Bringing the Past to Life
The Launch of the ROOTS Compass Portal
I am excited to share the launch of the ROOTS Compass, an innovative online platform that offers interactive access to the wide range of multidisciplinary research carried out by the Cluster of Excellence ROOTS.
This project, developed for the Kiel University in collaboration with multimedia designer Anke Tornow , aims to showcase the intricate connections between human societies, environments, and cultures over thousands of years. Our team has worked hard to create a portal that both experts and the general public can explore with ease.
ROOTS Compass provides a unique entry point into the research, allowing users to navigate a virtual globe to explore projects spread across continents, from ancient Pompeii to medieval North Rhine-Westphalia. By integrating various filters—such as historical periods, scientific disciplines, and research methods—users can uncover fascinating interdisciplinary links across different projects. Whether you're interested in archaeological excavations, DNA analysis, or computer modeling, the portal reveals the rich diversity of approaches used in the research at the ROOTS cluster.
For me, as the software developer for ROOTS Compass, this project has been a rewarding challenge. Creating an interactive frontend that integrates geo data visualization with highly connected data structures was both exciting and complex. Balancing user-friendly design with the dynamic exploration of connected information pushed us to innovate, especially in handling intricate project relationships and real-time map performance.
I'm proud to be part of this project, which not only makes cutting-edge research more accessible but also invites users to explore and engage with the complexities of our shared past. You can experience it yourself by visiting the portal at www.roots-compass.org .
