System Specifications:
The Biodiversity & Environmental Resource Data System runs the natureSmith web application system developed through a technical partnership between TransNatura LLC and Belize Tropical Forest Studies (2004 - 2009).
The natureSmith system is easily tailored to meet the needs of those wishing to deploy information dissemination systems in the following areas at the local, national, regional and international scales:
- scientific research and museum collections
- biodiversity and biosafety information warehousing
- marine/coastal or watershed resource management
- natural resources management
The natureSmith system is a web-based application suite with the following features:
- Browser Based -
natureSmith requires no special software to be installed for users. All modern web browsers can be used. Access to a web browser and Internet connection are the only requirements to anywhere/anytime access for data providers and administrators. Internet Explorer 5.5+ or Mozilla/Firefox v1+ are recommended.
- Fast, Extensible Codebase -
Based on the extremely popular and powerful PHP4 scripting language.
- Enterprise-level Relational Geodatabase -
Data and content are stored in the very fast, ANSI SQL-compliant relational database, PostgreSQL, which has been geospatially-enabled and can be interfaced with ESRI ArcGIS and GRASS desktop GIS systems.
- Standards-based Environment -
Database structure incorporates various international metadata standards (Dublin Core, Darwin Core, CSDGM) and controlled vocabularies (UN, ISO, AIDA) to maximise data interoperability with similar projects and intiatives worldwide. In conjunction with an optional Distributed Generic information Retrieval (DiGIR) portal/provider installation, NatureSmith can both search and be searched within the frameworks of cooperating scientific- and development-oriented initiatives.
- Integrated Mapping Technologies -
Standards-based map serving technologies are fully integrated into the natureSmith system allowing for the visualisation, discovery and analysis of any data records. The Map Explorer application is based on PHP/MapScript and is a fully-featured mapping server with a unique visual search function. natureSmith is incorporates an OGC-complaint Web Mapping Service (WMS) and Web Feature Service (WFS) server, enabling the seamless sharing of spatial data while maintaining data ownership and integrity.
- Easy Data and User Administration -
All routine data and user maintenance tasks are carried out via a seperate user-friendly and secure section of natureSmith, available via the web browser. A roles-based approach separates the tasks available to system administrators and data providers, allowing each easy access to the tools and information required for individual roles in the system.
- Secure Environment -
Administration uses secure md5 password technology and allows secure file downloads. True encryption of data transfer is optionally available via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or RSA SecurID systems.
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