Map work (for later)

[karindalziel]

Muchiri's request:

I was actually thinking of changing the maps a bit.
For now, could we remove the 1850 and 1905 maps?

Let’s keep both the 1891 and 1895 maps. They each nicely demonstrate just how rapidly the configuration of colonized spaces was changing.

We should also keep the current map. However, I wonder if we find and add a map of the continent that does NOT include political boundaries? One of the major arguments from this research is how externally-determined current political boundaries are. It makes sense to offer readers a view of the continent WITHOUT these. Perhaps something like this:
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Te8DXznL-K4/VUTKD3m1dLI/AAAAAAAAFio/SqFYy0tvOXk/s1600/africa-topographic-map.jpg

Karin's Reply

With the code right now, it will iterate through and select each map, so I’ll need to dig into it a bit to figure out how to disable just certain maps.

Similarly, adding a view with a toggle to switch between them will be trickier than just switching out the base map (i.e. ONLY showing one without political boundaries). I can’t just add any random picture as a map, either, it has to be a in a service that provides free tiles, or we need to load tiles into our Geoserver instance (and probably pay for the data source). I need to look into this a bit more.

I have some time scheduled early next year to look into mapping and developing better UI for maps across projects, so if nothing else I can add this to the maps we’ll be fixing in January.

Further Thoughts

I could not quickly find a map source with NO country borders. The closest was a stamen terrain map, background only, which didn't label anything but did have country borders. Something to ask Rob about.

I was also debating on how to choose which maps to show. Mark it in the TEI file? Separate config doc? Could possibly have a "map allow list"

[karindalziel]

See linked issue above for borderless map