By Nick Pedley
Sentinel-News 

Mapping the dead?

Hartley council hears cemetery mapping proposal

 

May 14, 2020



Could the eternal residents of Hartley’s cemetery find themselves in a searchable database on the World Wide Web?

That possibility might become a reality if the city council pursues a proposal presented during Monday’s meeting. Tyler Danielson, of Bolton & Menk, discussed how the firm has the capability of using geographic information system (GIS) mapping technologies to digitally log plot locations at Pleasant View Cemetery. Several other communities have utilized the service, which puts cemetery information into a single searchable database for both city workers and the general public.

“[The cemetery] is an asset that needs to be managed in a very similar manner to a pipe,” Danielson said. “I think the city will enjoy how this application works for them.”

The system is similar to how counties record property information. A satellite image of the cemetery showcases each plot, who owns it, who’s buried there, and the date of the deceased’s birth and death.


Danielson said other details can be included, like if the deceased served in the military and which war they fought in.

“It’s very customizable,” he said.

The technology also includes a photo of headstones at each plot. In addition to combining fragmented, century-old information into one spot, Danielson noted GIS mapping is an excellent tool for people who are researching their ancestry from afar.

“The public is the benefactor of this,” he said.

No cost estimate was given during the presentation. Danielson explained several variables go into the final price tag, and each cemetery is different based on the amount of information that needs to be gathered and logged.


Once the information is in the GIS system, the service is free and is maintained by city staff. The council will discuss mapping the cemetery at a later date.

 
 

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