Data manager brings high-tech to historic preservation

When she was a child, Karyn de Dufour imagined herself working on archeological digs. - digging up artifacts and sifting through dirt, working to preserve history.

These days, the 36-year-old data manager for the State Historic Preservation Office spends her time digging up survey information and sifting through computer code. But her goal is still the same: to preserve and protect Nevada's pieces of history.

"Growing up, my mom and I wouldn't go on shopping trips. We'd visit historic homes or sites instead," de Dufour said.

After getting her master's degree in archeology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, she discovered that she enjoyed working with indexes and databases. This prompted her to combine her two loves into her current career. She was a data manager in Santa Fe, N.M., for four years before accepting the job in Carson City.

Hired in March, de Dufour creates and manages indexes for SHPO using geographic-information systems, or GIS, including an online architectural index that will become available to the public within the next two years.

She also enters engineering and survey information completed on historic sites across the state, and serves as quality control for the indexes.

GIS technology intersects databases of information with maps, allowing for information to be showcased in map form, instead of as lists. A widely used example of GIS technology are online direction sites like Mapquest or Yahoo Maps.

"This architectural database will allow people to literally zoom in, click on a house, and get information on it," de Dufour said.

The information will not be available for all properties, only those with historical value or context. About 12,000 properties statewide would be included, with approximately 200 added each year.

"It's a service we are providing not only to the public but also public entities, developers and planners," said Alice Baldrica, deputy state historic preservation officer, planner and archaeologist.

The index will allow the public to get a variety of information, allowing for better planning or more information when purchasing a historic home.

"Maybe they live in a historic district and want more information on their house. It's also a great benefit to real estate agents because it gives them more information for people looking to buy and restore historic homes," Baldrica said.

One of the biggest advantages of the index will be providing information to federal agencies like FEMA following a natural disaster.

For example, after Hurricane Katrina, several historic properties were demolished before records about them were located, something that can be avoided with an architectural index.

"Right now, we just have hard-copy paper records, and that would be a nightmare to sort," Baldrica said.

The index is funded with federal grant money, with additional funding from the Bureau of Land Management. The data manager's salary is from the state's budget.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.