About

  • Vision

    The ATLMaps platform, a collaboration between Georgia State University and Emory University, combines archival maps, geospatial data visualization, and user contributed multimedia location pinpoints to promote investigation into any number of issues about Atlanta. While currently focused on one city to demonstrate the power of stacking thousands of layers of information on one place, this innovative online platform allows users to layer an increasing number of interdisciplinary data to address the complex issues that any city poses. The project looks to offer a framework that incorporates storytelling reliant on geospatial data and for normalizing input across a range of data sets about so that material can be cross-compared in novel ways, allowing users to make connections between seemingly unrelated data sources and ask questions that would not be apparent when only looking at one particular project. The ATLMaps project will also encourage knowledgeable members of the university and local communities to curate data on the site to demonstrate the possibilities for synthesizing material across projects and data types.

  • Support

    ATLMaps is made possible with the generous support of Georgia State University, Emory University, and the Knight Foundation. That support began with two consecutive CITIES awards for funding by Georgia State in 2012 and 2013, continuing support from Emory University Libraries & Information Technology and the Emory Center for Digital Scholarship, and a Knight Foundation Knight News Challenge Award in 2016. If you or your organization like the work we're doing and have an idea about how to support and further it, please get in touch!

  • Team

    Brennan Collins

    Senior Academic Professional

    Georgia State University

    Brennan is the Associate Director of Writing Across the Curriculum and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Georgia State University. The interdisciplinary nature and technology focus of these programs allows him to work with a diverse faculty in exploring inventive pedagogies. He is particularly interested in creating interinstitutional Atlanta projects and platforms to develop student critical thinking and opportunities for community engagement.

    Megan Slemons

    GIS Librarian

    Emory Center for Digital Scholarship

    Megan is the GIS Librarian at the Emory Center for Digital Scholarship at Emory University. She works with students and faculty to incorporate geospatial technologies into their research and teaching. She offers consultations on using geospatial tools, finding and using data, and designing projects with spatial components. Megan also teaches workshops, provides classroom instruction, works to develop and provide access to the libraries' geospatial data and map collections, and contributes to digital projects.

    Jay Varner

    Lead Software Engineer

    Emory Center for Digital Scholarship

    Jay is the lead software engineer at the Emory Center for Digital Scholarship at Emory University. In the center, Jay works with scholars and researchers to develop new ways to interact with data and information. He has been developing web apps for universities, start-ups, non-profits, and public defenders since 1998. Jay holds a master's in user experience design from Kent State University.

    Contributors and Prior Team Members
    • Kevin Glover: Software Engineer at MailChimp
    • Tim Hawthorne: Assistant professor of geographic information systems (GIS) in the department of sociology at the University of Central Florida
    • Joe Hurley: Ph.D. Student School of History and Sociology at Georgia Tech
    • Sarah Melton: Head of Digital Scholarship at Boston College
    • Ashley Cheyemi McNeil: HPG Postdoctoral Fellow Obermann Center for Advanced Studies
    • Ben Miller: Senior Lecturer of Technical Writing and Digital Humanities Emory University
    • Chad Nelson: Lead Technology Developer with Temple University Libraries
    • Michael Page: Lecturer in Geospatial Sciences and Technology in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Emory University
    • Jack Reed: Geospatial Web Engineer with Stanford University Libraries' Digital Library Systems and Services
    • R. Stewart Varner: Managing Director of the Price Lab for Digital Humanities at the University of Pennsylvania
    • Eric Willoughby: Software Engineer Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

  • Technologies

    PLATFORMS/SOFTWARE/LIBRARIES

    ATLMaps platform is an open source project made possible by the Open Source community. Here is a list of the core technologies that power the project.

    BASE MAPS

    The base maps used are generously provided by: