GeoMuseUM: A Geolocative Web Application and Sculpture Guide
Topics: Cultural Geography
, Landscape
, Geographic Information Science and Systems
Keywords: cultural heritage, arts and geography, spatial humanities, geolocative applications
Session Type: Virtual Paper
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 4/9/2021 03:05 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) - 4/9/2021 04:20 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 49
Authors:
Diana Ter-Ghazaryan, Florida International University
Lien Tran, University of Miami
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Abstract
This presentation will feature GeoMuseUM, a geolocative web app and sculpture guide launched at the University of Miami (UM) in 2019. University members and visitors can use this online resource to connect with UM’s campus by exploring the sculptures in-person or virtually, while also learning about the sculptural art and artists, and even be inspired to create. The project co-PIs led a team of students and collaborated with the Lowe Art Museum to collect highly accurate GPS coordinates of the sculptures and import them into a database with the museum’s curatorial information and museum’s needs in mind before creating several prototypes using ESRI tools and interaction design tools like Adobe XD. The team then finalized UI/UX and software development for a custom web app prior to a pilot launch for pedagogy. This versatile web app has already been used by various members of the UM community, including musicology professors whose students used GeoMuseUM as part of an assignment to study a campus sculpture, then compose an original piece of music inspired by the sculptures and their surroundings; these can be heard within the app. The Lowe Art Museum plans to use GeoMuseUM to engage the residential student population through art-related, stress-reducing activities that provide healthy outlets for anxiety and feelings of isolation. The platform, more generally referred to as GeoMuse, can be replicated for use in other contexts. Our team plans to expand its use to Florida International University next, with plans to go beyond universities and South Florida.