Throughout the county of Galway there are 235 council-owned graveyards with ancient monuments and gravestones that provide invaluable insight into family ancestry and social history.  For decades, community groups in Galway had endeavoured to capture this culturally significant information, using pen and paper to note memorial inscriptions. 

Over the years, semi-digital processes were introduced in some graveyard survey projects, with data being copied manually from paper to spreadsheets, but these approaches were time-consuming, inconsistent and prone to error.  Data was typically captured in different formats and was not readily accessible to those who wanted to refer to it.  A new, digital process was clearly needed that would streamline, simplify and standardise the data collection process and make graveyard records accessible.

10x faster digital process
The entire process, from collecting data in graveyards, to validating and enhancing that data and publishing it online, can now be carried out at least ten times faster than before.  At the same time, the data collected is more accurate, more complete and standardised across all graveyards.  “Simplicity is key to all of this,” says Barry Doyle, IS Project Leader at Galway County Council.  “Everything is done in one efficient, seamless process where the data is stored and accessed centrally in the cloud.”

Positive reaction from community groups
With its user-centric design, the Memorial Survey App is incredibly easy for volunteers of all backgrounds to use on their own mobile devices.  As a result, there has been an overwhelmingly positive reaction from communities, and more than 50 local groups are now using the solution with financial support from grant-awarding bodies including Galway Rural Development and Forum Connemara.  “With this ArcGIS process we are enabling community groups to achieve their heritage objectives,” says Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer at Galway County Council.  “Heritage and community groups throughout the county now want to be involved in the project.”

Easy access to ancestry information 
Already, data on over 35 graveyards is available via the Graveyard Memorial Search App, providing everyone with easy online access to ancestry information.  The app received over 7,000 views in the first nine months and currently averages 25 views per day, a figure that is expected to increase as more graveyards are added.  “People can now search for and find photographs of their family’s memorials online and form a stronger connection with their past,” believes Mannion.

Incredible resource for research and education
With over 30 new graveyard surveys planned or in progress, Galway County Council is rapidly expanding the amount of information available via the Graveyard Memorial Search App, and usage is much wider than originally envisaged.  As well as local heritage groups and individuals, it is increasingly being used by historians, archaeologists, genealogists and health researchers, as well as schools.  “ArcGIS has given us a powerful tool to enable people to find out about the local and national heritage that can be found in graveyards,” Mannion says.  “It’s an incredible resource for everyone.”

Expandable and reuseable digital solution
The end-to-end solution built with ArcGIS is very flexible, expandable and ultimately reusable.  As a result, Galway County Council can quickly and easily set up a new graveyard and manage multiple simultaneous projects centrally.  “Whenever a new graveyard project is funded, it takes the GIS team just one day to take the ortho-imagery of the graveyard and get the survey set up, ready for volunteers to use,” explains Doyle.  “Our ArcGIS process can be used by all kinds of community groups and replicated by other councils.”