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Oxford Today
By the People, for the People
Students Map Cemeteries to Aid City Record-Keeping
Miami University students use drone technology and database tools to digitize cemetery records for the city of Oxford, Ohio.
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
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A team of over 50 Miami University students worked with the city of Oxford, Ohio to map and digitize records for the city's largest cemetery, which had fallen into disrepair after the local cemetery association dissolved. Using drone imagery and a custom database, the students were able to create a comprehensive digital record of over 6,000 gravesites in just 600 hours, a process that would have taken over 1,200 hours using traditional mapping methods. The project not only helped the city manage the cemetery, but also allowed students to connect with the local history and community.
Why it matters
As cemeteries become more difficult for cities to maintain, innovative approaches like this one can help preserve local history and provide valuable community resources. The project also gave students hands-on experience with geospatial technology and a deeper appreciation for their college town.
The details
The students used drone imagery to map the over 6,000 gravesites in the 40-acre cemetery, placing digital markers on each headstone before verifying the information in person. This allowed them to create a comprehensive digital database in a fraction of the time it would have taken using traditional GPS-based mapping. The students also discovered historical details about the cemetery, including a special section for Miami University faculty and staff, a 'Babyland' for infant burials, and over 400 military veteran graves dating back to the Revolutionary War.
- In 2020, the local cemetery association that managed the largest cemetery in Oxford, Ohio dissolved, leaving the city responsible for the 40-acre site.
- Over the course of 2021, a team of over 50 Miami University students worked to map and digitize the cemetery's records.
- The students completed the project in just over 600 hours, about half the time it would have taken using traditional mapping methods.
The players
Robbyn Abbitt
The Associate Director of the Geospatial Analysis Center at Miami University, who oversaw the cemetery mapping project.
Miami University
The university that provided the students and resources for the cemetery mapping project.
City of Oxford, Ohio
The local government that partnered with Miami University to digitize the records of its largest cemetery after the local cemetery association dissolved.
What they’re saying
“If you told me a decade ago that I'd become an expert in mapping cemeteries, I would've laughed and been very confused about the dramatic turn my professional life must've taken at some point.”
— Robbyn Abbitt, Associate Director of the Geospatial Analysis Center, Miami University (Mirage News)
What’s next
The city of Oxford is now managing and updating the online database created by the Miami University students, allowing family members and the public to search for individuals buried in the cemetery.
The takeaway
This project demonstrates how innovative use of technology can help cities preserve local history and community resources, while also providing valuable hands-on experience for students to develop geospatial skills and connect with their local area.
