This research proposes the development of a user-friendly animated mapping system to elucidate and visualize the movements of people and goods in history. We focus on the possible migrations taken by nobles in early imperial China (Western Han period). Western Han nobles and their relatives frequently travelled between three distinct places which are far away from each other: their place of origin, the domain which they were assigned, and the capital area.
The overall goal is to have an animated web map, that allows the visualization of the three places and displays the noble's movements in between them. We will also be able to visualize how the locations of the noble domains changed over time and be able to recreate, more accurately than hitherto possible, the experiences of individual noble travellers. Given the user-friendliness of our system, not only would it help historians to analyze the geographical components of processes of political change throughout Western Han period, but also other historians will be able to use it for varied historical eras and geographical regions.
I am responsible for building an Agent-Based Model (ABM) and conduct Least Cost Path Analysis (LCPA) in this project. ABM is an Artificial Intelligence that can often represent mobility through rules to develop patterns of movement. This makes ABMs very suitable for identifying topographic pathways. In our project, ABM will allow the generation of potential topographic pathways between two points that may have existed in the past. For instance, the historical agent we studied, Shi Rao, recorded his travel information (dates and locations) in his diary, but he did not specify the exact routes or modes of transportation, such as horse, horse waggon, or boat. It is possible to reconstruct his journey from point A to point B by utilizing ABM and least-cost path analysis.
The ARIA allowed me to have an enriching and unique experience conducting research with my dream team this summer. It was my research project and a truly enlightening journey, which has helped me to create new personal goals for future endeavors. I am grateful to ARIA for providing academic and financial assistance, allowing me to continue actively learning and conducting research. In addition, ARIA granted me lots of freedom. As a remote, part-time project, it enabled me to explore the diverse, vibrant world in various locations while also pursuing my academic goals. The flexibility and diversity made my summer colorful and free. Besides, I am truly thankful for ARIA to give us abundant opportunities to present our research topics, both the Facebook post and the incoming workshop are precious opportunities for me to share my initial results with others on broaden platforms.
I intend to acquire the necessary research methodology to conduct independent research. Regarding research topics, I aim to have a solid understanding of Agent-Based Model, which is an essential theory in the application of Geographic information system (GIS) and is extensively applied. My initial plan is to learn key concepts and procedures for building the model in the first month so that I can construct other GIS-based Agent-Based Models within the following months. In addition, I plan to combine my geoinformatics knowledge with the programming skills I've acquired in class and apply them to the proposed research, thereby enhancing my understanding of geospatial analysis. As a big fan of ancient Chinese history, this is also a unique opportunity for me to learn more about the Western Han period.
This is my first research experience; it is a perfect test water for me to explore the dos and don鈥檛s in research. More importantly, I learnt how to perform tasks independently and troubleshooting independently, which is very different from a classroom setting. I was given a lot of freedom and flexibility, and this forces me to be proactive to achieve progress.
One of the greatest obstacles I faced was learning a new language, Net logo, that I had never used before, which also required me to acquire more computer skills. I went through lots of coding materials and relevant YouTube videos in order to quickly onboard. In addition, I tried to create a 鈥楽pace-time cube鈥� in ArcGIS with another student. This is a relatively new concept and few research are focused on this topic. Hence, it became the slowest part of my research. Sadly, we have not figured it out till now, but hopefully I could successfully figure it out in next month! This helped me to realize that research advancements are not always straightforward. In new topics with less research, I must not only master the key concepts, but also be able to use them creatively and flexibly.
ARIA helped me confirm my interest in research and my passion on Geoinformatics. Doing this project help me to decide for a key area in GIS that I want to pursue my graduate studies. This journey was extremely beneficial for me as I was exposed to various interesting topics and different approaches in GI Science. I had the opportunity to meet many inspiring individuals, including fellow undergraduates, graduate students, and professors.
