Merging Historic Preservation with Internet Technologies: Challenges for the Development of a Community Based Historic Preservation Information System in Alachua County

By: Jennifer Moreau

Table of Contents


Abstract
Introduction
Historic Preservation
Alachua County
Internet
Consensus Building and Decision Support Tools
Community Based Historic Preservation Web Sites
Methodology
Content of the Web Site
Design of the Web Site
Implementation of the Web Site
Discussion and Conclusion
Issues and Concerns
Recommendations for Future Research
Evaluate Information Originally Intended for the Site
Investigate Additional Information for Inclusion in the Web Site
Enhance the User Interaction with the Site
Update the Information Already Presented on the Site
Conclusion
References


ABSTRACT

In the last half of the twentieth century Historic Preservation has become an increasingly important issue that has been recognized on a local, state, national and international level. The environmental, economical, educational, social, and psychological benefits of preservation are proven time and time again, and should not be underestimated.

With the emergence of the Internet towards the end of the twentieth century, the possibilities for information accessibility became endless, and using the Internet as a key source of information became a way of life for millions of people. Due to the popularity and the ease of the Internet, many communities have begun to use it as a form of information exchange, and recognize its importance as a key element in any educational or promotional effort.

Alachua County is just one of the many communities utilizing the Internet to provide information to the general public. A lacking component, however, of Alachua County's current network of web sites is a comprehensive information system on Historic Preservation in Alachua County.

In recognition of the importance of the Internet as a key component in a Community Based Historic Preservation Program, a web site was developed as part of this project. The site provides a comprehensive approach to information on historic preservation, as a means to increase the awareness of historic preservation issues, and activities in Alachua County, and to act as an educational tool for the public on what Historic Preservation can do for a community.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this project is to analyze the usage of the Internet, as a medium for presenting information on historic preservation and other data to support the development and implementation of a Community Based Historic Preservation Program. Furthermore, an exploration will be undertaken as to the significance of information on Historic Preservation as a consensus building tool for the Local Planning Agency, the Historical Commission, the General Public, and other decision making entities within Alachua County. Chapter one will provide a brief description of topics and literature relevant to this project, in order to serve as a background for understanding the focus of this project. Topics discussed include the importance and benefits of Historic Preservation at a global, national, state, and local level, Historic Preservation efforts in Alachua County, Consensus Building and Decision Support Tools, and the use of the Internet as a means of increasing information accessibility. Furthermore, a basis of where to begin is given by examining specific community Web sites that focus on Historic Preservation.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Historic Preservation is an expression that many have heard, but may not have understood. There are many different terms used to describe work on historic places, so it is important to define what is meant by Historic Preservation. The most general definition given would be the identification, protection, and enhancement of historic resources. However, according to the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, there are four separate treatment options for a historic resource, so the term Historic Preservation could easily be seen as having four separate entities: Preservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration, and Reconstruction.

It is safe to say that preservation and rehabilitation are probably the two most common meanings when one uses the term Historic Preservation. However, what typically happens in a Historic Preservation project is a combination of two or more of these techniques, which would explain the confusion surrounding the true definition of Historic Preservation.

Now that Historic Preservation has been defined, it is essential to explain its significance. Historic Preservation is important on a variety of levels: environmental, economical, educational, social, and psychological. The first benefit, environmental, is especially important in today's society of wastefulness. "It takes the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline to make, deliver, and install just eight bricks" (Beaumont, 13). There are similar comparisons made regularly on the amount of energy it takes to create a new building. Based on this information alone, the importance of conserving the buildings that we already have, before we waste energy to build new ones is obvious. Furthermore, it has typically been found that in historic areas, the "buildings, streets and infrastructure for which natural resources have already been extracted go underused" (Beaumont, 12). We cannot continue to expect taxpayers to pay for new roads, sewers, utilities, water lines, libraries, schools and post offices, while existing infrastructures and public buildings go underused (Beaumont, 15).

The second benefit of historic preservation is economic. Many people believe that preservation regulations and restrictions will reduce property values and suppress economic development. This is typically the exact opposite, with property values increasing, or stabilizing at the very least. "A 1997 study of the impact of historic designation on residential property values in the town of Palm Beach revealed 10% to 20% enhancement of a historically designated property. Designation has a beneficial effect on surrounding properties as well" (Florida Department of State Historical Resources). Another example can be found in Denver, Colorado: "A 1990 economic analysis of business activity in Denver's Lower Downtown Historic District reported that the district actually fared better economically than other parts of the city. Within two years of the districts designation, 114 new businesses creating 450 new jobs located in the district. While most of Denver suffered from a severe recession, the Lower Downtown district experienced substantial new business activity according to the study" (Beaumont, 14).

The economic benefits of preservation can also be seen in economic development opportunities created through heritage tourism. "Every study of travel motivations has shown that an interest in the achievements of the past is one of the three major reasons why people travel…Among cities with no particular recreational appeal, those that have substantially preserved their past continue to enjoy tourism" (Beaumont, 14). Furthermore, according to a draft version of Planning for the Past: A Preservation Plan for Florida's Cultural Heritage, "An early study revealed that 70% of tourists who visit Florida plan their trips specifically for historic sites or include such destinations as part of their vacations."

Education is another example of the benefits of historic preservation. "Historic sites give meaning to and animate the lessons of history" (Beaumont, 15). Old buildings are valued as an expression of the human spirit and man's creativity. They serve as living reminders of the "engineering and technological advances we have made as a society, and can act as inspirational models for today's youth" (Beaumont, 15).

Additional benefits of historic preservation are social and psychological. "Social benefits of preservation stem from the way many historic areas are laid out. Mixed land uses, narrow and pleasant streets, compact development and other characteristics typical of historic districts foster a pedestrian friendly environment" (Beaumont, 15). Furthermore, historic structures provide a sense of permanence and continuity in the community and "the presence of familiar, beautiful landmarks gives people a kind of emotional anchor as well as a sense of orientation to what is around them" (Beaumont, 16).

