Desktop or Web-based Geographic Information System for Framework Archaeology’s data?

Even in 2002 we had some debate as to whether we should use the desktop approach or go for a web-based GIS dissemination using a system such as Autodesk Mapguide.

In truth, a known ability to deliver the product and the need to control the level of risk were important reasons for favoring the desktop. However, it is also important to realise the purpose behind publishing the data: namely it is meant to be analysed. Even in 2008 analysis is still carried out using desktop applications such as Excel, ArcView, ArcGIS and MapInfo. 

Framework Archaeology has always been committed to making as much as possible of its excavation archives available digitally and to writing a historical narrative rather than a record of material remains. Of course, the historical narrative given in the monograph is just one possible interpretation and to arrive at others, some re-analysis of the archive will be required.

Somehow it seems counter-intuitive: using a web-based GIS may increase the exposure of your application to the world as it can be accessed simply with a web-browser, but with a desktop application you can better expose the data to the analyst.