Full Citation

Title: The 'Shifting Sands' Problem: Changing Political Boundaries and Historical GIS

Citation Type: Conference Paper

Publication Year: 2007

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Abstract: Even in well-mapped countries, minor civil division (MCD) boundaries change repeatedly, often while keeping the same place names. The shifting sands problem complicates issues of data compatibility in longitudinal studies, when it doesnt preclude a line of inquiry altogether. In other instances, though historical sources often record local place names, the precise locations are unknown. These two issuesboundary variability and imprecisionlimit the usefulness of historical GIS in matters of current policy interest, and in studies employing both natural science and social science data sets. This paper suggests a solution to both problems using the U.S. Geological Services GNIS database, and presents a brief case study in the use of this approach.

Url: http://scholar.google.com/scholar_url?url=http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark_Geiger/publication/259890366_The_%27Shifting_Sands%27_Problem_Changing_Political_Boundaries_and_Historical_GIS/links/02e7e52ec335b41670000000.pdf&hl=en&sa=X&scisig=AAGBfm04

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Authors: Geiger, Mark

Conference Name: Social Science History Association annual conference

Publisher Location: Chicago, Illinois

Data Collections: IPUMS USA, IPUMS NHGIS

Topics: Methodology and Data Collection

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