Atlas of Drowned Towns Documentation

Welcome to the comprehensive documentation for the Atlas of Drowned Towns System - a digital humanities platform dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of communities that were submerged by dam construction across the United States.

What is the Atlas of Drowned Towns System?

The Atlas of Drowned Towns System is an integrated digital platform consisting of:

• Web applications for public access and data management
• Interactive mapping tools for geographic exploration
• Database systems for storing historical artifacts and metadata
• Content management systems for curating historical narratives

This system supports the Atlas of Drowned Towns Project, led by Dr. Bob H. Reinhardt, Associate Professor of History and Project Director at Boise State University.

The Collection

The Atlas of Drowned Towns Collection is a carefully curated digital archive containing:

• Historical artifacts: Photographs, documents, oral histories, and personal testimonies
• Geographic data: Maps, boundaries, and spatial information about affected areas
• Narrative content: Historical analysis and interpretive materials written by scholars
• Community contributions: Stories and materials submitted by the public
• Metadata: Comprehensive information about each item in the collection

Major System Components

1. Public Web Site

URL: https://www.drownedtowns.com

The main public-facing website provides access to the collection, project information, and interactive features for general users.

2. Interactive Map

URL: https://map.drownedtowns.com/map2

An interactive mapping interface that allows users to explore the collection geographically, with time-based overlays and spatial data visualization.

3. Collection Management Portal

URL: http://dev-atlas-portal.s3-website-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/#

A specialized interface for Atlas administrators to manage, curate, and maintain the collection data.

User Types and Documentation

Our documentation is organized around three distinct user groups, each with specific needs and access levels:

🔧 Administrators

Trained team members responsible for managing and curating the collection data, including uploading artifacts, managing metadata, and maintaining content quality.

Available Documentation: Administrator Manuals

👥 General Users

People who want to explore the collection, learn about drowned towns, and access historical materials.

Available Documentation: User Manuals

💻 Developers

Software engineers who maintain, modify, and enhance the system's codebase and technical infrastructure.

Available Documentation: Developer Manuals

Quick Start

New to the system? Start here:

1. For general users: Begin with the Quick Start guide
2. For administrators: Review the Administrator Training materials
3. For developers: Check the Atlas Developer Cookbook

System Documentation

Core System Documentation

• Atlas Collection - Overview of the collection structure and content
• Atlas Collection Data Structure - Technical details of how data is organized
• Data Collection Schema - Database schema and data organization rules
• Supported File Types - File formats and media types supported by the system

Reference Materials

• Reference Manuals - Technical specifications and reference documents
• Reports - Development reports and project documentation
• BSU Servers - Information about Boise State University server infrastructure

Getting Help

• Technical issues: Contact the development team
• Content questions: Reach out through the main website contact form
• Documentation improvements: Submit suggestions through our GitHub repository

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Complete Documentation Index

For a comprehensive index of all documentation organized by category and audience, see:

Complete Documentation Index - Complete index of all repository documents grouped by category

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Last updated: [Current Date] Documentation version: 2.0