Geospatial analysis of historical battlefields: GIS-aided modeling of the First Inonu Battle

Abstract

Modeling spatial and temporal data in a digital environment through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) facilitates the analysis of historical dynamics. This study examines military messages exchanged between the 24th Division and the Western Front Command during 2–14 January 1921 in the First İnönü Battle, evaluating troop movements, terrain characteristics, and strategic decisions using GIS-based methods. The originality of the research lies in the digital reconstruction of a century-old battlefield and the visualization of troop positions. Thematic maps created with the Military Tools editor in ArcGIS Pro reveal troop distributions and density zones. Point density analysis identifies centers of conflict and highlights the spatial relationship between strategic decisions and terrain. Consequently, the study provides a methodological contribution to the literature on digital history and military geography by offering a spatio-temporal analysis of the First İnönü Battle and enabling the reinterpretation of historical events within their early twentieth-century geographical context.

Keywords

• Historical GIS
• Military geography
• Digital humanities
• First Inonu Battle
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Tari̇hi̇ Savaş Alanlarının Jeo-Uzamsal Anali̇zi̇: Bi̇ri̇nci̇ İnönü Muharebesi̇ni̇n CBS Destekli̇ Modellemesi̇

Abstract

Mekânsal ve zamansal verilerin Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri (CBS) ile dijital ortamda modellenmesi, tarihsel olayların dinamiklerinin analizini kolaylaştırmaktadır. Bu çalışma, Birinci İnönü Muharebesi’nde 24. Tümen ile Batı Cephesi Komutanlığı arasında 2–14 Ocak 1921 tarihleri arasında kaydedilen askerî mesajları inceleyerek, birlik hareketleri, arazi özellikleri ve stratejik kararları CBS tabanlı yöntemlerle değerlendirmiştir. Çalışmanın özgün yönü, yaklaşık yüz yıl önceki savaş alanının dijital olarak yeniden kurgulanması ve birlik konumlarının görselleştirilmesidir. ArcGIS Pro yazılımının Military Tools editörüyle oluşturulan tematik haritalar, birlik dağılımını ve yoğunluk bölgelerini göstermiştir. Nokta yoğunluğu analizi, çatışmaların merkezlerini belirlemiş ve stratejik kararların araziyle ilişkisini ortaya koymuştur. Sonuç olarak, çalışma, Birinci İnönü Muharebesi’nin mekânsal-zamansal analizine ilişkin olarak dijital tarih ve askeri coğrafya literatürüne metodolojik bir katkı sunmakta ve tarihsel olayların 100 yıl öncesine ait coğrafi bağlamda yeniden yorumlanmasına olanak sağlamaktadır.

Keywords

• Tarihi CBS
• Askeri coğrafya
• Dijital beşeri bilimler
• Birinci İnönü Muharebesi
• Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri (CBS)

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