iSpot & EML project blog

The latest developments that are taking place to iSpot are to do with the functionality around the species dictionary. This will allow multiple dictionaries to be used and put in order of priority for use. In time this will also allow a priority to be assigned based on specified location.

The new functionality allows users to visit a page for any valid term i.e. any term, either scientific or english, that appears in the active species dictionaries’. This page will at the least show any observations that have an ID that match the term and for dictionaries that specify a hierarchy for their terms this page will show all observations that are also in any of the sub groups of the taxonomy hierarchy. Along with this page there is an accompanying block that appears on the observation page that gives hierarchy links where the dictionary provides them.

This, I think, will be a very powerful new feature of iSpot which will dynamically create a valid URL for any term in any active species dictionary, including synonyms which will automatically display the page for the recommended scientific name. I’ll be sending a link round to the project team members for this new functionality on the approval site so we can have a discussion about any implications and any additional work around this that may be needed.

I’m presently working on the admin area for the species dictionary which allows administrators to activate or disable individual dictionaries along with setting the priority hierarchy of the active dictionaries. It will also allow editing of the terms within each dictionary so allowing administrators of dictionaries to correct or add any terms.