Computational Methods and Techniques for Historical and Cultural Studies

The course deals with emerging issues in the so-called Digital and Computational Humanities and aims to introduce students to the exploitation of the potential of databases, Linked Open Data technologies and the Semantic Web by exploring solutions oriented to research, study and communication in the historical and cultural fields. In particular, the course intends to provide knowledge and skills in the discipline of computer science with particular reference to technologies for the design and management of digital archives in structured form (databases) and their use in the Web for the representation and exploration of historical data. Additional topics covered in the course concern the use of languages for the web of data with the aim of fostering the integration of documentary archives in the cultural-historical field through digital platforms based on formalisms and technologies related to Linked Open Data and Semantic Web. The course also aims to foster the development of skills related to the design of communication objects and tools essential for fruitful interaction with scholars and IT professionals.

Knowledge:
- Data modeling and database management
- Notions of conceptual and logical design of databases
- Data web languages, Linked Open Data and Semantic Web
- Data exploration and visualization

Skills:
- Conceptual and logical design of a database
- Creating, populating, and querying databases
- Creating annotations for the data web and Linked Open Data
- Using tools for exploration and visualization of data on the web