Scorched Heritage: Using GIS to Protect the Past from Wildfire

Document Type

Conference Session

Publication Date

7-15-2025

Abstract

Wildfire is no longer just a threat to forests—they’re erasing history. This session delves into groundbreaking research that utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to investigate the impact of fire on archaeological sites across Florida. If you're passionate about protecting the past with cutting-edge technology, this is a session you won’t want to miss.

Host

San Diego Convention Center

Conference/Symposium

Esri User Conference

City/State

San Diego, CA

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Comments

April Watson, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, presented her work on how wildfire impacts archaeological sites in Florida at the prestigious Esri User Conference. The conference is the world's largest gathering of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professionals, with over 20,000 in-person attendees and over 14,000 virtual attendees.

Watson presented "Scorched Heritage: Using GIS to Protect the Past from Wildfire." Her study employed GIS to analyze the impacts of fire on archaeological landscapes, focusing on both the immediate and long-term effects of thermal damage. The study examines fire impacts on archaeological sites in Florida to create a comprehensive examination of fire's influence on site preservation and visibility.

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