The project’s primary objective is to create a comprehensive Nordic resource for researching churches and prayer houses. At the same time, it seeks to document and preserve the rich historical heritage associated with these religious sites across the Nordic region. The primary audience for this initiative is researchers specializing in religious studies. Currently, the dataset includes information on churches and prayer houses in Norway and Sweden. However, the project aims to expand to cover other Nordic countries in the future, further enhancing its value as a research tool. The major result of the project can be found here: https://nordpow.humlab.umu.se/

Project Details

The project consisted of three main tasks:

Data Preparation and Integration
This involved collecting and merging data from Norway and Sweden into a consistent and unified dataset, ensuring accuracy and usability for future research.

Data Visualization and Web Application Development
The data was visualized using ArcGIS, culminating in the creation of an interactive web application in ArcGIS Experience Builder. The application includes filters based on a three-level structure of religious affiliation, time periods, and a manipulable timeline animation to provide users with dynamic exploration capabilities.

Guidance for Future Use and Expansion
Detailed instructions were developed to guide users in editing and expanding the dataset, supporting the continued growth and sustainability of the project.