November 19th, 2024

Using GPS in the Year 1565

The "Allmaps Here" web app enables users to view their GPS location on historical maps, including a detailed 1565 Antwerp map, promoting exploration of historical landmarks on smartphones and computers.

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The blog post discusses the innovative web app "Allmaps Here," which allows users to see their current GPS location on historical maps. Created by Bert Spaan, this tool utilizes georeferenced maps, enabling users to explore their surroundings through the lens of historical cartography. The author highlights the 1565 map of Antwerp by Virgilius Bononiensis, which is notable for its size and detail, showcasing the city at its economic peak. The app is user-friendly, accessible on both smartphones and computers, and provides a unique way to rediscover historical locations. The author shares personal experiences of using the app in Antwerp and Brussels, illustrating how old maps reveal the historical context of modern streets and landmarks. The post also encourages readers to georeference their own maps using the tools available on the Allmaps website. The author expresses excitement about the app's potential and invites others to share their discoveries using the hashtag #allmapshere.

- "Allmaps Here" allows GPS positioning on historical maps.

- The app features significant maps, including a detailed 1565 map of Antwerp.

- Users can explore their current location in relation to historical landmarks.

- The tool is accessible on smartphones and computers, promoting historical exploration.

- The author encourages sharing discoveries made with the app on social media.

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17 comments

By @Aachen - 2 months

For anyone else confused (this took me the longest time, skimming the comments and then opening the article): no, indeed, this has nothing to do with GPS. They mean coordinates, not satellites. It's about indexing locations of old maps

By @nathan_phoenix - 2 months

If you just want to view some places without giving location access, use this link: https://dev.explore.allmaps.org/

By @bschne - 2 months

The map portal of the Swiss government also has a bunch of old map layers available. For example, here's Zurich in 1883.

https://map.geo.admin.ch/#/map?lang=en&center=2682327.37,124...

By @plank - 2 months

Can I plugin my app here? If on Android, use navigateanymap.eu, snap a picture of that map from 1565, match some features using OpenStreetMap (although things like rivers, roads and buildings may be different from that year, making matching more difficult) and walk using that old map.

By @The_Colonel - 2 months

A bit off topic, but the proliferation of maps and GPS is not celebrated enough IMHO. It's such a mind shift regarding freedom of movement - as a kid (1990s), going somewhere new carried a strong risk of getting lost, so we rarely ventured far. Even if we had maps, they were not detailed enough, and it was difficult to figure out where you are exactly. Many from my parent's generation (now in their 60s, 70s) never learned to work with maps (with or without GPS) which limits them to travel alone only to places they already know. There are also other factors (ability to call for help, looking up your travel connections etc.), but IMHO the detailed maps + GPS is the biggest factor in this mindshift where travelling/exploring anywhere is easy and accessible to anyone.

By @peteri - 2 months

For the UK the Scottish national library has a similar map finder.

https://maps.nls.uk

With a bit of a london focus (since that's where I live)

https://www.layersoflondon.org/

https://mapco.net/

https://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/agas.htm

Finally this site:

https://www.oldmapsonline.org/

By @ryukoposting - 2 months

A few of them definitely aren't lined up right, but wow! What a fun thing! Today I learned the bike path that runs by my apartment was once a railroad.

By @elrostelperien - 2 months

(Not the same thing, but related)

Map platforms from Brazilian cities that allow browsing with old map layers:

Curitiba 1857

https://geocuritiba.ippuc.org.br/portal/apps/webappviewer/in...

São Paulo 1930

https://geosampa.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/PaginasPublicas/_SBC.a...

By @AshamedCaptain - 2 months

About 20 years ago I used OziExplorer https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Oziexplorer to also georeference (back then I think we just called it calibration) maps about e.g. POTS installations from the 1950s and then use a serial GPS and a laptop to navigate them. It was fun to see the change.

By @pedvide - 2 months

Cool idea! I can't seem to be able to find information about the maps though, like date, author or something similar. I'd really like that!

By @BiteCode_dev - 2 months

If you like this kind of things the French state geographic portal (https://www.geoportail.gouv.fr) lets you load crazy tiles like the Cassiny maps (from 1682) and the military staff map from 1820.

It's a blast, but in French only so you'll have to fiddle around a little.

By @supersparrow - 2 months

How do I use this? When I enter an address in the search box it just comes up with "Error:". There is no map showing.

By @kylehotchkiss - 2 months

The longitude problem wasn't really even solved until 1773 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_longitude

By @x62Bh7948f - 2 months

A friend worked on something similar for historic maps of Japan

https://stroly.com/ja/search?keyword=History

By @lbourdages - 2 months

Does the link lead to a completely different website for anyone else? The page does not load but the domain is completely different.

By @theamk - 2 months

neat!

One important thing which is missing is the year of the map (a name would be nice too, but not as important as the year)

Also, on Android, all icons blink on the index page, but that's pretty minor.

By @ngcc_hk - 2 months

Using gps to understand a map of 1565?