Introduction
o Provide background to the problem at hand. What are the problems and challenges facing Hadleyville cemetery?
The Hadleyville Cemetery is located in Eau Claire County off of County Road HH (Figure 1). This cemetery contains 120 lots with burials dated back to 1865 and is a total of 1.5 acres. The major challenge faced for the county is the lack of original records and maps of the cemetery. Other issues include the chemical weathering that has occurred to multiple gravestones, the removal of gravestones, and destruction to a large portion of multiple stones. Lack of identifying markings of grave sites is a major issue in the cemetery and creates a risk of disturbing a grave during a future burial. The overall goal of this project is to use various geospatial techniques to accurately map out the cemetery, particularly the occupied grave sites and create a detailed spreadsheet of important information regarding each grave.
o Why is the loss of original maps and records a particular challenge for this project?
The lack of original records and maps of the Hadleyville Cemetery is the most prominent challenge for this project because their is no background information that can be used as a reference throughout the project. This also creates an issue because with time, many stones experience weathering, destruction, or human disturbances. Where there used to be a headstone, there may not be anything left of it and it may seem like an empty plot. With little knowledge regarding the cemetery, it is very important that this map be as accurate as possible in order to preserve the community history, identify graves, and confirm the absence of a grave site for future purchase.
o How will GIS provide a solution to this problem?
One of the many solutions for this problem would be the use of geographic information system (GIS). This technology allows you to map locations. Headstones and possible grave sites can be located with a GPS and put into a map to visualize the cemetery. Using GIS, users are also able to add specific attributes or further information about a specific feature and not just the location.
o What makes this a GIS project, and not a simple map?
The reason this will not just be a simple map is because there is a lot of other information that should be known regarding the graves. This information can be stored in GIS and tied to a specific location and feature (grave sites) and used by management of the cemetery. This information will help in record keeping and buying and selling of plots within the Hadleyville Cemetery
o What equipment are you going to use to gather the data needed to construct the GIS?
Information needed would be a highly accurate GPS system. The accuracy is important because the scale of the area is not very large and therefore accurate locations are critical to ensure that issues do not arise (such as the buying and selling of occupied graves). GPS combined
with the study of aerial imagery of the area will allow the gravestones and obvious graves to be accurately mapped. As mentioned, a major issue is the absence or destruction of headstones. A possible solution and method to be used to detect a grave is the use of ground penetrating radar (GPR). GPR is a noninvasive geophysical method that uses electromagnetic waves to detect subsurface features. Professor Harry Jol, at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire, is an expert in GPR. This method has been used to uncover ancient churches, synagogues, detect pipelines, and much more. With this technology it would be simple to map out subsurface feature and determine which would be a grave or not.
o What are the overall objectives of your proposal?
Objectives of this project include learning to use GPS and coordinate systems to accurately plot grave sites, use aerial imagery to determine headstones, and possible use GPR to create a map with a set of attributes attached to each location with important information regarding each grave.
the methods of this project allow for the completion of an accurate map containing pertinent information regarding the cemetery. through the use of GIS, GPS, aerial imagery, and GPR, locations of gravesites can be mapped. This work can help future management of the cemetery and provide historic record of the area.
The Hadleyville Cemetery is located in Eau Claire County off of County Road HH (Figure 1). This cemetery contains 120 lots with burials dated back to 1865 and is a total of 1.5 acres. The major challenge faced for the county is the lack of original records and maps of the cemetery. Other issues include the chemical weathering that has occurred to multiple gravestones, the removal of gravestones, and destruction to a large portion of multiple stones. Lack of identifying markings of grave sites is a major issue in the cemetery and creates a risk of disturbing a grave during a future burial. The overall goal of this project is to use various geospatial techniques to accurately map out the cemetery, particularly the occupied grave sites and create a detailed spreadsheet of important information regarding each grave.
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| Figure 1: Hadleyville Cemetery; located South of the City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin |
o Why is the loss of original maps and records a particular challenge for this project?
The lack of original records and maps of the Hadleyville Cemetery is the most prominent challenge for this project because their is no background information that can be used as a reference throughout the project. This also creates an issue because with time, many stones experience weathering, destruction, or human disturbances. Where there used to be a headstone, there may not be anything left of it and it may seem like an empty plot. With little knowledge regarding the cemetery, it is very important that this map be as accurate as possible in order to preserve the community history, identify graves, and confirm the absence of a grave site for future purchase.
o How will GIS provide a solution to this problem?
