An interdisciplinary team from ECDS partnered with researchers at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea in the development of the OpenWorld Atlanta (OWA) project. OWA provides public access to historical information through engaging 3D and dynamic interfaces to the wealth of data from historic maps, city directories, and archival collections from 1920s Atlanta.

Partners from Emory University shared their expertise and innovative ideas from the ongoing work on the production of historical geodatabases, geocoders, and related digital media of Atlanta between the years 1878 and 1930. The partners from Yonsei University shared their expertise and innovative ideas on visual analytics and human-centered design principles to be applied to the body of work produced by the Digital Visualization Lab of Emory Center for Digital Scholarship. The partnership enables the project team to explore options for creating innovative interactive visual interfaces including web maps, geocoding tools, data visualizations, gaming platforms, as well as virtual and augmented reality experiences.

The ECDS-Yonsei University relationship began in 2018, funded by a collaborative research grant from the Halle Institute for Global Research. ECDS Team members Michael Page, Jay Varner, and Alexander Cors flew to Seoul in November 2022 to work with our Korean partners on developing and improving the OpenWorld Atlanta website interface. In Seoul, the ECDS team had the chance to present the project to Emory University President Gregory Fenves and Vice-President Joshua Newton during their alumni engagement visit to Korea.