Project Overview

Problem Statement

The Coast-Cow-Consumer (C3) Project involves collaboration among over 10 research institutions, dozens of researchers, and a database with over 100 entries. As the project grew, so did the complexity of managing and accessing the accumulated data. Researchers needed a centralized data repository to store and organize their individual research findings, ensuring that all data was easily accessible, securely stored, and efficiently searchable.

Key Challenges:

1. Fragmented Data Storage: With multiple institutions and researchers contributing to the project, data was scattered across various systems, making it difficult to locate and analyze relevant information.
2. Inefficient Data Exploration: The lack of advanced search capabilities within the existing database hindered researchers' ability to quickly find and analyze data relevant to their studies.
3. User Experience Issues: The existing web interface was outdated, with poor navigation and content organization, leading to frustration among users who needed to interact with the data repository regularly.

Solution Overview

To address these challenges, we were tasked with building a custom data repository tailored specifically to the needs of the C3 project. Our solution focused on:

• Centralized Data Repository: Creating a unified platform where all research data could be securely stored, easily accessed, and efficiently managed.
• Advanced Search and Tracking Features: Implementing custom search functionality that allows researchers to perform complex queries specific to C3 research needs. Additionally, we introduced data tracking methods to monitor changes and maintain data integrity.
• Enhanced User Experience and Interface: Redesigning the C3 data repository webpage to improve navigation, content organization, and overall usability. A modern UI was introduced to align with current web standards and provide a more intuitive user experience.
• Documenting the repository: We ultimately want to publish all the research work being done in this field. We also want to make the data repository open source and available for the research community to use and reformat to their liking. Thus, the codebase is documented clearly and with detail to enable others to use the codebase easily.

Implementation

Design and Technical Overview

The project was built using a robust technology stack to ensure reliability, security, and scalability:

• Backend:
  • PHP and MySQL: These were chosen for their robustness and compatibility with the project's needs. PHP handled the server-side logic, while MySQL was used for managing the database, ensuring that all data was efficiently stored and retrieved.
• Frontend:
  • JavaScript, HTML/CSS: These technologies were used to build a responsive and user-friendly web application. JavaScript provided dynamic content updates, while HTML/CSS ensured that the interface was both functional and visually appealing.
• Versioning and Change Tracking:
  • Implemented version control and change tracking to secure the data management process. This feature allows for the tracking of modifications to the database entries, ensuring transparency and accountability in data handling.

Current Progress