Scholars have developed many methods to collect cultural records (including history, archaeology, religion, ideas, written works, art, architecture, music, and dance), analyze them, store the material objects, and maintain the records of their study. The ECAI vision is to be able to reconnect various multi-media records using a time and place interface to search for online resources, display them, discover relationships, and create dynamic web resources.

To accomplish this vision, ECAI has been developing an information technology architecture and infrastructure to show the potential of a time and space interface. ECAI has created a digital library (clearinghouse) to which scholars from all over the world have contributed resources. The clearinghouse can be searched by either a text or map interface. ECAI's version of the TimeMap software then allows these diverse digital resources, stored on servers around the world, to be combined and viewed on a single interactive map interface which can also show change over time.

The ECAI infrastructure has demonstrated successful linking of multi-media distributed cultural resources. It has also allowed us to identify challenges including maintaining secure access to distributed resources, linking distributed clearinghouses and data catalogs, forging methods of preserving dynamic digital objects, and developing relevant standards for cultural GIS, time and space metadata, and communication protocols.