It is because of these benefits that the importance of Historic Preservation is realized not only on a local or state level, but also nationally and internationally. This is not an issue that is limited to one specific culture, or country. Historic Preservation is a topic that affects all of mankind, not only because it is the preservation of our built environment, but also because it is the preservation of our cognitive environment. By preserving our physical environment, our memories of the past are also preserved.

In a world where individualism and quality in design and craftsmanship is quickly becoming non-existent, we turn to our historic structures not only as an example of what was, but what could be. They are our physical link to the past. It is this basic understanding of the importance of Historic Preservation in our society that has prompted support from organizations worldwide. One such organization is ICOMOS, or the International Council on Monuments and Sites. Founded in 1965 as an association of professionals to further "The conservation, protection, rehabilitation, and enhancement of monuments, groups of buildings, and sites on the international level" (Hardy, 4), it is composed of 87 national committees and several international technical committees. While ICOMOS has been involved in a variety of projects, they continue to be aware of, and recognize the importance of improving information accessibility for researchers and the public alike, and have found that the "use of the Internet has been an important means to achieving this goal" (Hardy, 14). The United States has also taken a strong stand on the importance of Historic Preservation, with the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, stating that "the spirit and direction of the nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage" (ESRI Conservation Program Resources: Cultural Resources & Historic Preservation). This was the first time that a clear identity and mission were established for Historic Preservation in the United States. The act was also important because it authorized the expansion and maintenance of the National Register of Historic Places and the creation of the Section 106 review process, which requires the federal government to evaluate the effect of a federally funded project on relevant properties listed in or eligible for the National Register.

The United States continues to consistently recognize the importance of Historic Preservation. Under Section F of the Department of Transportation Act, federally aided transportation projects that threaten historic sites (locally, state, or nationally designated) may not continue unless there is no feasible alternative. Furthermore, under the Public Buildings Cooperative Use Act federal agencies are required to consider leasing space in historic properties when it is economically feasible to do so. None of these laws, however, protects historic resources from private development. (Beaumont, 17-19) "When it comes to historic preservation, the strongest protection is typically found in preservation ordinances enacted by local governments" (Beaumont, 1). This can only be done through local ordinances, which is why the federal government encourages communities to participate in the Certified Local Government Program.

The Certified Local Government Program (CLG) was enacted as part of the National Historic Preservation Act amendments of 1980. The purpose of the program is to link the federal, state, and local governments into a preservation partnership for the identification, evaluation, and protection of historic properties. Designation as a Certified Local Government, either as a municipality or a county, makes historic preservation a public policy through passage of a historic preservation ordinance.

Florida instituted the Certified Local Government program in 1986, and since that time has "assisted in the survey, designation and preservation of thousands of historic and cultural resources and helped to create public awareness of historic preservation."

According to the Florida Certified Local Government Guidelines (1999), there are five requirements that must be met in order for a government to be considered a CLG. The requirements are as follows:

1. Enforce appropriate state or local legislation for designation and protection of historic properties.

2. Local governments shall establish a historic preservation review commission composed of professional and lay members in accordance with paragraph B.2.c.

3. The local government shall maintain a system for survey and inventory of historic properties.

4. Local governments shall provide for public participation in local historic preservation programs, including the process of recommending properties for nomination to the National Register.

5. Local governments shall satisfactorily perform the responsibilities listed in b.1-b.4, above and those specifically delegated to them by the State Historic Preservation Officer.

Benefits of a CLG are numerous, and were created to encourage participation in the program. According to the information packet sent out by the Bureau of Historic Preservation to local governments interested in participating in the CLG program, CLG's may:


As discussed in the CLG program, an effective local historic preservation program begins with the enactment of an historic preservation ordinance, and the creation of a qualified historic preservation board. "Preservation ordinances are local laws through which owners of historic properties are usually prohibited from altering or demolishing their property without local government approval" (Beaumont, 1). With the enactment of the ordinance comes the need to create a commission to administer the ordinance.

The Bureau of Historic Preservation provides a list of guidelines and procedures for a historic preservation commission, as well as guidelines for the public relations of the commission. One element states that talks should aim to educate and not simply be a guided historic tour of the community. This is an important concept, because it reinforces the states' position not only on the importance of public relations, but also on the importance of public education on historic preservation.

Becoming a Certified Local Government is an important step to take in any community, but it is not a required one. Currently, there are only 44 communities in the State of Florida participating in the CLG program (Florida Department of State Historical Resources, 14). According to the federal government, key features to a statewide approach to Historic Preservation Planning include: "active public involvement, not only in developing the vision, issues, and goals of the plan, but also in helping achieve these goals; furthermore, a wide variety of preservation-relevant information on social, economic, political, legal, and environmental conditions and trends is brought to bear in the identification and assessment of issues affecting resource preservation" (Statewide Historic Preservation Plans and Contacts, NPS).

In "More Than Orange Marmalade: A Statewide Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan for Florida" (1995), it is stated that the "primary purpose of Florida's Historic Preservation Planning Program is to provide guidance for the implementation of sound planning procedures for the location, identification, and protection of the states archaeological and historic resources. One of the ways that this is carried out is by requiring governments to address historic preservation in comprehensive planning decisions. The state of Florida also recognizes the importance of public participation in the planning process, and the 1995 plan discusses strategies to encourage public participation, some of which include: a questionnaire distributed to a varied list of groups, to public libraries, and put on the web and, widespread public notification of workshops attached to questionnaires, published in newsletters, and sent to those on mailing lists. Furthermore, some of the goals laid forth in the plan are to: increase public access opportunities to Florida's cultural heritage by improving outreach and educational programs; provide technical assistance to private sector groups in the preservation of historic and archaeological sites and properties, and provide technical assistance to local governments in their efforts to preserve, protect and promote the states historical properties and archaeological sites of historic significance. One of the strategies given for implementing the goal of public access through outreach and education is to increase preservation information on the web (Historic Preservation Planning Program, National Park Service). This is also an important task for local governments to undertake as well, especially with the technological advances of the 21st century, because "information is useless if it is not accessible" (Hardy, 14)

ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County and the Alachua County Historical Commission, in an effort to emphasize the importance of historical resources in the community, recently had a Historic Structures survey conducted on the unincorporated areas of Alachua County. While a majority of the historic structures in the incorporated towns and cities have been documented, this is the first formal survey conducted in the unincorporated areas. Only five of the properties in the unincorporated areas have been listed in the national register of historic places (Anderson, 1). Of the 967 historic resources surveyed, 39 are considered potentially eligible for listing. (Anderson, 38). Several potential districts have also been identified.

