Historians have long been plagued by a single underlying fact of the discipline; it is impossible to truly understand every aspect of the time and events they study. By not understanding everything it is possible to incorrectly interpret actions, decisions, and events. However, the employment of modern GIS technology and techniques can offer users one more piece of the puzzle to aid in their analysis. Specifically, GIS can use DEMs sourced from LIDAR and other resources to create an approximation of a location wherein historical events may have taken place. Within this digital environment a host of processes can be completed that may shed new light on events or offer new support for existing series.

Specifically, this thesis looks to the Battle of Glorieta Pass, New Mexico during the United States Civil War, and how GIS tools could be employed to analyze the impact that the physical terrain had upon the outcome of the battle itself. This project seeks whether the terrain was a factor of any detectable influence, and if so, how important was it? This is accomplished through the use of viewshed analysis performed on the study area it becomes apparent that the terrain unique to the location was a factor of incredible importance in the outcome of this particular battle.