Nat-Savvy

Available on http://www.indiabiodiversity.org,the interactive web portal is an open source platform for all those who want to upload biodiversity-related information on a common destination as well as for those who want to make use of the data for research related purposes. “We have taken care of the technical aspects of the portal such as designing the user interface,uploading the information and so on,” said Deepak Deshpande,project architect,GS Lab.

Anchored by Banglore-based ATREE in collaboration with a number of other institutes from across the nation such as- Foundation of Ecological Security,FRLHT,Agarkar Research Institute,Pune and so on,the project aims at creating a common platform for gathering bio-diversity related data for the country. “We have created over 100 layers such as- General,conservation,bio-geography,species,land use and cover and so on. These are in simple words- the topics on which people can contribute,” says Chinmay Bokil,software developer,G S Lab.

While any one and every one,post registration can upload the biodiversity related information on the portal,the organizers have a team of researchers who monitor the data being uploaded. It is only after the approval by the heads of respective layers that the data is displayed as- authentic on the website. “This authentic data can then be used by researchers,students,surveyors and so on for their own purpose. While some of the data is subjected to copy rights,some information can be used by giving credits to the body that is anchoring the layer,” says Viraj Kanwade,software developer G S Lab.

Not only that,the portal also allows a statistical interpretation of the data available. “For instance,if someone wants to know the interrelation between rainfall and number of bird species in a particular region,they can impose the two layers and obtain the same. We are however working on time-variation data which will soon be available,” says Deshpande.

With the basic platform for contribution ready on the web,the team now plans to create another such portal for health and disease related inputs. “While this is restricted to India only,we are soon planning to involve a portal that can interlink ten cities from across the globe,” concludes Deshpande.