As part of this report, specific recommendations were given for the continuation of the preservation process. The recommendations included applying for Certified Local Government Status, which includes the adoption of a historic preservation ordinance, and design guidelines. Additional recommendations included the promotion of the federal tax incentive program, the ad valorem tax exemption program, and the promotion and funding of historic preservation programs that include heritage tourism, façade improvements, marker and plaque programs, and a website. The web site is a key factor in this recommendation because it could serve as the promotional tool for all of the other recommendations listed. As the study points out, the power of the Internet should not be underestimated as the century approaches the millenium. "Websites offer ongoing information to residents and potential visitors to the area. It is estimated that over 25 million people worldwide are regular users of the Internet" (Anderson, 57).

The study also discussed the need to provide a separate Historic Preservation Element in the Comprehensive Plan, in order to provide a more comprehensive and dedicated element to historic preservation. The county is currently working on this element, and while still in draft form, the main goal is to preserve, protect, enhance, and support the historic resources and properties within Alachua County. While each of the objectives and policies laid out in the plan are important elements to achieve this goal, some stand out in their relevance to how educational information, made accessible through the Internet can be beneficial as a means to meet these specific policies and objectives.

Objective 2, Policy 2.1 states that "Alachua County shall maintain and update, on an annual basis, an inventory of historic resources and properties listed, eligible, or potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, or listed, eligible, or potentially eligible for listing in regional or local registers." Due to the ease of updating, and making changes that an electronic system offers, this objective is easily achievable. However, by taking it a step further, and offering the information online, the public becomes more aware of the historic resources that are located in the county as well.

Objective 4 states that "Alachua County shall promote the use of Historic resources for heritage tourism as part of the county's economic development efforts.

Objective 4, Policy 4.1 states that: Agencies and organizations involved in heritage tourism shall coordinate their activities to promote heritage tourism as part of the county's economic development efforts.

The key to any good tourism effort is marketing, and the Internet can easily become the cornerstone of a marketing effort between agencies and organizations. Links can be added to the main Historic Preservation home page that directs the visitor to other organizations, a brief summary of each organization can also be provided to better inform the visitor as to what is available.

In its quest for becoming a Certified Local Government, the county is also working on the creation of a Historic Preservation Ordinance, and according to the study, Design Guidelines should also be created to work in conjunction with the preservation ordinance. It is recommended that these guidelines are "developed with participation from the community so that individuals most affected by the proposed standards will be aware of and take part in the production of such standards" (Anderson, 55). Under the CLG program, a Historical Commission must be formed to ensure the compliance of the ordinance. However, a Historic Preservation Commission already exists in Alachua County: The Alachua County Historical Commission.

Its mission is to "represent Alachua County in matters pertaining to the history of Alachua County; and provide leadership in advancing the identification, protection, preservation, and interpretation of Alachua County's cultural patrimony" (Alachua County Department of Growth Management, Historic Preservation Commission). Created in 1989, the committee is composed of 15 members appointed by the county commission. Members are selected based on their interest in the heritage of Alachua County, and their relevant experience. They meet once a month, and typically public attendance and/or community participation is rare. However, this can be changed, by posting the meeting times and places on the Internet, as well as issues to be discussed at the next meeting, and minutes from previous meetings, the public will be more informed as to what Historic Preservation Activities the commission is involved with. Also, something as simple as a brief "invitation" online for the public to attend these meetings could help.

At the present time information on Historic Preservation in Alachua County is found in a variety of formats; photographs, written documentation, relational databases, and GIS datasets are just a few examples. While most of this information is accessible, one needs the knowledge to know where to go to find it, and in some cases, the correct software, hardware and pertaining expertise in order to access it. This makes it cumbersome and inefficient and truly limiting the issue of accessibility to this information. The professional community and the public alike can vastly benefit by having this information presented in a comprehensive format which is easily accessible through the Internet, and that does not require any prior knowledge of software use. This information system could be conveyed through the Internet, or on a CD-ROM as a form of delivery with such advantages for certain user groups.

INTERNET

The Internet is not a new idea by any means. "Local Governments throughout the United States have used the Web innovatively to make public information available electronically" (Albarran, 41). Using the Internet as an additional source of information is beneficial in a variety of ways. The first is convenience. One can access information from anywhere at anytime, thereby reducing the amount of time spent acquiring information, and eliminating the restriction on the user by time and place. This can be especially beneficial to a variety of groups and individuals, such as a member of the local planning agency who may be trying to present an idea at a Historical Commission Meeting. Many different issues may be discussed, and while a planner typically expects this, there are some issues that are usually unexpected. By having all of the information accessible on the Internet, a planner would merely need to click on a couple of links to get everyone on the same page (no pun intended). Maps, historical info, and other data can be quickly brought up for everyone to analyze, thereby furthering the consensus building process.

The Internet is also beneficial when considering long-term savings, both in employee time and printed materials. By placing the information in electronic form, changes can be made to the data quickly and easily, eliminating the need to redesign and reprint the entire document to fit in the changes. Furthermore, the need for preprinted brochures and written information can be reduced by the ability of one to access the information online. "Because of the speed and ease with which one can find out information on the web, those who use the web regularly often turn to it to find out whatever it is they're interested in before trying out any other sources" (Community Tool Box Part C Chapter 6 Section 16: Promoting Interest in Community Issues ). Therefore, through the ease of making changes, and providing alternative sources for information, the chance of preprinted supplies running out are reduced, and more importantly, the chance of the information being outdated is diminished.

