TY - JOUR
T1 - Showcasing, Contextualizing, and Explaining the Diversity of Human Experiences in Combat Using GIS
T2 - The Battle of Hong Kong in 1941 as an Example
AU - Kwong, Chi Man
AU - Lai, Wallace W. L.
AU - Rivera, Michael B. C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Kwong Chi Man et al., 2024.
PY - 2024/9/2
Y1 - 2024/9/2
N2 - This article discusses the application of GIS in the study of military history, particularly for campaigns in modern Asian history (1800s-1950s), citing the Battle of Hong Kong 1941 Spatial History Project as an example. GIS allows researchers to move beyond text-based narratives by visualizing, contextualizing, and explaining the diversity of human experiences that are often overshadowed by frontline actions. This article assesses the use of GIS-based interactive maps in visualizing the flow of the battle, reconstructing the battlefield, examining the diverse human experience, and integrating disparate historical data. Reflecting on the research team’s interdisciplinary experience in creating a GIS-based interactive map, this article argues that such a method is suitable for military campaigns that took place in a rapidly changing urban environment. It also discusses the limitations of this method and the need to remain critical towards the visualization of data, the use of sources, and interpretation.
AB - This article discusses the application of GIS in the study of military history, particularly for campaigns in modern Asian history (1800s-1950s), citing the Battle of Hong Kong 1941 Spatial History Project as an example. GIS allows researchers to move beyond text-based narratives by visualizing, contextualizing, and explaining the diversity of human experiences that are often overshadowed by frontline actions. This article assesses the use of GIS-based interactive maps in visualizing the flow of the battle, reconstructing the battlefield, examining the diverse human experience, and integrating disparate historical data. Reflecting on the research team’s interdisciplinary experience in creating a GIS-based interactive map, this article argues that such a method is suitable for military campaigns that took place in a rapidly changing urban environment. It also discusses the limitations of this method and the need to remain critical towards the visualization of data, the use of sources, and interpretation.
KW - Geographic Information System (GIS)
KW - oral history
KW - Hong Kong
KW - Second World War
KW - military campaign
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85203241313&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://brill.com/view/journals/ijmh/aop/article-10.1163-24683302-bja10067/article-10.1163-24683302-bja10067.xml
U2 - 10.1163/24683302-BJA10067
DO - 10.1163/24683302-BJA10067
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85203241313
SN - 2468-3299
SP - 1
EP - 33
JO - International Journal of Military History and Historiography
JF - International Journal of Military History and Historiography
ER -