Help conserve the world through better protected areas.
A project with UNEP-WCMC
THE PROJECT
Working with the development team at the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
Using a set of open source technologies we were able to establish a solid foundation for expanding their protected areas data.
An intuitive user interface was developed to help discovery of the wonders of protected areas.
We contributed:
- Information Architecture
- Visual Design
- Front-end development
- API design
- GIS development
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THE VIDEO
Understand what is protectedplanet.net with his amazing video. We use it for the launch event at COP10 in Nagoya.
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THE CHALLENGE
We had to redevelop and expand an established product with the team at UNEP-WCMC without loosing it's former users. Using a set of open source technologies for backend and front end development we were able to establish a solid foundation for the future.
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THE SOLUTION
Information Architecture combined with expert GIS analytical tools allow non technical users to measure carbon, protection coverage and to contribute to the most complete resource about protected areas on the web.
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THE RESULTS
ProtectedPlanet.net hosts information on over 130,000 protected areas in a distributed cloud based infrastructure. Responsiveness has increased, and users are able to find the information they need faster than ever before. The project has an expanding userbase, and it's open API is enabling use of protected areas data in many other initiatives.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Encouraging user participation
We worked hard to engage the user in site exploration and to inspire them to help enhance Protected Planet data quality through games and voting mechanisms.
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Information mashups
We want to play nice on the web. This means trying to not replicate other projects but rather contribute to them and link data. ProtectedPlanet has deep links with Wikipedia, Panoramio and Flickr. On the biodiversity data side, the project is linked to GBIF and IUCN.
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Geometry editor
Geometry editor - Protected Planet offers a geometry editor, that allows users to specify precisely the geographic boundaries of protected areas.
PROTECTED PLANET ON THE MEDIA
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“The UN Environment Programme is turning to the wiki-world in an attempt to improve protection of the natural one. Its new venture aims to help people visit little-known protected areas, so generating revenue and improving knowledge about them.”
Read the complete article -
“Uno de los fines es que los turistas conozcan estos parques protegidos, generando así ingresos que ayuden a su mantenimiento. Además, esperan que con sus fotos y comentarios podrían puedan atraer a más personas que visiten esta ‘wiki’ global.”
Read the complete article