Family tree mapping
Encyclopedia
Family tree mapping is the process of geocoding
places in family tree
files to produce geospatial
data suitable for viewing with a virtual globe
or 2D mapping program.
The ability to share keyhole markup language
(KML) files through sites such as Google Maps
means that researchers can find matches based on geographic location rather than just a place name.
Utility applications that can be used for family tree mapping include:
Geocoding
Geocoding is the process of finding associated geographic coordinates from other geographic data, such as street addresses, or zip codes...
places in family tree
Family tree
A family tree, or pedigree chart, is a chart representing family relationships in a conventional tree structure. The more detailed family trees used in medicine, genealogy, and social work are known as genograms.-Family tree representations:...
files to produce geospatial
Geospatial
Geospatial analysis is an approach to applying statistical analysis and other informational techniques to geographically based data. Such analysis employs spatial software and analytical methods with terrestrial or geographic datasets, including geographic information systems and...
data suitable for viewing with a virtual globe
Virtual globe
A virtual globe is a 3D software model or representation of the Earth or another world. A virtual globe provides the user with the ability to freely move around in the virtual environment by changing the viewing angle and position. Compared to a conventional globe, virtual globes have the...
or 2D mapping program.
Overview
The availability of several free applications for viewing geographic data has led to a growing interest in the use of this technology by genealogists and family history researchers.The ability to share keyhole markup language
Keyhole Markup Language
Keyhole Markup Language is an XML notation for expressing geographic annotation and visualization within Internet-based, two-dimensional maps and three-dimensional Earth browsers. KML was developed for use with Google Earth, which was originally named Keyhole Earth Viewer. It was created by...
(KML) files through sites such as Google Maps
Google Maps
Google Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
means that researchers can find matches based on geographic location rather than just a place name.
Family tree mapping applications
Genealogy software that can be used for family tree mapping include:- AhnenblattAhnenblattAhnenblatt is a genealogy software to create family trees, pedigree charts and ahnentafels.Genealogic data is stored in a proprietary file format, that can be exported to other formats , e.g...
using the supplied Google-Earth Plug-In. - Ancestral QuestAncestral QuestAncestral Quest or AQ is a genealogy software application for Windows, developed by Incline Software, LC. It features data entry with sourcing capabilities and scrapbook extensions; a print engine for standard or custom charts and reports; a web page creator; a collaboration engine; and an...
- Family Tree Builder
- Family Tree Maker
- GEDitCOM GEDitCOMGEDitCOM is genealogy software for the Mac OS X. The program provides methods to input, manipulate and view information about a family history. It includes options to produce charts depicting family relationships and to produce Web pages for publishing a family history online.GEDitCOM has native...
II - GenealogyJGenealogyJGenealogyJ is a viewer and editor for genealogic data, suitable for hobbyist, family historian and genealogy researcher. GenealogyJ is written in Java and so is available on most platforms and supports the GEDCOM standard. Many reports like family tree, table, timeline and geography are available....
- GenoProGenoProGenoPro is a software application for drawing family trees and genograms. GenoPro can store additional information such as pictures, contacts, places, sources, occupation and education history for each individual, as well as document the relationships among individuals.- History :GenoPro was...
- a Windows GenealogyGenealogyGenealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
software, whose Report Generator has ability to convert Places and geographical locations and export them in Google MapsGoogle MapsGoogle Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
. - GRAMPSGRAMPSThe core export file format of Gramps is named Gramps XML and uses the file extension .gramps. It is extended from XML. Gramps XML is a free format. Gramps usually compresses Gramps XML files with gzip. The file format Portable Gramps XML Package uses the extension .gpkg and is currently a .tar.gz...
- Legacy Family TreeLegacy Family TreeLegacy Family Tree is genealogy software for Windows that assists family historians in tracking, organizing, printing, and sharing family history. The standard edition is distributed as freeware, with no restrictions, only requiring registration on the company's web site to download the software....
automatically map where your ancestors lived. - MacFamilyTreeMacFamilyTreeMacFamilyTree is a commercial genealogy program for Mac OS X which helps users build their family tree, adding data about family members, including pictures and sound clips. The program allows the user to add sources for the information, with the ability of including scanned documents...
Utility applications that can be used for family tree mapping include:
- AniMap- contains historical maps that show the changing county boundaries
- Centennia Historical Atlas - the map forward or backward in time from the year 1000 to present.
- Family Atlas - a Windows application that imports data from genealogy software for mapping with its own internal maps.
- Map My AncestorsMap My AncestorsMap My Ancestors is an application for converting GEDCOM files produced by genealogy software into Keyhole Markup Language files for viewing with KML-compatible programs such as Google Earth or Google Maps...
(Note as of 3 Oct 2011 this application was withdrawn from sale and no longer available, due to closure of Yahoo Mapping services see the source site for details) - a Windows application that imports GEDCOMGEDCOMGEDCOM, an acronym for GEnealogical Data COMmunication, is a proprietary and open de facto specification for exchanging genealogical data between different genealogy software...
files or comma-separated valuesComma-separated valuesA comma-separated values file stores tabular data in plain-text form. As a result, such a file is easily human-readable ....
(CSV) files and converts them to keyhole markup languageKeyhole Markup LanguageKeyhole Markup Language is an XML notation for expressing geographic annotation and visualization within Internet-based, two-dimensional maps and three-dimensional Earth browsers. KML was developed for use with Google Earth, which was originally named Keyhole Earth Viewer. It was created by...
(KML) files for viewing with KML compatible programs such as Google EarthGoogle EarthGoogle Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
or Google MapsGoogle MapsGoogle Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
. - Map My Family Tree - a Windows application that imports data directly from a number of popular GenealogyGenealogyGenealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
programs. The program uses its own location database to resolve places from the source family tree. Viewing data is generally undertaken from within the program using the internal viewer but individual placemarks can be viewed using Google EarthGoogle EarthGoogle Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
, Google MapsGoogle MapsGoogle Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
, TerraServer-USATerraServer-USAMicrosoft Research Maps or MSR Maps is a free online repository of public domain aerial imagery and topographic maps provided by the U.S. Geological Survey . The site is a collaboration between Microsoft Research , Bing Maps, and the USGS. It has been under continuous operation since June 1998. It...
or MapQuestMapQuestMapQuest is an American free online web mapping service owned by AOL. The company was founded in 1967 as Cartographic Services, a division of R.R. Donnelley & Sons in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1969. When it became an independent company in 1994, it was...
.
See also
- Google EarthGoogle EarthGoogle Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
Virtual GlobeVirtual globeA virtual globe is a 3D software model or representation of the Earth or another world. A virtual globe provides the user with the ability to freely move around in the virtual environment by changing the viewing angle and position. Compared to a conventional globe, virtual globes have the...
software - Google MapsGoogle MapsGoogle Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
- Keyhole Markup LanguageKeyhole Markup LanguageKeyhole Markup Language is an XML notation for expressing geographic annotation and visualization within Internet-based, two-dimensional maps and three-dimensional Earth browsers. KML was developed for use with Google Earth, which was originally named Keyhole Earth Viewer. It was created by...
(KML) - Bing Maps Platform