Visualizing and interacting with large-volume biodiversity data using client-server web-mapping applications: The design and implementation of antmaps.org
Visualizing and interacting with large-volume biodiversity data using client-server web-mapping applications: The design and implementation of antmaps.org
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DOI：
10.1016/j.ecoinf.2016.02.006
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发表时间：
2016-03-01
影响因子：
5.1
通讯作者：
Economo, Evan P.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Janicki, Julia;Narula, Nitish;Economo, Evan P.
信息学的兴起为跨科学领域的数据分析、可视化和交互提供了新的机会，生物多样性科学也不例外。最近，关于物种地理分布的综合数据集已经收集完毕，这些数据集代表了对特定物种分类群（例如鸟类、哺乳动物等）的全面统计，并形成了基础生物学和保护的关键工具。然而，这些数据库对广大科学家和公众的用户的可视化、交互和参与提出了一些挑战。为了支持开发包含超过 170 万条记录的新的综合性蚂蚁生物多样性数据库，我们开发了一个新的客户端服务器网络地图应用程序 antmaps.org，以可视化所有 15,050 种蚂蚁的地理分布及其多样性和生物地理学的聚合模式并与之交互。我们的应用程序开发方法基于可用性工程、人机交互和制图的以用户为中心的设计原则。由此产生的应用程序高度专注于使用客户端-服务器交互提供对地理生物多样性数据的高效和直观的访问，允许用户动态查询和检索数据。这是通过后端解决方案来实现的，该解决方案可以有效地处理大量地理空间数据。应用程序最终版本的可用性和实用性是根据有效性、效率和用户满意度来衡量的，并使用问卷、可用性实验室研究和调查进行评估。虽然 antmaps.org 的开发是由特定的蚂蚁生物多样性数据集推动的，但基本框架、设计和功能并非特定于蚂蚁，可用于与任何分类群的生物多样性数据进行交互。 (C) 2016 年作者。由 Elsevier B.V. 出版
The rise of informatics has presented new opportunities for analyzing, visualizing, and interacting with data across the sciences, and biodiversity science is no exception. Recently, comprehensive datasets on the geographic distributions of species have been assembled that represent a thorough accounting of a given taxonomic group of species (e.g. birds, mammals, etc.), and which form critical tools for both basic biology and conservation. However, these databases present several challenges for visualization, interaction, and participation for users across a broad range of scientists and the public. In support of the development of a new comprehensive ant biodiversity database containing over 1.7 million records, we developed a new client-server web-mapping application, antmaps.org, to visualize and interact with the geographic distributions of all 15,050 ant species and aggregate patterns of their diversity and biogeography. Our application development approach was based on user-centered design principles of usability engineering, human-computer interaction, and cartography. The resulting application is highly focused on providing efficient and intuitive access to geographic biodiversity data using a client-server interaction that allows users to query and retrieve data on the fly. This is achieved with a backend solution to efficiently work with large volumes of geospatial data. The usability and utility of the final version of the application was measured based on effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction, and assessed using questionnaires, usability lab studies and surveys. While the development of antmaps.org was motivated by a particular ant biodiversity dataset, the basic framework, design, and functionality are not specific to ants and could be used to interact with biodiversity data of any taxonomic group. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.