The Internet is an excellent way to access information because it allows the user to work at their own pace, and to selectively view information, but it also allows the user to peruse additional information that they may not have realized was available. This is especially important when discussing the use of the Internet as an educational tool. By "marketing" a comprehensive Historic Preservation Program online, the public can become more aware, and thus more involved in the activities of Alachua County.

Education, and furthermore, knowledge, is a key component of any good government effort. One of the reasons the Historic Preservation movement in the United States has not gained a large following is lack of knowledge about what Historic Preservation really is. Many people fear the idea of the government having any control over their property; However, they can sometimes be unaware of the benefits of such control. For example, a listing on the National Register of Historic Properties does not inhibit the homeowner from making changes to their property, but it does protect the home from arbitrary interference by the federal government. Therefore, the use of the Internet can serve as an educational, as well as a consensus building tool for the public simply by clarifying facts and myths.

This leads to the importance of the Internet as an aid in the public participation process. As one of the requirements to become a Certified Local Government, public participation cannot be overlooked. Public Participation is a broad term, however, and what constitutes public participation is an issue that must be discussed. It is more than just presenting information to the public for their approval or disapproval, it is getting them involved in the decision making process at an early stage. This can be done through occasional charettes, community visioning meetings or other planned events surrounding specific topics. Probably the most used form of public participation in Alachua County is in the county commission meetings, in which every citizen is granted the right to speak. However, this is not always the best means to obtain public participation. Usually the turnout at these meetings is minimal, and it is fair to say that there is not typically a representative sample of the population. This is where the Internet becomes useful as a tool to encourage community participation. It can be utilized to post public polling/opinion surveys online. Forums, chat rooms, and list serves are additional examples of obtaining the public's opinion. Moreover, public participation can be further enhanced by posting information online about the steps taken to become a Certified Local Government, like design guidelines, historic preservation ordinance, etc., and encouraging the community to respond. By keeping the community informed from the beginning, it is much easier to gain support. Consensus and support is critical when dealing with government programs and regulation, primarily because the government serves the public, so without the public's support, little would get done.

There is one issue, however, that must be discussed in relation to the "public" and using the Internet to reach them. It is called the digital divide. This is a term used to describe the gap between those who have Internet access, and those who do not. "Each year, becoming digitally connected becomes ever more critical to economic, educational, and social advancement. Now that a large number of Americans regularly use the Internet to conduct daily activities, people who lack access to those tools are at a growing disadvantage" (Americans in the Information Age: Falling Through the Net). The digital divide focuses mainly on Internet access, which includes "network infrastructure, computer equipment and computer literacy" (Digital Divide Network). Research shows that the majority of people who do not have Internet access include the disabled, the elderly, the poor, the uneducated, blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and people who live in rural areas. "Though the Internet is consistently touted as the newest educational tool with the potential to narrow demographic disparities, the data shows that only those who have already attained educational success are using the Internet in large numbers" (Americans in the Information Age: Falling Through the Net). These disadvantaged groups typically make up a fair percentage of the population, which is why the digital divide is of such concern. For example, "people with disabilities represent the largest U.S. minority population at almost 20%" (Digital Divide Network). Disabled people are at an even greater disadvantage than other groups because sometimes access to the Internet is not enough; special programs or equipment are sometimes needed in order to use the computer.

One way in which the government, and other organizations strive to narrow the gap in the digital divide is by offering free computer and Internet access to the public. Public access can typically be found in libraries and community centers; however, work is the most frequently used access point for people without household access and Kindergarten through 12th grade schools are the second (Americans in the Information Age: Falling Through the Net). These public access points tend to serve mainly the people who do not have access at home, indicating some success in programs tailored to offer access to those who may not normally have it (Americans in the Information Age: Falling Through the Net).

It is beyond the scope of this project to attempt to solve the problems facing the issues of the digital divide, and this discussion serves to mainly acknowledge that there is a problem. However, there are numerous public access points in Alachua County, including all of the public libraries (there are at least 8 branches). There is also a program in place that provides free Internet service to Alachua County residents. Alachua Freenet is a "community supported and sponsored system in Gainesville, Florida which gives access to the Internet and community resources to more than 10,000 people" (Alachua Freenet). This program also works to put computers in community centers, although the usage has not been very heavy.

CONSENSUS BUILDING AND DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS

There have been specific tools and techniques developed to aid in the consensus building and decision support process. Probably the most well known consensus building tool is the Delphi Process. Originally developed in the 50's by scientists at the Rand Corporation, the basic premise is that by replacing direct confrontation and debate with a "carefully planned, orderly program of sequential discussions" (The Delphi Process), a consensus can be obtained. This consensus is obtained thorough a five-step process, in which the first step is to assemble an interest group complied by experts on the subject. Typically the participants share a common interest, but represent different points of view, and the discussion can be either face-to-face or through correspondence (Design Methods: Decision: Delphi Process.). Once the group is assembled, each member is asked to anonymously comment on the issues, and to provide reasons for their opinions. The third step is for the facilitator to analyze the comments, and the fourth is to report to the group. At this point the process becomes cyclical. The group discusses the issues presented in the report, and uses this discussion to form the basis for the next round, upon which the entire process is repeated. "Through several iterations, this process synthesizes the responses, resulting finally in a consensus" (Origin of the Delphi Process). Thus, the fifth step in the process is to come to a consensus.

"Researchers point out that the Delphi Technique 'eliminates committee activity altogether, thus further reducing the influence of certain psychological factors, such as specius persuasion, the unwillingness to abandon publicly expressed opinions, and the bandwagon effect of majority opinion" (The Delphi Process). However, it has also been seen as a manipulative technique because the facilitator can sometimes be biased against a specific outcome and can tailor the process, unknowingly to participants, to achieve this outcome.

While this technique is very popular as a consensus building tool, it is important to realize that it is simply a technique. Perhaps, simply information accessibility is adequate as a means of decision support. By presenting information to the common man that has typically been available or accessible only to professionals, an "expert" is not needed. In this sense, GIS information may be seen as a consensus building tool as well. By being able to ask specific questions from a database, and get specific answers, a GIS system is an important tool for supporting decisions, and for educating the general public.

