The Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Studies (IAHS), in collaboration with the Maritime Archaeology Museum – Galle, will host “Unlocking the Archives: AI-Assisted Georeferencing for Historical Maps” to mark GIS Day 2026.
This in-person event will take place on 18 November 2026, from 9.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., at the Maritime Archaeology Museum, Galle. The session will be led by Eng. Anuradha Piyadasa, electrical engineer and digital transformation specialist.
Designed for heritage professionals, the demonstration will introduce AI-assisted georeferencing—the process of aligning historical maps with modern geographic coordinates. Participants will explore how this approach can connect archival maps with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), helping researchers examine past landscapes, trace changes over time, and support heritage documentation and interpretation.
The session will also highlight the importance of human expertise in reviewing AI-assisted results, checking accuracy, and interpreting historical maps within their original context.
Through this event, IAHS and the Maritime Archaeology Museum – Galle aim to encourage heritage professionals to explore digital tools that make historical map collections more accessible and useful for research and public engagement.
Event details
- Topic: Unlocking the Archives: AI-Assisted Georeferencing for Historical Maps
- Date: 18 November 2026
- Time: 9.00 a.m.–11.30 a.m.
- Venue: Maritime Archaeology Museum, Galle
- Format: In-person demonstration
- Resource person: Eng. Anuradha Piyadasa
- Organised by: Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Studies (IAHS), in collaboration with the Maritime Archaeology Museum – Galle
