Plant Atlas Features
The Plant Atlas technology incorporates an appropriate combination of server-side and client-side software applications to manage and share plant information. Plant information, distribution, nomenclature and herbarium specimen data are stored in two databases within the Microsoft SQL Server database management system. A client-side Microsoft Access forms-based software application is used to enter and manage data contained in the SQL Server. The Plant Atlas website incorporates standards-based data-driven internet technologies to disseminate plant information, images and distribution maps to the public. The following is an abbreviated list of functionality available on the website:
- Plant species are searchable by scientific and common name, including synonyms; known presence within a county; nomenclature citation information; availability of a herbarium specimen image; and listing as threatened/endangered, native, endemic, invasive, wetland and other characteristics.
- Search results can be presented as a spreadsheet-style list of plant species or as a gallery of plant images along with summary information for the purpose of comparison.
- Search result pages provide options to improve usability, including: sort or group by family, genus or other columns; filter based on selected characteristics, such as presence of a photograph or specimen image; or create a printer-friendly checklist to take into the field. We are currently implementing a customizable data export option.
- Users can browse for a plant species by selecting a family; genus; common name; or county.
- Information is made available at the family, genus and species taxonomic classification levels, including distribution map and source information, synonymy, citations, and plant photographs.
- Each taxa web page is linked directly to herbarium specimen data and information. We are currently implementing targeted links from Plant Atlas species pages to specific species pages on external websites such as USDA Plants and Natureserve.
- Administrative users utilize a secure web-based editor to manage online content including customized pages about the project, herbarium or institute, external links, and news and announcements.
- Additional functionality is currently being implemented, including: improved performance and functionality of search tools; additional automated links to provide access to specimen data at multiple herbaria; data download tools for advanced users; and additional species information such as ecological, habitat, and phenology information.