Paleoinformatics is defined as the application of integrated information technologies in a comprehensive, multi-scalar approach to field data acquisition, processing, analysis, dissemination and archiving of information about the human and pre-human past.
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Paleoinformatics covers the full range of current and emerging digital methodologies and the theoretical perspectives they support as applied to domain discovery, analysis, interpretation and presentation. Domain areas are paleo/bio-anthropology, archaeology, heritage management and classics as they are integrated with key elements of computerscience and geoscience. Technologies/methodologies include such areas as (1) digital in situ data acquisition methods including photogrammetry and related high density survey, and geophysical systems; (2) satellite, aerial and terrestrial remote sensing; (3) analysis and management systems including statistical systems, simulation/modeling systems, geographic information systems, data base management and related areas such as ontologies, semantic web, data mining, and interoperability; (4) tomography; and (5) representation and interpretation systems including landscape, architectural and object visualization, animation and other related 3D methods.
In the US, cross-cutting work on paleoinformatics has largely involved isolated individual and small group research efforts. This is in contrast to the strong institutional emphasis present in a range of European programs such as CAA, VAST, EPOCH and CHIRON. Unfortunately, US graduate education has not kept pace. We believe it is clear that only sustained interdisciplinary graduate training can provide the next generation of scholars and researchers with mastery of the broad range of computational tools that can be used to continue to expand our knowledge of the past.Presentations:
Paper Presented at 2005 ICOMOS meetings Charleston SC (PDF format ~10mb)
Images courtesy of Dr. Peter Ungar, Prof. David Fredrick and the C.R.A.T.E. 2001/2002 project.