The creation of this digital guide required a careful integration of traditional humanities methods with modern computational tools, ensuring both historical accuracy and functional interactivity. The methodology was structured around four primary components: archival research, field verification, database management, and digital visualization.
The research process began with the collection of primary and secondary sources. The Latvian State Historical Archives, UNESCO World Heritage documentation, cadastral records, and published works on Riga’s architecture provided foundational data on construction dates, denominational affiliation, stylistic characteristics, and historical transformations. Archival photographs, maps, and documents were essential for reconstructing the visual and spatial history of religious sites, particularly those that were destroyed, repurposed, or remodeled during the Soviet period. This extensive archival foundation ensures that every entry in the database is historically grounded and verifiable.
Following archival research, field visits were conducted to verify the existence, location, and condition of sites. Using GPS tools, researchers recorded precise coordinates for each site, ensuring accurate integration into the GIS platform. Fieldwork also involved photographing interiors and exteriors, noting architectural details, and assessing the current function of each building. This step was particularly critical for documenting modern or lesser-known places of worship, which may not be well represented in historical records.
Once data were collected, the information was processed and standardized. Each entry in the database includes text descriptions, chronological data, geospatial coordinates, images, and categorical tags for denomination, style, and historical period. Standardization was necessary to enable filtering, comparison, and visualization in both the interactive map and analytical tools. Data quality control involved cross-referencing multiple sources, ensuring consistency, and flagging sites requiring further verification.
The final component involved translating the standardized database into digital visualizations. QGIS was employed to generate the interactive map, allowing for multi-layer filtering and dynamic pop-ups. Tableau was used to create charts and graphs showing the distribution of sites across categories, revealing patterns of religious concentration, architectural trends, and historical continuity or disruption. The resulting digital interface integrates the analytical depth of humanities research with the accessibility and engagement of modern web technology, creating a platform suitable for both scholarly inquiry and public exploration.