Research method
From Public Map to Evidence Environment
A source-aware atlas treats every visible object as a record with provenance, geometry status, temporal scope, review state, and an explicit claim class.
Read sectionScholarly methodology · 2026
Source-Aware Public Atlas Systems
Architecture, provenance, and evidence geometry for public Web GIS across conflict, memory, heritage, mobility, operational history, and risk mapping.
Central argument
A public atlas should function as an evidence environment, not as a final illustrated narrative
Records, sources, geometries, confidence levels, review statuses, temporal filters, and interpretive layers must remain distinguishable. The interface should help readers understand not only where an object appears, but what kind of claim it makes.
The framework is derived from the public atlas system at AraratPetrosyan.com and developed through genocide, heritage, world-war, conflict, displacement, disaster-risk, and transport case studies.
Methodology library
Six connected fields of atlas design
Research method
Evidence Geometry and Geographic Precision
Coordinates are claims. A source-aware atlas distinguishes exact sites, localities, proxies, centroids, routes, digitized traces, review geometries, and density surfaces.
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Provenance and the Atlas Record Schema
A durable atlas record connects identity, source, geometry, time, confidence, review status, and public citation in one inspectable structure.
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Temporal and Interface Architecture
Source-aware atlases separate dated events, intervals, undated context, current view state, and accumulated historical display while keeping controls readable.
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Review Workflow and Quality Gates
Atlas publication is a governed transition from candidate material to reviewed public evidence, with explicit checks for source, geometry, time, rights, and interface behavior.
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Source-Aware Atlas Case Studies
Seven atlas families demonstrate how one methodological grammar adapts to genocide, heritage, operational history, conflict, displacement, disaster risk, and transport.
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40-page methodological paper
The complete paper includes the formal atlas record model, layer-taxonomy checklist, suggested figures, a minimal data dictionary, development roadmap, limitations, reproducibility requirements, and journal positioning.
Download source-aware atlas methodologyAuthor
Ararat Petrosyan
Independent researcher · ORCID 0000-0002-5260-7280
Official profile