project-proposal-2024

GeoRecord

Abstract

GeoRecord is a platform that aims to redefine how users engage with geospatial data and connect with communities. It serves as a dynamic database of polygons and points representing places worldwide. Users can contribute images, descriptions, and metadata, and help by enriching the platform with personal insights. Additionally, GeoRecord features “geothreads” - location-specific discussion threads where users share experiences and insights about any location. With its collaborative features, GeoRecord empowers users to explore, contribute, and connect in real-time, transcending traditional mapping applications to foster global community engagement in geographic exploration.

Author

Name: Aryaman Sharma

Student number: 46066853

Functionality

Experience a new platform for geospatial interaction with GeoRecord’s full suite of functionality. Draw, edit, and add points and polygons to our dynamic map, creating a rich database of global exploration. But that’s just the beginning. Engage with our innovative ‘geothreads’ feature, where location-specific discussions come alive, allowing you to share insights and experiences in real-time with fellow enthusiasts.

What’s more, GeoRecord introduces engagement-based ranking, rewarding active contributors with privileges that enhance their experience. Earn your place at the top and unlock exciting new features.

But we don’t stop there. GeoRecord’s advanced filtering capabilities let you delve deep into the edit history of places, allowing you to track changes over time and filter information according to your preferences and see how information changes over time. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a curious newcomer, GeoRecord offers endless possibilities for discovery and engagement.

Scope

For the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) of GeoRecord, our focus will be on delivering essential functionality to provide users with a solid foundation for geospatial exploration and interaction. The key features to be included in the MVP are:

• Basic Drawing and Editing Tools: Users will be able to draw and edit points and polygons on the map interface. This functionality will allow them to contribute basic geospatial data representing places of interest.
  • This will include map specific drawing tools.
  • The ability to use these tools to edit / update places.
• Geothreads: Users can start and participate in geothreads, enabling location-specific discussions. This feature fosters community engagement and facilitates sharing of insights and experiences related to specific geographic locations.
  • Will be a pop-up interface similar to popular discussion threads.
  • Users will have the ability to start discussion on places, add comments and media files.
• User Authentication and Profiles:Implement user authentication to ensure secure access to the platform. Users will have basic profile functionality to manage their account settings and contributions.
  • This will include a user dashboard where users can see their activity.
• Basic Filtering Options: Users will have limited filtering options to search and explore data based on simple criteria such as location or type of place.
  • Generally we aim for the map to serve as a search method i.e. users can go to a place and click on threads that exist.
  • Involve other methods of search including a search bar which will match search terms to data in discussion forms and places.

Quality Attributes

• Availability: In GeoRecord, availability is crucial as users rely on accessing the platform to contribute to geospatial data and engage in discussions. Ensuring that the software can be accessed at any time from any platform ensures that users can contribute and interact whenever they see something new, fostering a dynamic and active community. By implementing robust server infrastructure and redundancy measures, downtime is minimized, guaranteeing continuous access to the platform.
• Scalability: Scalability is essential for GeoRecord to accommodate a growing user base and varying levels of user activity. As the platform gains popularity, it must be able to handle increasing traffic and user loads without sacrificing performance or incurring exorbitant costs. By utilizing scalable cloud infrastructure and implementing efficient data handling techniques, GeoRecord can seamlessly scale to support a large number of concurrent users, ensuring a smooth and responsive user experience regardless of demand.
• Extensibility: Extensibility is critical in GeoRecord to facilitate the addition of new features and functionalities over time such as live locatoin on maps. As user needs and technology evolve, the platform must be adaptable to incorporate innovative enhancements and respond to changing trends in geospatial data management and social and community engagement. By designing the software with modularity and flexibility in mind, new features can be easily integrated without disrupting existing functionality, ensuring that GeoRecord remains relevant and competitive in the long term. In the near future it would add on many AI features to analyse data and produce insights.

  Evaluation

• Availability: For the MVP, availability will be assessed by monitoring server uptime and responsiveness during peak usage hours. We will utilize uptime monitoring tools to track the accessibility of the platform and ensure that it remains available to users as intended.

• Scalability: Scalability will be tested by simulating increasing user loads on the MVP platform and monitoring system performance metrics. We will conduct load testing to determine how the platform handles varying levels of user traffic and assess its ability to scale to accommodate additional users without sacrificing performance. By analyzing the scalability of the MVP under different load scenarios, we can identify any potential bottlenecks or areas for optimization.

• Extensibility: The extensibility of the MVP will be evaluated by assessing the ease of integrating new features and functionalities. We will track the time and effort required to implement feature extensions and modifications, as well as any dependencies or conflicts encountered during the integration process.

Overall, by systematically evaluating these key attributes in the context of the MVP, we can assess the effectiveness of the initial release of GeoRecord in delivering a reliable, maintainable, scalable, and extensible geospatial data management and community engagement platform.