Study and popularization of the routes of Altai explorers and travelers by means of geoinformation technologies

The article deals with the technologies for creating a geographic information system. It reflects the routes of explorers-travelers of Altai (Altai Territory and the Republic of Altai within the modern borders) of the second half of the 18th- 19th centuries. The historical, cultural and scientific heritage is a valuable resource for the development of society and self-identification. The article also aims to form the image of the region in the eyes of its residents and tourists. That is why the study, preservation and popularization of regional resources is an urgent problem. It is connected with the scientific study of historical heritage. One of the areas of heritage actualization is the reconstruction of the routes of explorers-travelers and the study of their achievements. Altai Krai and the Republic of Altai in the chronological period under consideration administratively belonged to the Kolyvano-Voskresensky (Altai) mining district. It was the largest industrial region of that time and attracted the attention of statesmen and travel scientists. The main method of research is the toolkit of geoinformation technologies, which combines the properties of a database as a repository of information, its structuring, as well as the tools for mapping (creating thematic maps), for visualizing the results. Geoinformation mapping in the study of this topic allows you to visually establish and show the routes of expeditions, collect together and reflect on maps (symbolically or in a web map format) factual information about the results of visiting the territory (discoveries in various scientific fields, collections, publications, etc.) Few studies like this are being done today. They have a different, more specific focus (for example, geographic information system on the places of movement of L. N. Tolstoy). One of the studies of travel routes is the reconstruction of the travels of P. S. Pallas and I. I. Lepekhin in the Middle Volga region. Other works on the study of expeditions in space, the reconstruction of the routes of scientists are mostly not of a scientific nature. They are tourism products (tourist portals with interactive maps). The development of the geographic information system caused some difficulties associated with the localization of some settlements along the routes (for example, disappeared or renamed). This required additional work with sources. Thus, during the study, specific results were obtained (thematic geographic information system, a series of thematic maps), and a methodology was developed for the development of similar research products. Further work on the geographic information system involves placing it on a public online platform with the ability to display data on an interactive map. This can make the resource more accessible, more focused on a wide range of users. This will contribute to the development of research knowledge about the historical, cultural and scientific heritage of the region, both within it and beyond. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

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