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1 Remembering the Lab: A short history of GIS at Harvard Nicholas Chrisman Sciences géomatiques, Université Laval Québec, Québec, CANADA Scientific Director, GEOIDE Network ( : Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University)

Scientific Director, GEOIDE Network (1972-1982: Laboratory for

2 Outline of presentation What was done SYMAP and more graphic display Spatial analysis, topology, and ODYSSEY Why it matters The beginning and before Howard Fisher founds the Lab Community of scholars

3 Lab founded: 1965 "Howard Fisher founded the Laboratory for Computer Graphics in 1965 with a grant from the Ford Foundation." Why Howard Fisher? Why 1965? Why Harvard?

4 Who was Howard Fisher? Harvard College '26 studied architecture '26-'28 (Harvard Graduate School of Design) commercial practice of architecture in Chicago until 1956 (modular housing, etc.) 1957: started teaching at Northwestern 1963: attended training session on computer mapping run by Edgar Horwood

of Design) commercial practice of architecture in Chicago until 1956

5 Founded URISA Who was Ed Horwood? Professor, Civil Engineering and Planning, University of Washington from 1950s Enterpreneur: built systems for urban data and analysis Ran training sessions in computer mapping

6 What he presented: Tape Mapping Program: 1963 Printed one cell per object Provided formulae to calculate indices Designed as urban information system [tape as mass storage]

7 The time was ripe. Burst of interest in spatial analysis quantitative movement in geography (University of Washington, et al.) regional science (Walter Isard) "factual information" in planning Computing as a tool (beginning to emerge)

8 Fisher thought he could do better... Prototype mapping program developed quickly at Northwestern with assistance from University of Chicago. SYnagraphic MAPping: (from "seeing things together")

9 SYMAP: maps on demand Using the line printer (available on any computer of the era) Fisher added overprinting

10 Grant provided $294,000 for four years. Ford Foundation Showed interest in Fisher's SYMAP What was missing? A host institution Northwestern and Chicago turned Fisher down (lack of advanced degree) Fisher turns to Harvard... Harvard appoints Fisher as Instructor, then as Professor of Planning when the grant arrived (December 1965)

A host institution Northwestern and Chicago turned Fisher down (lack of advanced

11 Fisher assembles allies Computer Graphics Luncheons at Faculty Club invited speakers (spatial analysts, and more) invited discussants (Harvard, MIT, BU) Training Conference 1967 invited prominent professors of cartography paid for graduate students to attend (list of future stars) SYMAP correspondence course

Training Conference 1967 invited prominent professors of cartography paid for

12 Programs from the Lab others: OTOTROL POLYVRT Main distribution: SYMAP SYMVU / ASPEX CALFORM ODYSSEY INPOM DOT.MAP SEURAT IMAGO BUILDER ROOTS...

13 Timeline In the poster exhibit

14 In the beginning was SYMAP Packaged software for multiple types of maps innovative interpolation including barriers line printer output (widely available) over 500 paid users worldwide

15 SYMVU: 3D views plotter output of surface from SYMAP

16 Environmental Planning 1967, Dept Landscape Architecture (HGSD) invites 3 experts in landscape planning: Angus Hill (originator of Canada Land Inventory, content of Canada GIS considered first GIS 1968) Phil Lewis (Wisconsin Recreation Study 1964) Ian McHarg (Design with Nature published 1969) Each expert used overlay differently. Study suggests computer models (Steinitz)

considered first GIS 1968) Phil Lewis (Wisconsin Recreation Study 1964) Ian McHarg (Design

17 base maps, intermediaries, composite weighted results 1967 Overlay Delmarva project Analysis (for Conservation Foundation) Carl Steinitz used SYMAP (vector objects) grid square implemented by centroids

(for Conservation Foundation) Carl Steinitz used

18 Developing map analysis Steinitz (with David Sinton, Peter Rogers and many students) built integrated environmental models NSF-RANN project 1970s Yearly studio projects IMGRID led to MAP Package model for many later packages 1967 Studio class

models NSF-RANN project 1970s Yearly studio projects IMGRID

19 Spatial Analysis William Warntz, second director ; amended name of Lab ("and Spatial Analysis") Appointed "Professor of Theoretical Geography and Regional Planning" research on properties of surfaces macrogeography, gravity models and social

