Project description

The "Map of World War II Memorial Sites - Geoportal and Activities Promoting the Use of Historical and Geographic Information Systems (HGIS)" (abbreviated as GIS4H - GIS for History) project is an interdisciplinary initiative combining historical, geographical, computer science, and social research. Its goal is to disseminate the results of research on the history of World War II and to popularize geoinformatic methods in the humanities by creating a publicly accessible, interactive HGIS geoportal. The project will enable a modern, engaging presentation of knowledge about the sites of crimes, repressions, and other forms of violence perpetrated against civilians and prisoners of war between 1939 and 1945 in the territory of the Second Polish Republic.

A publicly accessible digital map integrating historical, geographical, and source data will be created, revealing the locations of executions, pacifications, deportations, ghettos, forced labor camps, concentration and extermination camps, as well as other forms of violence against Poles, Jews, Roma, and other victim groups. Each site will be developed in a reliable and accessible manner, providing sources, events, and historical context. The geoportal will enable searching, filtering, and visualization of data against contemporary and historical maps, and its mobile version will allow for use of resources in the field. This will make it a modern digital humanities tool, combining research with education, reflection, and social engagement.

The project also includes educational and outreach activities that promote the use of HGIS technology in historical studies. Thematic workshops will be organized for teachers, educators, students, and doctoral candidates, focusing on the creation and use of historical-geographical maps in education. Teaching materials will also be developed, demonstrating methods of working with spatial data in the context of World War II history. Project results will be presented at conferences and academic seminars, as well as on social media, to reach the widest possible audience.

A key element of the project will be the involvement of local communities in the process of documenting memorial sites. A crowdsourcing module will be created for this purpose, allowing for the submission of new locations and corrections to existing data. Thanks to this, the project will engage citizens in the process of creating and developing a knowledge base about memorial sites, fostering empathy, shared responsibility, and reflection on the past.
The project team is composed of researchers from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, the University of the Commission of National Education in Kraków, the Warsaw Ghetto Museum, and the Institute of National Remembrance. The partners combine expertise in history, geography, GIS systems, and digital humanities, guaranteeing a high level of substantive, methodological, and technological excellence.
The project is international in scope, with a primary national impact. Although it focuses on memorial sites from pre-war Poland, its results—thanks to digital accessibility, an English version of the geoportal, and online activity—will be accessible to audiences across Europe and the world interested in the history of World War II and digital humanities.
The project is not cyclical, but its open structure will enable future development and continuation by updating the database and expanding scholarly collaboration. The project will be implemented in Polish and English, ensuring its international accessibility and visibility. It is estimated that approximately 2,400 people will benefit from the project's results, including participants in workshops, conferences, and academic seminars, as well as users of the geoportal, website, and social media. The audience will include teachers, educators, students, graduate students, PhD candidates, researchers, museum professionals, representatives of cultural institutions, and history enthusiasts. Approximately 5-10% of the audience will be users from outside Poland.

The project is open and inclusive – all materials and results will be publicly available, free of charge, and in accordance with digital accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.1). By combining science, technology, and education, the project will contribute to the development of a culture of remembrance, the dissemination of knowledge about the history of World War II, and the promotion of a responsible, modern model for science communication.