A GIS, or Geographic Information System is made up of both computer hardware and software and is capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information (USGS, Geographic Information Systems). It can simultaneously manipulate both geographic and associated tabular databases, which allows it to be utilized for data management as well as decision support. Because of this, GIS is an excellent tool to integrate a wide variety of data and explore inter-relationships between different types of complex information (New Jersey Historic Preservation Office). The strength of GIS, is in its capacity to produce quality mapped products and conduct sophisticated spatial analyses.

While technological advances have increased the availability of GIS for a variety of organizations, it is still a very expensive system that requires technical knowledge to use it. This can be a problem to the general public, because even if they had access to GIS, they may lack the skills to perform analysis. This is unfortunate, because of the possibilities that this system offers. Due to the capabilities of such a system, it is only natural to imagine how it is applicable for cultural resource management and historic preservation. A GIS allows a variety of people including Board members, state employees, preservationists, researchers, private developers, environmentalists, and the general public easier access to information concerning Alachua County's historic structures and sites. Faster and better data availability allows planners and preservationists to make better decisions, and, thus, uphold the public interest (Montgomery, 17). Faster and better data can also help support decisions surrounding the comprehensive plan. An example is identifying opportunities for, and constraints on development near historic properties. "Probably the single most important use of a GIS system is its ability to provide the most current and accurate information, so that it allows officials to make the best decisions possible with regards to those sites so that they can target limited financial and human resources to the sites with the highest priority. The more accurate the data is, the better the ordinance can be drafted to address the communities preservation opportunities and constraints" (Montgomery, 18).

COMMUNITY BASED HISTORIC PRESERVATION WEB SITES

Due to the ease of the Internet, many communities have begun to use it as a form of information exchange. Furthermore, while GIS capabilities for the general public is still fairly new, many communities are interested in the possibilities of what can be achieved, and have plans to incorporate GIS into their Website in the near future. While GIS is fairly common in most planning agencies today, its accessibility to the general public has been limited. The use of the Internet for the presentation of materials related to historic preservation by planning and other governmental agencies, however, is increasingly common. While the type and presentation of the information is widely varied between communities, the Websites of Spokane, Washington; Salisbury, North Carolina; and Telluride, Colorado all serve as excellent examples of how to provide in depth information on their Historic Preservation Activities. A print out of each of their main pages can be found in Appendix A.

The town of Telluride is especially interesting to this study because the web site was created in the last year, and about two-thirds of the site was funded by historic preservation grants, including a Certified Local Government Grant. While the web site is for the entire town government, its creation was driven by the historic preservation program. According to Kaye Simonson, a historic preservation planner for Telluride, the stated purpose when applying for the grants was to educate the public and provide information as efficiently as possible. In the past 6 months, she states, we've had enough positive feedback to know we've met that goal. "Realtors, architects, and developers really are more receptive to the idea of looking up our regulations and other information if they can do it online." Also, because many of their property owners and architects are out of town, this is an extremely efficient way to deliver information to them.

The site provides information on Design Guidelines; Historic and Architectural Surveys; National Register of Historic Places Nomination; Links to Historic Preservation Information; and application forms for the Historic and Architectural Review Commission. A historical structures map can also be viewed.

Salisbury, North Carolina also has a Historic Preservation link from the city's home page. A certified local government since 1996, improvements to the web site occurred in 1998 as a means of providing information to the general public. While the counts have not been completely accurate, Mr. Arnett, senior planner for Salisbury, states that the preservation site has consistently received more hits that any other areas of the Land Management Department. According to Arnett, the web site is designed mainly around the local historic district program, however, it includes information that is targeted not only to the homeowner, or preservationist, but also to a tourist or a general web surfer. They are currently in the process of developing a GIS application where photographs and historical information can be linked to individual properties. They do, however, have district maps already on the site. They also have information on their Historic Preservation Ordinance; Historic District Design Guidelines; Historic Preservation Commission; Frequently Asked Questions; and Statistics on the National Historic Register Districts and Historic Properties. Additional information is also provided on both a Heritage Walking Tour and a Civil War Walking Tour. One of the main problems that they have had with this web site is that people don't really know it exists. They are currently working with local realtor groups to include links from their pages and to include the URL in the their newsletters. Interestingly, he has found that it is easier to promote outside of the community, because of links on other Historic Preservation and Planning web sites like Cyburbia.

Spokane is unique because it was the first city in Washington to become a Certified Local Government. With the adoption of a preservation ordinance in 1981, the county followed suit in 1982. These ordinances established the Spokane County/City Landmarks Commission. Today the Historic Preservation Office is a joint city/county agency. The web site offers a variety of information, and while some seems to be a bit outdated, it does provide information on the landmarks commission, the preservation process, a virtual tour, a newsletter, and public notices. The preservation process link is especially informative because it provides information on listing in the national register, including the application process and a downloadable registration form, as well as the Spokane register, which includes information on design review and the historical marker program. It also provides information on preservation incentives, and the Historic House Research Guide, which lists resource tips on finding information about a Historic Structure. The virtual tour allows you to click on a specific area of town in which a picture of a house is pulled up with the option of more information (historical info on the house) or the option of viewing other houses.

METHODS


The requirements of this project were perceived in two parts. The first, was to analyze the usage of the Internet, and its importance on a variety of levels, for presenting information on historic preservation as a key component of a Community Based Historic Preservation Program in Alachua County, Florida. This was done primarily through research, which the reader was introduced to in Chapter 1. The second part, was the process of creating a web site from conception, to its full implementation. The latter process went through three stages: gathering and classifying pertaining information to the web site, which took form in the content; designing the web site from both the technical aspects, and what the user actually sees; and the writing of the code to implement the web site. Chapter 2 will introduce the fundamentals of the content, the design and the implementation of the web site and the process of how each unfolds.