"Professor of Theoretical Geography and Regional Planning"

20 For example Minimum cost surface: for routing a supersonic transport

21 Another example Potential of continentality (adjacency to land area) Peaks, pits, ridges define continents

22 A tub on its own bottom By 1970, staff was around 40. Fisher's Ford Foundation grant finished Steinitz group moves into Landscape Architecture Warntz resigns, grants go with him Staff reduces to 6. Allan Schmidt Acting Director (for 5 years)

23 New direction Emphasis on cartographic data structures topology (concept from Census Bureau) New funding sources contracts grant from National Science Foundation

24 New director 1974: Faculty committee recommended dissolution of Laboratory. Dean Kilbridge opted to find an eminent faculty director Brian J.L. Berry became director July 1976 prolific quantitative geographer, member of National Academy etc. Allan Schmidt confirmed as Executive Director

25 New equipment Interactive terminals required new interfaces

26 Learning the hard way At first, we designed a static database Exposed to practical projects, the deficiencies are apparent Urban Atlas Project for Census Bureau December 1975: Harvard Computing Center 1730 Cambridge Street... Elation of discovery

27 ODYSSEY a system to process geographic information based on modular software design (many shared service modules) topological data model topology created, not just hand-coded fuzzy tolerance dynamic algorithms, data structures (FAST)

28 Output: logical combinations Fuzzy tolerance Polygon overlay passed benchmark failed by others (DMA) engine for other functions

29 Prism maps Polygons raised as thematic display

30 Parallel ventures Surface display (DOT.MAP, SEURAT) here a surface shown by SEURAT

31 Distorting maps Cartogram algorithm by Jim Dougenik

32 What to do with ODYSSEY? Laboratory grew in revenue, running conferences with hundreds of registrants, commercial newsletters Software team documenting for release Writers, editors, graphics for publication 1981: 45 staff, over million $ budget

33 Looking ahead: future directions Allan Schmidt included a session on Future Directions at each conference (1977,78,79,80,81...)

34 Harvard makes a decision Biotech startups turned down LCG Inc. turned down Commericalization of ODYSSEY reconsidered Lab budget restructured, staff reduced It had happened before.

35 Lab continues to 1991 Search for new projects, Support found for limited staff For example: Developments for personal computers: ROOTS (and PALMS) topological editing in real time

36 Publications Harvard Papers on Theoretical Geography ( ) 43 papers Harvard Papers on Geographic Information Systems (Addison Wesley: 1978) 7 volumes Harvard Library of Computer Graphics (19 volumes ) Context (newsletter), LAB-LOG (catalog)

37 Where are they now? 130 people passed through the Lab Some academics: some in geography/gis, many in computer science GIS Industry: Presidents of ESRI, Caliper, ERDAS programmers, analysts, managers

38 Reunion Lab alumni met in San Diego, 2004 (Jack had to run off before the picture)

39 Making a difference Developed advanced visualization and got it into the hands of users The Lab contributed to the process of converting cartography into GIS least cost paths, environmental models espoused and promoted topology proof of concept (overlay and more) In short, everything promised by Fisher in 1965

40 Origin stories Claims to be the first are powerful, yet being first is only possible in retrospect. The origins of automated cartography and GIS depend on a later view of what the technology became. The history of technical advances must also consider people and their interactions.

41 Conclusion Searching for the origin of GIS leads to futile recursion. "Every event has its past." Whatever success the Lab had came from connections to a larger community. Everyone who worked at the Lab is proud of our accomplishments and appreciates the chance to work in such a team.

42 Still redefining geography Geoff Dutton, now at Mathworks, recalculated Warntz's potential of continentality

43 A commercial message Forthcoming book on the history of the Harvard Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis ESRI Press, August 2006

44 The 1978 Lab logo banned by the Office of Heraldry END OF PRESENTATION

Charting. Charting the Unknown How computer mapping at Harvard became GIS. Nick Chrisman

Charting. Charting the Unknown How computer mapping at Harvard became GIS. Nick Chrisman Charting Charting the Unknown How computer mapping at Harvard became GIS Nick Chrisman Cartographic and GIS software Key events The Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis There are many