# HEIR - Historic Environment Image Resource

> Historic photo exploration and environmental change tracking app. (iPhone/iPad app by Keepthinking Limited.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heir-historic-environment-image-resource/id989286250 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Keepthinking Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/989286249)
- Category: Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 6.0 · 30 MB
- Languages: American English, German (Germany)
- Released: 2015-05-10
- Data updated: 2026-06-01
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heir-historic-environment-image-resource/id989286250/reviews.md

## What is HEIR?

HEIR - the Historic Environment Image Resource

Join us as we research changes in our environment and landscape from old glass plate and lantern slide photographs. Heir is an important new resource for tracking environmental and climate change, understanding human impact on the planet, identifying endangered landscapes and endangered archaeology, reconstructing lost buildings and habitats, and so much more. Find out more at www.heirtagger.ox.ac.uk/about/about-us

Then and now – join the hunt for the past. What did the world look like through a camera 100 years ago? What does it look like today?

There are thousands of historic images for you to explore from the HEIR collection. Use this app to call up old images near you. Find the sites, re-photograph them and share your discoveries with researchers worldwide.

With the free HEIR app you can:

• Access 10,000s of historic images

• Use a special overlay feature to help you re-photograph

• Be part of a worldwide community tracking environmental and heritage change

• Contribute to a worldwide database of information about landscape change

The past is on your doorstep – start your travels now!

HEIR (Historic Environment Image Resource) is funded by The Reva and David Logan Foundation and the University of Oxford.

Visit www.heirtagger.ox.ac.uk find out more.

## Key features

- Access thousands of historic images
- Overlay feature for re-photography
- Track environmental and heritage change
- Contribute to a global database
- Explore past and present landscapes

## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heir-historic-environment-image-resource/id989286250/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Historic environmental image resource

*2021-06-26*

Just google it. It’s a fine project to explore old images and then via crowd sourcing to compare the existing modern landscape to the historic image. A University of Oxford online project. The website is terrific; however, the Heir app is useless.

### 1/5 — Good idea let down by shoddy implementation

*2017-02-15, version 2*

If it worked, this would be brilliant. A tool to encourage you to take a modern photograph overlaid on a vintage photograph, so you can see the changes. However, there are problems:
1. The app crashes. A lot. Not just sometimes, but nearly every time you try to download a photo from the database.
2. The database of old photos is thin. There is just one inside 10km from my home, and that was taken from an aircraft, so is difficult to replicate.
3. No problem, I'll upload some old photos from my family album - except there appears to be no facility to do this. Why not? I accept that establishing copyright might be an issue, but that can certainly be overcome.
4. OK, you don't want me to contribute any of my old photographs, but at least I can use the tool to take a modern photo over a photo held locally on my device - except there seems to be no facility to do this either. What?
All in all, a waste of electrons.

### 5/5 — Great app and great pictures!

*2015-05-12, version 1.0*

This is s great app, hopefully will have more picture in the near future!

## Frequently asked questions about HEIR

### What is HEIR?

HEIR is a free educational app that allows users to explore thousands of historic photographs and compare them to current views. It helps track environmental and climate change by enabling users to re-photograph historical sites and contribute to a worldwide database.

### How does HEIR help track environmental change?

Users can find historic images near their location, re-photograph the same sites, and share their discoveries. This data contributes to a global effort to understand landscape changes, human impact, and identify endangered environments and archaeology.

### What kind of historic images are available on HEIR?

The app provides access to tens of thousands of historic images, primarily old glass plate and lantern slide photographs, which are used to research changes in the environment and landscape over time.

### Can I use HEIR offline?

The provided data does not specify offline functionality. Accessing historic images and contributing data likely requires an internet connection.

### What devices does HEIR support?

HEIR is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, as indicated by the supported devices list.

### Is HEIR suitable for children?

HEIR has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for young users. The app's focus on historical exploration and environmental awareness can be educational for a broad age range.

### How often is HEIR updated?

The app was last updated on July 28, 2016, with version 2. This indicates infrequent updates in recent years.

### Does HEIR have ads?

No, HEIR does not contain advertisements. The app is funded by The Reva and David Logan Foundation and the University of Oxford.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 2 — 2016-07-28

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

- New distance filter (km)
- Landscape mode when taking a photo
- New search features ( "object" - quotes for literal search and #123 - hash for resource id search)
- Zooniverse oAuth secure authentication for login and registering

### 1.0.5 — 2016-01-26

New Zooniverse registration

### 1.0.4 — 2015-06-01

Website domain change to http://www.heirtagger.ox.ac.uk/.

### 1.0 — 2015-05-05

No release notes.

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## More apps by Keepthinking Limited

- [Qute](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qute/id1176604342)

All apps by Keepthinking Limited: https://appshunter.io/developer/989286249

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-01.*