2026-11-04 –, Compagno
University of California Davis Library recently embarked on a proof-of-concept project to use a SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC) to provide map-based search capabilities and digital access to scanned maps of campus.
University of California Davis Library recently embarked on a proof-of-concept project to use a SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC) to provide map-based search capabilities and digital access to scanned maps of campus, using tools like pystac, rustac, and stac-map. Searching traditional library catalogs, which rely on text-based keywords, is frustrating when you are trying to find records by geographical location. Location words are often imprecise because catalog keywords do not often convey the nuance of location and spatial coverage. The STAC specification provides a standardized approach to cataloging items by both keywords and spatial location, enabling map-based searches, which is much more convenient and understandable for finding catalog entries with locations. In this talk, I’ll discuss our workflow and lessons learned for this project, and I’ll show examples of some unique campus maps.
Michele Tobias holds a PhD in geography from University of California Davis, as well as an MS from University of Michigan, and a BA from UCLA. She has worked at the UC Davis Library for the past decade as a geospatial data scientist helping researchers with their data needs. Her personal research interests include using open source tools to understand California's sandy beach vegetation and geomorphology. She also has an interest in using her geospatial skills to help underserved research communities. Michele has served on the board of directors for OSGeo (international) and Technocation (OSGeo US), as well as arts non-profit organizations, and is a founding member and coordinator of #maptimeDavis.