Hey all,

I'm considering trying to create a framework\tool to allow people to
create a whatbird.com like interface for other types of datasets
(plants, trees, anything really).

The idea is to create a framework allowing users to create a discovery
tool with attribute selections to narrow down the result set. So, for
example, our faculty/students would identify attributes found in all
trees (leaf shape, fruit, bark, form, etc.) and then input this data
into the tool which would then allow them to input actual trees and
associate them with the attributes (as well as input description info,
pictures, etc.). The end result would look something like whatbird.com
does with birds.

This will be a challenge for me (but a good one). My thought is to use a
web framework like Django (picked because I know it a little) but am
unsure if you can have it organize the database tables with the
relationships properly. I considered using solr but thought it would be
overkill considering the relatively small datasets this tool would be
used to create (under 1000 objects) but in the end it might be a good
bet. If approved (I have to talk to the dean of our forestry department
to see if he will buy into the idea) I will try and create the bulk of
it during January and tweak it the rest of the semester.

Anyone interesting in working on this type of project with me?

Mike Beccaria
Systems Librarian
Head of Digital Initiatives
Paul Smith's College
518.327.6376
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