CONTENT OF THE WEB SITE

The process of creating a web site begins with the content, or what information will actually be presented on the site. In choosing the content, the target audience must first be identified so that the information gathered will be relevant to that specific audience. Because this web site was intended as a "community based web site," it was decided that the audience would be targeted towards not 1, but 4 main audiences:

· Tourists
· Homeowners and Residents of Alachua County
· Community Decision Makers
· Professionals

Therefore, because of the diverse audience, there would be information on a variety of topics, tailored to each audience, but applicable to other audiences as well, thereby creating a comprehensive approach to presenting information on Historic Preservation. Once the audience was identified, the next step was to gather and classify information that would be used on the web site. Information was gathered from a multitude of sources, one source usually leading to the next. The starting point, however, was to analyze the content of existing web sites whose purpose was similar in nature to what the Alachua County Historic Preservation web site would be. From this, an idea of what types of information would be needed could be ascertained.

These existing web sites were identified using two separate approaches. The first was to post an email on the National Trust's forum list serve asking for examples of existing "community based" web sites on historic preservation. This list serve was chosen specifically because a majority of the members are preservation professionals, or are in some way related to the preservation field. The approach yielded 13 responses giving specific web site addresses. While all of the web sites given were used for some purpose (organization of information, content, design, etc), three were specifically chosen as an overall example of the type of web site that was desired, and as having content similar to what would be included on the Alachua County web site. These three, discussed in the introduction, are for the communities of Spokane, Washington, Salisbury, North Carolina, and Telluride, Colorado. They served as a reference guide throughout the development of the Alachua County web site. The second approach was to do an Internet search using a varied combination of keywords, such as "historic preservation," "community based web sites," etc. While this search turned up a multitude of responses, the actual number of sites specifically related to what was intended were few and far between; however, this search did turn up additional information to consider, specifically related to content, and possible links to include on the Alachua County web site. Based on the information reviewed, an agenda was created for the desired content of the web page for Historic Preservation in Alachua County. The initial layout of what was to be included is shown below:

Information to be included on Alachua County Historic Preservation Website

This initial plan was broad in scope, and unorganized, so the next step was to organize it in the way the web pages would be laid out, and how each page would link to the others. Based on time restraints, during the organizational process, some of the information was discarded, with the intention of adding it at a later date, or leaving it as a recommendation for future projects or additions. The basic framework was created, and then the content of each page was considered on an individual basis. The final layout is shown below:

DESIGN OF THE WEB SITE

The design of the web page was intended from the beginning to be simple and easy to understand, while at the same time visually appealing. This navigational philosophy was the driving force for the design, which can be viewed as being composed of 2 separate, yet interrelated entities: what the user sees, and the technical aspects of how that was achieved.

One of the first decisions regarding the design occurred in the organizational process of the information gathered. It was determined that as many links to additional pages as possible should be located on the left hand side, or in the "main frame," of each page, in order to make the entirety of the site apparent from any page. Another consideration, however, was to make sure that there weren't so many links immediately presented that the user would be overwhelmed. Therefore, each of these links to additional pages becomes, in a sense, individual themes, that when used together become part of a whole. Under each of these "themes" are additional related links and information.

Because of the authors lack of knowledge in graphic design and computer related programs, it was difficult to achieve some of the desired graphical elements of the page. However, the general idea was for each page to have the same "frame," as discussed above, to act as a unifying element throughout the site. This "frame" encompassed the title section at the top, and a listing of links to additional pages, located on the left-hand side of the page. The frame, with the listing of links, is located on each page of the web site, so that the user is not required to get out of a page by backing out, but merely clicking on a link. While the unifying "frame" was established early on, it went through several, very different iterations, before becoming what it currently is.

The initial "frame" created a design in which a title went across the top, and links were provided on the left of the page to each of the additional pages. There were no graphics or images on this initial effort, and basic text was displayed on the screen. This frame was created using the frameset tag in HTML, in which the general structure for a framed HTML document is set. The framed HTML document allows one single frame to be defined for all of the pages. This removes the need to write the "frame" for each page. However, there are also negatives with using the frameset tag. One of which is that the document is actually broken up into sections, each section having its own scroll bar. Because this look was not wanted, it was decided to remove the frameset tags and use the table tag to break the document into different sections in a table format, allowing the sections to be displayed without the scroll bar.

The table tag is used to insert a table into an html document. Within the tables opened () and closed (
) tag, are, among others, table data () tags, and table row () tags. Each of these tags must also be opened and closed. The table row tag identifies which data will be located on which row (running horizontally), and is used in conjunction with the table data tag, which signifies the text to be included in the table. For example, if two table data tags are used within one table row tag, then all of the text will appear in one row, under two columns (running vertically).

In order to create a "frame" for the page, a plain image tag was used for the top "title" section which covered the entire width of the top of the page and the tables tag was used for the "framed" left-hand side of the page. By using the table tag with one table row tag and two table data tags, the left-hand image could be displayed, while at the same time allowing for text and any additional graphics, tailored to each individual web page, to appear on the right hand side. While the table tag was able to produce the desired effect, it is not typically used, or intended to be used to create a "frame." This is obvious when one considers that when using the table tag to set up a "frame", it must be written into each individual web page included in the web site, and any changes to this text, has to be done on an individual page basis.

As a result of the first attempt's lack of graphics and color, the second attempt resulted in bold colors and graphical images, as seen below, created in Microsoft Word, copied over into Adobe Photoshop, and saved as image files with a .jpg extension. The table tag, discussed above, was used to create the "frame", and both the title, and the list of links to the left were each made into images. In order for the links to additional pages to work within a single image, image mapping was used. Image mapping is when an image tag is used in conjunction with a map tag. The image tag identifies which image is to be "mapped," and the map tag provides specific coordinates from the image indicated, along with a URL for the section of the image that the given coordinates define. When image mapping occurs, it allows the user to click on a portion of the image, thereby linking them to the designated URL. This allows for multiple links to be accessed within a single image.

While the second attempt was better than the first, it was still not what was desired. The final iteration used the table tag and image mapping, as in the second iteration, but also incorporated photographic images, and toned down the colors and additional graphics significantly.

