

(2) Perception of information needs

(3) Perception of content => (landscape) concepts and associations (4) Perception of who (and what) to include

(1) Perception mechanism

Perception

CH Landscape Values

Criteria, purpose,Norms, standards, valuesNeeds, interests

Existing Knowledge

Information processingIn brain

Criteria applied on knowledgefor values

Criteria, etc

New CH landscapeKnowledge

Integration

documents

landscapelandscape

(1) Perception mechanism and what’s leading: knowledge, or ……

Perception

CH Landscape Values

Criteria, purpose,Norms, standards, valuesNeeds, interests

Existing Knowledge

Information processingIn brain

Criteria applied on knowledgefor values

Criteria, etc

New CH landscapeKnowledge

Integration

documents

landscapelandscape

CH Landscape Values

Criteria, purpose,Norms, standards, valuesNeeds, interests

Existing Knowledge

Information processingIn brain

Criteria, etc

New knowledge

SelectionIn knowledge

Perception

(1) what’s leading in the perception: …. or values?

To what did you set your mind ……?

Landscape study

Landscape study project

Perception Knowledge

Values

Criteria, valuesNorms, standardsNeeds, interests

(2) Perception of information needs of others ….

Landscape design

Information,

communication

Landscape study

Landscape study project

Perception Knowledge

Values

Criteria, valuesNorms, standardsNeeds, interests

(2) … meaning communication of information & needs …..

Perception Knowledge

Values

Landscape design

Landscape design project

Information needs

Criteria, valuesNorms, standardsNeeds, interests

Direct communication: talking, …

Landscape study

Landscape study Project

Perception Knowledge

Values

Criteria, valuesNorms, standardsNeeds, interests

(2) … but time-delayed and multiple in information systems!

Knowledge,

Values

Perception Knowledge

Values

Criteria,Normsneeds

Landscape design project

Landscape plan

Information needs

Information system

Perception

of uses, usersand their needs

Perception

of own needs

‘specifying in advance’ => - which needs, purposes, uses? - which ´content´?

landscape

Historical geographer Landscape designer Local historian

objects

structures

waterWater structure

composition

settlement shapeLakes

Buildings

Urban area

Peat digging

(3) Perception of ´content`: which concepts and relations included?

Granddad

-Which concepts: ´conceptual information model´ -Whose concepts: inclusion/exclusion?

=> ‘content’ not neutral or just technical!

Spatialproject

Landscape policy plan

Planning/designbureau

Government

NGO’s, Groups,People

GIS Specialists

Web designers

LocalHistorians

Nature club

Historical Geographers

University

HeritageInstitution

(4) Perception of who to include ……

LocalFarmers

Decision makers: money, time

Project teams

Spatialproject

Landscape policy plan

Conclusions

- Usable information is about much more than GIS, computers, websites, ….- Decisions by people- Perceptions of people- Concepts and associations - Knowledge, values => sharing, communicating, ….

- Multi-usable systems: going beyond one’s own perceptions - Awareness of other perceptions and needs- Willingness to include other knowledge and values

- Integration/attuning of multiple needs, views, knowledge, values - Sound ‘conceptual information modelling ‘- Knowledge versus values

Meant as programmer’s joke, but ……

…. information systems are made by people!

Thank you!

j.s.visser@planet.nl