The Many Ways of GIS for Digital Humanists

Introduction

This tutorial offers a hands-on introduction to a variety of tools and approaches for working with geographic information in humanities research. Designed with accessibility in mind, each session focuses on a different facet of GIS, from desktop mapping to collaborative web platforms and field data collection. You'll start by learning the fundamentals of GIS and QGIS, then explore open mapping platforms like OpenStreetMap and uMap. We’ll also introduce GaiaGPS for fieldwork, cover practical methods for georeferencing historical maps using QGIS, and wrap up with an introduction to the Leaflet library for interactive web maps. Whether you're new to GIS or looking to expand your digital toolkit, this series provides practical pathways into spatial thinking and map-based storytelling.

The tutorial adopts a “learn-by-doing” methodology, equipping participants with practical tools and actionable insights to practice the concepts and gain hands-on experience. All tools presented in the first part are free to use, while the programming activities in the second part are facilitated through the StackBlitz platform, eliminating the need for software configuration on participants’ computers.