One of the many solutions for this problem would be the use of geographic information system (GIS). This technology allows you to map locations. Headstones and possible grave sites can be located with a GPS and put into a map to visualize the cemetery. Using GIS, users are also able to add specific attributes or further information about a specific feature and not just the location.
o What makes this a GIS project, and not a simple map?
The reason this will not just be a simple map is because there is a lot of other information that should be known regarding the graves. This information can be stored in GIS and tied to a specific location and feature (grave sites) and used by management of the cemetery. This information will help in record keeping and buying and selling of plots within the Hadleyville Cemetery
o What equipment are you going to use to gather the data needed to construct the GIS?
Information needed would be a highly accurate GPS system. The accuracy is important because the scale of the area is not very large and therefore accurate locations are critical to ensure that issues do not arise (such as the buying and selling of occupied graves). GPS combined
with the study of aerial imagery of the area will allow the gravestones and obvious graves to be accurately mapped. As mentioned, a major issue is the absence or destruction of headstones. A possible solution and method to be used to detect a grave is the use of ground penetrating radar (GPR). GPR is a noninvasive geophysical method that uses electromagnetic waves to detect subsurface features. Professor Harry Jol, at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire, is an expert in GPR. This method has been used to uncover ancient churches, synagogues, detect pipelines, and much more. With this technology it would be simple to map out subsurface feature and determine which would be a grave or not.
o What are the overall objectives of your proposal?
Objectives of this project include learning to use GPS and coordinate systems to accurately plot grave sites, use aerial imagery to determine headstones, and possible use GPR to create a map with a set of attributes attached to each location with important information regarding each grave.
Methods
o What is the sampling technique you chose to use? Why?
The sampling technique used for this project will be pragmatic because data collection will be done through practical reasoning. Where there is gravestone, a point will be collected. The idea of how most cemeteries are set up can help determine probable locations of gravesites.
o What is the accuracy of the equipment you are intending to use? (Be sure to cover each piece of equipment)
The accuracy of the GPS unit, as mentioned, is very important because with such a small area in question the bigger the consequences of an error in location.
It will be important to get multiple imagery of the area from as far back as possible 9at least 1865). This is important because it will be up to date and many stones will be destroyed at this point in time.
If using GPR, it would be important to use a high resolution GPR antennae (a 450 MHz) which does not penetrate as deep but has a much clearer image of what lies beneath. Because graves are no more than 6 feet below the surface, it would be manageable to image.
o How was the data entered/recorded? Why did you choose this data entry method?
This portion is yet to be completed.
o How will you transfer the data you gather into a GIS
Data will be transfered from the GPS unit to ArcMap through a USB port. The additional information will have to be added as an attribute under various fields. This, together, will create an accurate map of the area.
o What drawbacks are there to the method you propose? How to the pros outweigh the cons of this method?
Drawbacks include the lack of information that will be available from the headstones. The weathering or destruction will greatly alter the ability to be read. Another drawback is the possibility of an inaccurate GPS system could greatly influence the outcome of the map and lead to issues in the future for management. However, with the technology provided by the university, the ability for the project to be completed accurately is very likely and outweigh the drawbacks.The sampling technique used for this project will be pragmatic because data collection will be done through practical reasoning. Where there is gravestone, a point will be collected. The idea of how most cemeteries are set up can help determine probable locations of gravesites.
o What is the accuracy of the equipment you are intending to use? (Be sure to cover each piece of equipment)
The accuracy of the GPS unit, as mentioned, is very important because with such a small area in question the bigger the consequences of an error in location.
It will be important to get multiple imagery of the area from as far back as possible 9at least 1865). This is important because it will be up to date and many stones will be destroyed at this point in time.
If using GPR, it would be important to use a high resolution GPR antennae (a 450 MHz) which does not penetrate as deep but has a much clearer image of what lies beneath. Because graves are no more than 6 feet below the surface, it would be manageable to image.
o How was the data entered/recorded? Why did you choose this data entry method?
This portion is yet to be completed.
o How will you transfer the data you gather into a GIS
Data will be transfered from the GPS unit to ArcMap through a USB port. The additional information will have to be added as an attribute under various fields. This, together, will create an accurate map of the area.
o What drawbacks are there to the method you propose? How to the pros outweigh the cons of this method?
Conclusion
o How do your methods transfer to the overall objectives of your proposal?the methods of this project allow for the completion of an accurate map containing pertinent information regarding the cemetery. through the use of GIS, GPS, aerial imagery, and GPR, locations of gravesites can be mapped. This work can help future management of the cemetery and provide historic record of the area.
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