Remembering the Lab:
A short history of GIS at Harvard
Nicholas Chrisman
Sciences géomatiques, Université Laval Québec, Québec, CANADA
Scientific Director, GEOIDE Network
(1972-1982: Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University)
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 LabLab founded: 1965
•
"Howard Fisherfounded the Laboratory for Computer Graphics in 1965 with a grant
from the Ford Foundation."
•
Why Howard Fisher?•
Why 1965?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 EdgarWho was Ed Horwood?
•
Professor, Civil Engineering and Planning, University of Washington from 1950s•
Enterpreneur: builtsystems for urban data and analysis
•
Ran training sessions in computer mapping 1962-63What he presented:
Tape Mapping
Program: 1963
•
Printed one cellper object
•
Provided formulae to calculate indices•
Designed as urban information system [tape as mass storage]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)Fisher thought he could do better...
•
Prototype mapping program developed quickly at Northwestern with assistance from University of Chicago.SYnagraphic MAPping:
SYMAP: maps on demand
•
Using the line printer (available on any computer of the era)•
Fisher added overprintingFord Foundation
•
Showed interest in Fisher's SYMAP•
What was missing? A host institution•
Northwestern and Chicago turned Fisher down (lack of advanceddegree)
•
Fisher turns to Harvard...•
Harvard appoints Fisher as Instructor, then as Professor of Planning when the grant arrived (December 1965)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)Programs
from the Lab
•
Main distribution:•
SYMAP•
SYMVU / ASPEX•
CALFORM•
ODYSSEY•
others:•
OTOTROL•
POLYVRT•
INPOM•
DOT.MAP•
SEURAT•
IMAGO•
BUILDER•
ROOTS ...Timeline
•
In the poster exhibitIn the beginning was
SYMAP
•
Packaged software for multiple types of maps•
innovative interpolation including barriers•
line printer output (widely available)•
over 500 paid users worldwideSYMVU: 3D views
•
plotter output of surface from SYMAPEnvironmental
Planning
•
1967, Dept Landscape Architecture (HGSD) invites 3 experts in landscape planning:•
Angus Hill (originator of Canada LandInventory, 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.Overlay Analysis
•
1967 Delmarva project (for ConservationFoundation) Carl Steinitz
•
used SYMAP (vector objects) grid square implemented by centroids•
base maps, intermediaries, composite weighted resultsDeveloping map analysis
•
Steinitz (with David Sinton, Peter Rogers and manystudents) built integrated environmental models
•
NSF-RANN project 1970s•
Yearly studio projects•
IMGRID led to MAP Package•
model for many later packages1967 Studio
Spatial Analysis
•
William Warntz, second director 1968-1971; amended name of Lab ("and Spatial Analysis")•
Appointed "Professor ofTheoretical Geography and Regional Planning"
•
research on•
properties of surfaces•
macrogeography,•
gravity models and social physicsFor
example
•
Minimum costsurface: for routing a supersonic
Another example
•
Potential of continentality•
(adjacency to land area)•
Peaks, pits, ridges•
define continentsA 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)New direction
•
Emphasis on cartographic data structures•
topology (concept from Census Bureau)•
New funding sources•
contracts•
grant from National Science FoundationNew 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.New equipment
•
Interactive terminals•
required new interfacesLearning 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...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)Polygon overlay
•
Output: logical combinations•
Fuzzy tolerance•
passed benchmark failed by others (DMA)•
engine for other functionsPrism maps
Parallel ventures
•
Surface display (DOT.MAP, SEURAT)Distorting maps
What to do with
ODYSSEY?
•
Laboratory grew in revenue, running conferences with hundreds ofregistrants, commercial newsletters
•
Software team documenting for release•
Writers, editors, graphics for publicationLooking ahead:
future directions
•
Allan Schmidt included a session on Future Directions at each conference (1977,78,79,80,81 ...)Harvard makes a
decision
•
Biotech startups turned down•
LCG Inc. turned down•
Commericalization of ODYSSEY reconsidered•
Lab budget restructured, staff reducedLab continues to
1991
•
For example:Developments for personal computers:
•
ROOTS (and PALMS)•
topological editing in real timeSearch for new projects,
Support found for limited
staff
Publications
•
Harvard Papers on TheoreticalGeography (1967-1971) 43 papers
•
Harvard Papers on GeographicInformation Systems (Addison Wesley: 1978) 7 volumes
•
Harvard Library of Computer Graphics(19 volumes 1978-82)
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, ERDASReunion 2004
•
18 Lab alumni met in San Diego, 2004Making 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 1965Origin 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 theirConclusion
•
Searching for the origin of GIS leads to futile recursion. "Every event has itspast."
•
Whatever success the Lab had came from connections to a larger community.•
Everyone who worked at the Lab is proud of our accomplishments andappreciates the chance to work in such a team.
Still redefining geography
•
Geoff Dutton, now at Mathworks, recalculated Warntz's potential of continentalityA commercial
message
•
Forthcoming book on the history of theHarvard Laboratory for Computer
Graphics and Spatial Analysis
