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Abstract
This paper describes the design and making of an interactive (Google) map of incidents and other information pertaining to warfare during the “Summer War” of 2006 in Lebanon. It covers the background to the war, reasons for making the map, which sources were used and how it was made. Furthermore, it explains how the map came to be used in the relief effort in the country and how it might have contributed to the understanding of the war itself. The map was constructed in the KML markup language using no other programming tools than the normal user interface to Google Earth. The paper discusses the challenges of creating a large and complex mapping of located incidents over time, the limitations of the KML language, access to news sources, accuracy of location, and transformation of the data into other formats. Publication techniques and practical usage of the map is also covered both as it applied at the time and for later research. Problems arising from the difference between other, static maps of the 2006 war, and this, transient and adaptable mapping format are addressed.
Discipline
Other
Geographic Area
Lebanon
Sub Area
Technology