[MassHistPres] stone walls

[Katharine Johnson]

Donna, and all:

Wanted to share some things that faculty and students at the University of
Connecticut have been working on.  Back in 2014 we published a paper using
LiDAR to identify stone walls and other features (actually referenced in
Jeff's great video!) which can be accessed here:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305440313004342
We’re happy to see how interested parties have been building off the themes
in that paper to map stone walls and work towards better conservation
practices throughout the region.  Mapping stone walls via LiDAR data and
GIS methods do carry a certain amount of error and uncertainty, but we
would argue that they are a great place to start!

Here's the current state of the larger LiDAR-based stone wall mapping
initiatives that we are aware of:

   1. The online NH Stone Wall Mapper developed by Rick Chromann and
   colleagues and available through the NH Geological Survey -
   https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=f4d57ec1a6b8414190ca0662456dffb0
   2. An online CT Stone Mapper developed by UConn -
   https://connecticut.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0208461aa98a4df3969624e7110e1f2c
   3. Various project and student based mapping in collaboration with UConn
   throughout CT, MA, VT and NY.  This mapping is completed offline using data
   compiled on local desktops using ArcGIS software.  Graphic with current
   status attached.  We are working on an online viewer where these existing
   datasets will be shared.

An online mapper is not possible yet for MA because the LiDAR data is not
easily available/viewable as rasters streamed through WMS and ArcGIS
servers (as far as we know).  Down the road, we are hoping for an online
mapper that would include the ability to map in MA (and VT and NY and RI),
available via a platform that includes background information, LiDAR
tutorials, and tips/guidelines for best practices, etc..

In the meantime, it may be possible to include towns such as Whately in our
current town mapping process.  Our group commonly does have students
available to learn the methods involved and map a specific region.  We like
town-based mapping because it provides a clear political boundary for
completeness but also analysis.  If you're interested, please email
william.ouimet at uconn.edu.

Overall, it’s important to keep in mind that these datasets are not meant
to be perfect representations of all stone walls in a given area, they are
remote sensing based datasets that inherently have a degree of error and
uncertainty because: 1) the LiDAR point cloud data isn’t perfect; and 2)
the mapping process involves user interpretation that undoubtedly varies
from user to user.  We are working on quantifying this user uncertainty.
Repeat user and validation studies indicate that there is easily 10-20%
error and uncertainty associated with stone wall maps (less uncertainty in
deciduous forests with clear walls, more uncertainty in complex or heavy
modified terrain).  Experienced and novice alike users may consistently
over- or under- map depending on their preferences and confidence in
identifying/mapping walls.

Also, we don’t presume that these initiatives are the only active
LiDAR-based stone wall mapping initiatives throughout the region.  Please
let us know if you know of others!

Cheers,
*Kate Johnson *
North Carolina State University
katharine.johnson at ncsu.edu

and

*Will Ouimet*
University of Connecticut
william.ouimet at uconn.edu

---------- Forwarded message ---------
>> From: Jeff Howry <jchowry at hotmail.com>
>> Date: Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 10:03 AM
>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] stone walls
>> To: Lisa Dady <ldady at newtonma.gov>, Donna Wiley <dwiley54 at gmail.com>,
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu <MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
>>
>>
>> Hi Donna -
>>
>> This past August Preservation Massachusetts hosted my presentation of
>> "Stone Walls: how to Identify, Document and Evaluate them in Historic
>> Landscapes" which you can view on their Youtube channel here:
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=503&v=6BlwUUqeL58&feature=emb_logo
>>
>> If you or other members of the list have questions about historic stone
>> walls, you are welcome to reach out to me.
>>
>> Jeff Howry
>> Lexington, MA
>>
>> ~~~
>>
>>
>> Jeff Howry, Ph.D.
>> Massachusetts' Most Endangered Historic Properties
>> <https://www.preservationmass.org/most-endangered-historic-resources> - Historic
>> Stone Walls <https://1drv.ms/b/s!ArYq0JjQNQTL4zLyzxSt-HP99Ekx>
>>
>> Recent Webinar: Historic Landscapes in the New and Old Worlds
>> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn6RiuBQ5E4&list=PL-HMFuJMarh_MfQB1OSvCZa9_WlvoicM5&index=9&t=0s>
>>
>>
>> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn6RiuBQ5E4&list=PL-HMFuJMarh_MfQB1OSvCZa9_WlvoicM5&index=9&t=0s>
>>
>> "Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt." -
>> John Muir
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> on behalf of Lisa
>> Dady <ldady at newtonma.gov>
>> *Sent:* Monday, September 14, 2020 3:20 PM
>> *To:* Donna Wiley <dwiley54 at gmail.com>; MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu <
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
>> *Subject:* Re: [MassHistPres] stone walls
>>
>> Hi Donna,
>>
>> This publication might answer some of your questions:
>> https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mass.gov%2Fdoc%2Fterra-firma-5%2Fdownload&data=02%7C01%7C%7Ccb2cf212cbcd4ceb187108d858ef5e40%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637357132389717612&sdata=1p%2FjcgdcPdz5DPzyHuayIZ%2BLldoGpliLp%2FoB8dlCr5I%3D&reserved=0
>>
>> Good luck.
>> Lisa
>>
>> Lisa S. Dady
>> Executive Director
>> Historic Newton
>> 527 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458
>> 617-796-1451
>>
>> https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.historicnewton.org%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Ccb2cf212cbcd4ceb187108d858ef5e40%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637357132389717612&sdata=oFsfyGkBqnCePD9YlkQki8Z4DptoIOtoInEWIkFLTjM%3D&reserved=0
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of Donna
>> Wiley
>> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2020 9:37 AM
>> To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> Subject: [MassHistPres] stone walls
>>
>> [DO NOT OPEN  links/attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. ]
>>
>> Please send suggestions for:
>>
>> a) possible funding sources for mapping historic stone walls
>> b) names of professional specialists who might be available for such a
>> project, or academic programs in New England whose students might be
>> available.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Donna Wiley
>> Whately Historical Commission
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-- 
Katharine M. Johnson, Ph.D.
Research Associate
North Carolina State University
North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies (NCICS)
151 Patton Ave. Asheville, NC 28801

katharine.johnson at ncsu.edu
828-271-4570
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