IABIN Website

IEC/CI Meeting, Costa Rica

February 2011

Ben Wheeler, Mike Frame–U.S. Department of the Interior,

U.S. Geological Survey

Simon Aristeguieta-Trillos—IABIN Catalog Consultant

Presentation Goals

• Briefly describe history of IABIN.net• Outline current priorities, challenges with the

site• Discuss IEC, CI ideas to improve/feature on

site

History—IABIN.net• IABIN website, pre-

GEF until 2006.• Hosted at

CATHALAC 2004-2006

History—IABIN.net (cont)• IABIN website (template),

2006-2009. • Hosted at CATHALAC

2006—2008, University of Tennessee 2008-current

• Used as template for TN websites established 2006-2007

• Technical, downtime, and support staff issues

Current IABIN Website• Created July 2009 by

Boris R, with graphic design support from USGS– Joomla

• Hosted at University of Tennessee

• Technical and downtime issues

• Both IABIN and University of Tennessee have experienced significant problems with site

• IABIN—downtime, indirect management• UT—hacking, maintenance, budget cuts

• Began planning for migration from UT for IABIN.net, ETN site, cofinancing site in October-November 2010

• Significant in-kind resources have been involved in supporting and eventual migration efforts

• Medium term solution—migrate to cloud server on slicehost (along with ETN, cofinancing sites).

• To last at least through June 2011 end of project• As of February 2011, nearly complete

IABIN Website Migration

Long-Term Management Priorities

• Maintain consistently available, stable site• Ensure Fresh Content

– Allow non-technical staff to update• Reduce staff time in management• Improve stability of the site• Improve linkages to Thematic Networks, partners

– Clearly defining TN long-term hosting and infrastructure needs

• Transition from “GEF Project” focused site to improved representation of broader network

Long-Term Management Challenges

• Possible long-term hosts for IABIN.net:– OAS– USGS– ?

• Both will require significant transformation and some resources in support of site

• Issue of “how useful will the site be” long-term

• Discussions ongoing, to be concluded in next couple months

References and Contact Information

Questions / Comments / Advice / Opinions

Mike Frame: mike_frame@usgs.gov

Simon Aristeguieta-Trillos, simonutk@gmail.com

Ben Wheeler, bwheeler@usgs.gov

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