India Biodiversity Portal (http://www.indiabiodiversity.org/)
India Biodiversity Portal is an application developed using the Map Locator platform. Gslab has developed “Map Locator” map-based web application platform that is generic and that can be used for a variety of purposes. The platform provides rich geographical visualization using the available Internet map servers like maps.google.com and maps.yahoo.com. It provides the ability to overlay custom geographical content on the base maps. And importantly, it has the ability for aggregating user content. Thus, any user will be able to locate an area and upload any geo-referenced location-based information to the Internet. User contributed content can then be aggregated and served on the Internet. The platform has a structure of roles that allows user content, content validation and content aggregation. The platform has been built with a robust multi-tiered architecture of a back-end PostGIS database integrated with various open source and custom components. The platform is highly scalable and customizable.
Elements of the Map Locator Platform
Map locator is a generic map based platform for managing user content in a participatory manner. Entire content and user participation is via the internet using a user friendly browser based interface. Key drivers behind the project have been public access to rich geographical visualization and support for the participatory workflows making it easy for capturing user-generated content. Hence the use cases targeted by the platform are to allow, facilitate and encourage active participation and contribution by the users.
About IBP
The India Biodiversity Portal is a map-based wiki focused on gathering, aggregating and serving biodiversity information on the Indian subcontinent. The Indian Biodiversity Portal
provides a platform for aggregating and sharing data and information on biodiversity by allowing wide-spread community participation.
leverages the intelligence of the community in generating, soliciting and aggregating biodiversity information.
provides free and open access to biodiversity information. All contributed information will be accessible under the Creative Commons license.
provides explicit and unambiguous attribution and credits the source of the information.
facilitates social networking and builds an open community of amateurs, naturalists, professionals, scientists, and others who are interested in the biodiversity of India.
Technology
GS Lab has developed a framework to store, access and digitize GIS based data. In particular, the framework uses the following open source technologies for its various components:
Postgresql/PostGIS database to store GIS data
Google maps to access Indian subcontinent maps
Mapserver application to serve map images
Openlayers to perform client side rendering and digitization
Drupal to facilitate user management and peripheral content management