While the majority of the information presented in this web site consists of text, there were some web pages that used images as well. The most image heavy pages on the web site are in the virtual tour pages found under the Historic Towns link. These pages provide a brief description of some the historic structures found in the towns of Alachua County, and in addition, some of the pages also include a photo of the historic structure discussed. The pictures throughout the site came from three sources. The Alachua County Historical Commission provided a CD that had pictures and text for the towns of Newberry, Archer, Evinston, and Micanopy, so the files were simply converted to .jpg files, and saved under the appropriate folders. A majority of the historical marker photos were taken by a worker at the Alachua County Growth Management Department, and saved on disk in the same fashion as above. The remaining pictures throughout the site were taken by the author, and either processed on CD, or scanned in, and saved as .jpg or .gif files.

One of the design decisions that had to be made when inserting images into a web page, was the image size. The larger the image, the longer the page will take to load. On an image heavy page, this is an especially strong concern. Therefore, the decision was made that on image heavy pages, the images would all be large enough to see, but small enough to prevent exceptionally long loading times.

The maps on this site also came from three sources. The maps found on the Historic Town Main page, and the map linked from the historical marker main page were created in ArcView using data from the FGDL database. They were then saved as images with a .jpg extension. Furthermore, image mapping was used on the historic towns map so that information on each town could be accessed simply by clicking on the name of the town. All of the walking maps of the historic towns were scanned in from the Historic Tour Guide brochures, or saved from the CD provided by the Alachua County Historical Commission. Some of the scanned maps, however, were not of a high enough quality to read, so a worker from the Alachua County Growth Management Department took the scanned version of the maps, and redrew new maps, so that they would be easier to read. These maps were then all saved as image files, with .jpg extensions.

It is at this point that the file structure of the web site should be discussed. In order to better manage all of the files and the interrelatedness of the text files and images and the links from one to another, the files were broken down into a directory, and subdirectory of files, and folders with additional files. The folders, specifically, were created to hold groups of files all pertaining to a specific subject. For example, under the historictowns folder is a folder for the town of Archer. Placed in this folder are all of the files related to Archer, including maps and images. Creating these subdirectories is a form of organization to make the files easier to find. Furthermore, each of the files in this network of files are linked to each other using relative paths, or relative URL's. Instead of typing in the absolute, or entire URL, only a partial URL is needed to locate the file, this is called a relative URL. For instance, if two files are in the same directory then only the file name is needed to link them. If we are in the archer directory, then href= "archerhist.htm" will take us to the history of archer file, without having to type in the entire URL, which would be: "C:\MyDocuments\Thesis\historic_commission\historictowns\archer\archerhist.htm". However, if two files are in different directories, then more information is required, but the absolute URL is still not needed. To go back one directory, two periods and a forward slash (../) are used, and to go down one directory, a forward slash (/), plus the directory name is used.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WEB SITE

Once the decision was made on the content and the design the challenge was to implement them into a real physical web site. In order to understand how a web site is created through both the content and design, it is important to gain basic knowledge in the programming language that ultimately produces the web site.

Web pages are generated from ordinary, basic text files, but the language in which they are written is HTML. HTML is the acronym for Hypertext Markup Language, which is the programming language that explains how the text and graphics will be displayed on the Internet, or formatted for viewing. "An HTML document is simply a text document in which "Hypertext" refers to the text's ability to link to other documents, and "markup" refers to how text, images, and hypertext links are to be displayed in the web page" (Knuckles 46).

HTML is written using tags. "A tag is a keyword that tells the browser how to modify the text within the page. All tags are enclosed with a less than sign "<'"and a greater than sign ">'" (notes), and they are all case in-sensitive, which means that it does not matter if they are written in capital or lowercase letters. There are two types of tags: container elements and non-container elements. Container elements are tags that must be opened and closed, in which the text affected is located within the tags. In addition, in between the opening and closing of a container tag, other tags can be nested, or placed inside of, the outer tags. This allows for multiple modifications to varying sections of the text. The same tag is used to open and close a container element, however, to the closed tag always contains a backslash at the beginning of the tag word. For example, is the opening tag, and is the closing tag.

Non-Container tags are not opened or closed. They are a single tag, which only affects the position on the page where they are placed, in effect, making a single modification. In order for multiple modifications to be made using a non-container tag, multiple tags are required, one for each time the modification is to be made. Table 1 gives a listing of some of the more basic container and non-container tags and their meanings.

Table 1: Container/Non-Container Tags


Container Tags

…. Bolds Text
…. Underlines Text
….
Centers Text

Non-Container Tags


Break
Horizontal Rule (A horizontal line across the page)


To further modify the text, attributes are used within a tag. Attributes are specific modifications, such as color, size, width, etc., to a single tag. Attributes are always enclosed within the less than and greater than signs of the tag that they are being used with. Some tags work without the use of attributes, while others require at least one attribute. In this case, if an attribute is not defined, a default will be used. Table 2 gives an example of how an attribute works within a tag.

Table 2: Tags and Attributes


Tag:
Attributes: Color: Sets the color of the text
Face: Sets the font type for the text
Size: sets the font size
Tag:

Attributes: Width: sets the length of the horizontal rule
Size: sets the thickness of the horizontal rule


The most basic HTML document consists of four container tags: , , <head>, and <body>. The <html> </html> tags tell the browser that everything inside the tags are part of an HTML document. The <head> </head> tag is the tag for the heading section of the document. The <title> tag is for the title section of the document. The title tag is typically nested within the head tag, and its contents are displayed at the top left-hand side of each web page, indicating the actual page within a site that the user is viewing. Everything contained within the tag is the text that is actually displayed on the screen. It is within the body tag that other tags are typically nested.

With this basic knowledge of HTML, a simple web page can be created, and expanded upon using various tags and attributes. It is with this knowledge, and the contributing elements of content and design that the web site took form, and delivery was made possible.

HTML pages can be made more intelligent with the usage of the JavaScript language. JavaScript is a programming language that is placed inside of an HTML document, and runs in the client machine as the user is hitting the HTML page. For this project some JavaScript code was used as well.

