WEB-BASED MULTIMEDIA GIS FOR HISTORICAL SITES 
r : 8 - b n 'r i 
Z. Duran“, A. Garagon Dogru ", G. Toz* 
* ITU, Civil Engineering Faculty, 34469 Maslak Istanbul, Turkey - (duranza, tozg)@itu.edu.tr 
? BU, Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, Geodesy Department, 34680 Cengelkoy Istanbul, 
Turkey - garagon@boun.edu.tr 
Commission V, WG V/4 
KEY WORDS: Multimedia, GIS, Visualization, Internet/Web, Cultural Heritage, Web based 
ABSTRACT: 
With the recent developments in web-based GIS applications, the process of accessing, sharing, disseminating and analyzing data 
has changed. Web-based GIS uses the Internet to access and transmit data and the analysis tools to enhance the visualization and 
integration of spatial data. Multimedia GIS also allows the users to access a wide range of multimedia data. Integration of web- 
based GIS and multimedia provides the users the tools to analyze and visualize both spatial data and associated multimedia data on 
the Internet. The aim of this study is to develop and operate a web-based multimedia GIS application for a historical site. In this 
study, data acquired from different sources were compiled by using GIS software’s, a GIS application was developed, and a web site 
was configured to serve the system on the Internet. Linking spatial data with multimedia information facilitates the inventory, 
evaluation, and preservation of historic sites. By means of this study, the various type of collected information can be disseminated 
to end users (i.e., planners, managers, and public) with low technological requirements. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
Multimedia is a technology that encompasses various types of 
data and presents them in an integrated form. There are several 
types of data that are used by the technology, including text, 
graphics, hyperlinks, images, sound, digital and analogue video 
and animation. 
Although many GIS have been successfully implemented, it has 
become quite clear that two-dimensional maps cannot precisely 
present multidimensional and dynamic spatial phenomena. 
Moreover, there is a growing need towards accessing spatial 
data. It seems that merging GIS and Multimedia is a way to 
deal with these issues. 
The latest advances in computer industry especially in hardware 
have led to the development of the Multimedia and 
Geographical Information System (GIS) technologies. 
Multimedia provides communications using text, graphics, 
animation, and video. Multimedia GIS systems is a way to 
overcome the limitations displayed by the technologies when 
they are used separately. Multimedia can extend GIS 
capabilities of presenting geographic and other information. 
The combination of several media often results in a powerful 
and richer presentation of information and ideas to stimulate 
interest and enhance information retention. They can also make 
GIS more friendly and easier to use. On the other hand, 
multimedia can benefit from GIS by gaining an environment 
which facilitates the use and analysis of spatial data. The result 
is a system, which has the advantages of both worlds without 
retaining most of their disadvantages. 
The primary focus of this study is the inventory, evaluation, 
preservation, and documentation of historic structures and sites. 
GIS greatly facilitates the mapping, recording, and management 
of spatial and non-spatial historical data. In order to determine 
significance of historic structures, a historical structures 
database was developed. Information about these buildings is 
entered into the database; it is linked to the GIS. Then, a 
historical structures web page has been posted on the Internet. 
This web page provides the current status of historical buildings 
and connects to multimedia tools. Access to this web page 
allows users to obtain the most recent information pertaining to 
historic structures. Some structure's status is featured on its 
own page with links to multimedia tools such as photos, video, 
maps, 3D models, and CAD models and also related textual 
information. 
2. CASE STUDY 
2.1 Study area and data 
Fatih (Zeyrek) district of Istanbul, Turkey was selected for the 
case study because it is one of the oldest settlements of the city. 
Zeyrek is situated at the slopes of the fourth hill in the Historic 
Peninsula in Istanbul (Gülersoy, 2001). 
Data were provided from Municipality of Metropolis Istanbul in 
the scale of 1:1000 digital maps and at Micro Station file format 
(den). These digital data were transferred into AutoCAD file 
format and the number of these layers reduced in AutoCAD. 
ESRI Arc View software was used for browsing the data and 
examining the datasets. (Duran, 2003). Attribute information of 
the features such as name of the quarter, name of the street, 
number of the door, functionality of the building, basement, 
medium floor, roof, total floor, condition of the building, 
registration, name of the building, construction date, financer, 
style of the building etc. were stored in the database table. Data 
processing is displayed in Figure 1. 
   
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