GIS Applications forHistoric Preservation

Heather McSharry – Shepherd University

GIS Projects

• Scanned and Georeferenced 3 historic maps of Scanned and Georeferenced 3 historic maps of Jefferson CountyJefferson County

• Digitized parcel boundaries with owner Digitized parcel boundaries with owner attributionattribution

• Digitized historic structure points with name Digitized historic structure points with name attributionattribution

• Created site plan for management of historic Created site plan for management of historic propertyproperty

• Analyzed rooftop solar power potential in the Analyzed rooftop solar power potential in the Shepherdstown, WV Historic DistrictShepherdstown, WV Historic District

S. Howell Brown Maps

• 1852 and 1883 maps of 1852 and 1883 maps of Jefferson County showing Jefferson County showing property lines and property lines and landowner nameslandowner names

• Scanned commercially Scanned commercially available prints and available prints and georeferencedgeoreferenced

• Due to age, quality and Due to age, quality and other factors, match to other factors, match to current data and to each current data and to each other was not exactother was not exact

Accuracy exampleBrown 1883 with current road and County boundary

Property boundary layers

• Digitized property Digitized property boundary polygonsboundary polygons

• Owner name Owner name attributionattribution

• 1852 – 883 parcels1852 – 883 parcels

• 1883 – 1661 parcels1883 – 1661 parcels

• Tracking ownership Tracking ownership over time, land use over time, land use changeschanges

Shaw-Whitmer 1920s map

• Scanned and Scanned and georeferencedgeoreferenced

• Digitized place Digitized place name points name points with name with name attributionattribution

• Comparison to Comparison to current data current data reveals name reveals name changes over changes over timetime

Peter Burr Farm Site Plan• Property Property

boundariesboundaries

• Approximate Approximate utility line utility line locationslocations

• Archaeology Archaeology work locationswork locations

Peter Burr Farm – Historic Boundary

• 1751 Land 1751 Land Grant polygon Grant polygon by Victoria by Victoria MyersMyers

• Helps visitors Helps visitors visualize visualize original farmoriginal farm

• Located related Located related historic historic resourcesresources

Historic District Solar Power Potential

Need to know:Need to know:

1.1. AspectAspect

2.2. SlopeSlope

3.3. AreaArea

4.4. Visibility from Visibility from the streetthe street

Aspect results• Started with Started with

Digital Surface Digital Surface Model built by Model built by U. of Vermont, U. of Vermont, based on 2005 based on 2005 LiDAR data LiDAR data from USDAfrom USDA

• Spatial Analyst Spatial Analyst tool “Aspect”tool “Aspect”

• Wide range of Wide range of values in what values in what should be a should be a uniform roof uniform roof surfacesurface

Slope results• Spatial Analyst Spatial Analyst

tool “Slope”tool “Slope”

• More More consistent than consistent than the aspect the aspect results, but still results, but still too much too much scatter for a scatter for a single, precise single, precise slope valueslope value

Structures with at least one suitable roof area

Roof area measurements• Measured each Measured each

suitable roof suitable roof surface and surface and calculated areacalculated area

• 545 roof 545 roof surfacessurfaces

• Determined Determined visibility from visibility from major streetsmajor streets

Next Steps• Field measurements for aspect and slope where neededField measurements for aspect and slope where needed

• Construct 3 scenarios:Construct 3 scenarios:

1.1. Solar collectors on all suitable surfacesSolar collectors on all suitable surfaces

2.2. Solar collectors only on surfaces not seen from major streetsSolar collectors only on surfaces not seen from major streets

3.3. Thin-film solar collectors allowed on visible roof surfaces when the roof Thin-film solar collectors allowed on visible roof surfaces when the roof type is standing-seam metal.type is standing-seam metal.

• Estimate solar power output for each scenarioEstimate solar power output for each scenario

Thank you:

• Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission

• Jefferson County GIS/Addressing Office• John Young, USGS• Victoria Myers, Jefferson County• University of Vermont• Dr. Keith Alexander, Shepherd University

Questions?