HTML files are usually created in a simple text editor, such as Notepad. For this particular web site, a combination of Notepad software, and the Ultra Edit software were used. There were however, additional software programs used in the process of creating the web site such as: ArcView 3.2, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Word. Windows 2000 was the Operating System.

Once the content and design were written into code, the web site was ready to be transferred from the home computer to the remote server for a trail run to see if everything worked the same as on the home computer. This was done using FTP software, in which the files were uploaded into the main server of the Alachua County Growth Management Department, with no public link, which meant that the general public could only access this site if they had the entire URL for the site. The URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, locates a resource on the Internet. In laymen's terms it is the Internet address for a web site.

During the "trial run", a couple of problems arose. The Alachua County main server uses the Linux Operating System with Apache web server software. Linux being a case sensitive Operating System, forced the author to identify and re-name certain files in which case sensitivity was not relevant in the home computer that was running Windows 2000. Another problem occurred with linking within the documents, because an absolute URL was used that gave the file location within the home computer, once the files were transferred to the remote server, the URL was not the same. Therefore, all of the URL's given for links within the entire web page were changed to a relative URL. This was quite a valuable lesson to be considered in future efforts of this kind.

The site has yet to make its public debut, but it is planned to be a link from the Alachua County Growth Management's homepage. Efforts are also under way to link this web site to the Alachua County's homepage.

REFERENCES

Alachua County Visitors and Conventions Bureau. http://www.visitgainesville.net/ January 16, 2001.

Alachua Freenet. http://www.afn.org/. May 29, 2001.

Edited by: Albarran, Alan B. & Goff, David H. Understanding the Web: Social, Political, and Economic Dimensions of the Internet. Iowa State University Press, 2000.

Americans in the Information Age: Falling Through the Net. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/digitaldivide/. March 2, 2001.

Anderson, Sherry. Historic Structures Survey of Unincorporated Alachua County. Quatrefoil/Anderson Consulting, June 2000.

Beaumont, Constance E. A Citizen's Guide to Protecting Historic Places: Local Preservation Ordinances. Found in information packet on the Certified Local Government Program sent out by the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources.

Closing the Digital Divide. http://digitaldivide.gov/. March 2, 2001.

Cohen, Jonathan. Communication and Design with the Internet. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2000.

Community Tool Box: Part C Chapter 6: Promoting Interest in Community Issues. http://ctb.1si.ukans.edu/tools/EN/chapter_1005.htm. February 10, 2001.

Alachua County Department of Growth Management, Historic Preservation Commission. http://co.alachua.fl.us/~plan/hp.htm. January 17, 2001.

Design Methods: Decision: Delphi Process. http://www.tcdc.com/dmeth5b.htm. February 10, 2001.

Digital Divide Network. http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/. March 2, 2001.

ESRI Conservation Program Resources: Cultural Resources & Historic Preservation. http://www.esri.com/conservation/links/historic.html. January 29, 2001.

Hardy, Roberta. Geographic Information Systems for World Heritage Preservation. http://www-personal.umich.edu/%7Eroberta/gisrpt.htm. January 30, 2001. Master's Practicum Report at the University of Michigan. 1997.

Historic Preservation Planning Program, National Park Service. http://www2.cr.nps.gov/pad/stateplans/florida.htm. January 30, 2001.

Honore, Alcide L. Finding the Digital Divide. http://www.duke.edu/~gronke/webofpolitics/projects/digitaldivide/index.htm. March 29, 2001.

Huse, Susan Dr. GRASSLinks: A New Model for Spatial Information Access in Environmental Planning. http://www.regis.berkeley.edu/sue/phd/. February 8, 2001.

Florida Bureau of Historic Preservation. http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/bhp/. January 15, 2001.

Florida Department of State. Historic Preservation in Florida, an information packet on the Certified Local Government Program. Sent out January 26, 2001.

Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, Bureau of Historic Resources. Florida Certified Local Government Guidelines. January 1999.

Florida Department of State Historical Resources. More Than Orange Marmalade: A Statewide Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan for Florida. Fall 1998.

Florida Department of State Historical Resources. Draft copy of Planning for the Past: A Preservation Plan for Florida's Cultural Heritage. February 2001.

International Council on Monuments and Sites. http://www.international.icomos.org/about.htm. February 11, 2001.

Lynch, Patrick J. and Horton, Sarah. Web Style Guide: Basic Design Principles for Creating Web Sites. Yale University Press, 1999.

Knuckles, Craig D. Introduction to Interactive Programming on the Internet Using HTML & Javascript. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2001.

Montgomery, David. Taking a Byte Out of Time: The Use of GIS as a Tool for Cultural Resource Management and Historic Preservation. Masters Terminal Project, University of Florida, 1997.

National Register of Historic Places. http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/about.htm. April 5, 2001.

New Jersey Historic Preservation Office. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/. February 19, 2001.

Niederst, Jennifer. Designing for the Web: Getting Started in a New Medium. O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1996.

Origin of the Delphi Process. http://www.mgtaylor.com/delphi/delphiorigin.html. February 17, 2001.

The Delphi Process. http://www.eds.tamu.edu/al_htdocs/delphi.html. February 10, 2001.

Salisbury, North Carolina. Historic Preservation Web Site. http://www.ci.salisbury.nc.us/lm&d/historic/historic.html. January 31, 2001.

Spokane, Washington. Historic Preservation Department Web Site. http://www.historicspokane.org/. February 17, 2001.

Statewide Historic Preservation Plans and Contacts, NPS. http://www2.cr.nps.gov/pad/stateplans/statelist.htm. January 30, 2001.

Telluride Colorado. Town of Telluride Website. http://www.town.telluride.co.us/. February 10, 2001.

U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic and Statistics Administration: National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Falling Through the Net: Toward Digital Inclusion: A Report on Americans' Access to Technology Tools. 2000. http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS6464.

USGS, Geographic Information Systems. http://info.er.usgs.gov/research/gis/title.html February 19, 2001.