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58. Managing BIMS Admin tables

Several backend tables can be updated and managed by administrators, including the Biodiversity Information Management System (BIMS), and are accessible via the Admin Page. Here we provide a list of actions related to the Site Administration including the BIMS table management that an administrator (super user status) may need to edit or check. Only the tables that the administrator needs to be able to revise have been described, and not all the tables in the Site Administration and BIMS. They are described chronologically as they appear in Site Administration. This document will continually need to be updated as new administration functions are added.

Link to specific sub-sections in BIMS as well as other admin tasks:

Managing BIMS Admin tables

58.1 BIMS: Abundance types

Here you manage the abundance measure (type) such as number, percentage etc. New abundance measures (type) can be added.

abundance types

58.2 BIMS: Base map layers

Here you can see and manage the base maps visible on the platform. The defaults base map can be selected.

base map layers

58.3 BIMS: Biological collection records

Here you can see all biological collection records. Individual sites can be searched for and filters applied.

biological collection records

58.4 BIMS: Biotopes

Here you manage the broad biotope categories, description and order; the specific biotope categories, description and order; and the substratum. These biotopes are initially populated by the biodiversity data upload files, where each biotope is specified in the dropdowns. Details are provided below. Certain biotopes and substrata may be associated with one or more modules. As more biodiversity modules are added, it may be necessary for the administrator to update biotopes.

Module Broad Biotope Specific Biotope Substratum
All Unspecified    
All Mixed    
Algae, invertebrates, anurans Stones In Current    
Algae, invertebrates, anurans Stones Out Of Current    
Algae, invertebrates, anurans Marginal Vegetation    
Algae, invertebrates, anurans Aquatic Vegetation    
Algae, invertebrates, anurans Gravel/Sand/Mud    
Algae, invertebrates Artificial substrate    
Fish only Slow-Shallow    
Fish only Slow-Deep    
Fish only Fast-Shallow    
Fish only Fast-Deep    
All   Backwater  
All   Bedrock  
All   Cascade  
All   Chute  
All   Detritus  
All   Mixed  
All   Pool  
All   Rapid  
All   Riffle  
All   Run  
All   Slackwater  
All   Unspecified  
All   Waterfall  
All     Unspecified
All     Mixed
All     Bedrock
All     Boulder
All     Cobble
All     Detritus
All     Gravel
All     Pebble
All     Sand
All     Silt/Mud/Clay

If these have not been included in the data occurrence upload files, then they are blank. New biotopes can be added by clicking the “+ Add biotope”.

58.5 BIMS: Chemistry records

Here you can see all chemical records. Individual sites can be searched for and filters applied.

chemistry records

58.6 BIMS: Chemistry units

Here you manage the physico-chemical data including the Chem Code (NB this needs to match the column in the physico-chemical data upload template), chem description, chem unit, whether the variable needs to be shown in abiotic form (abiotic list), minimum and maximum values. New chemistry units can be added by clicking the “+ Add chemistry unit”.

Chemistry units 1

Changes can be made to each variable by clicking on the relevant Chem code and editing the appropriate field. Here one can also specify the number of decimal places.

Chemistry units 2

58.7 BIMS: Datasets

When occurrence data are harvested from GBIF, the datasets that comprise the data are stored in the Datasets table. When the system is harvesting occurrences data from GBIF, it will automatically update the dataset table. To manually update the dataset table, click Fetch Datasets. Here you can add an abbreviation for the dataset so that when the citation is pulled down in the checklist, the abbreviation is provided.

Datasets

Details for each dataset can be viewed by clicking the UUID. The dataset Name, description, citation and URL are provided.

Change dataset

58.8 BIMS: Decision Support Tool Names and Descision Support Tools

Here you manage the decision support tools that are added and what they are called. Individual UUIDs are assigned specific decision support name.

Decision support tool

58.9 BIMS: Download request purposes

Here you manage the download request purposes that a user chooses when requesting a download of a graph or csv file. New purposes can be added by selecting “Add download request purpose” and the sort order can be updated.

When a system is first set up the administrator needs to add Download request purposes here before users are able to download information or csv files.

Download request purposes 1

58.10 BIMS: Download requests

Here you can see all download requests from users, including details of the requester, resource type (csv, table, chart), resource name and purpose (as specified in the download request purposes). One can find out further details of the request by clicking on the Request date link, which opens up a second form. This is useful to track the progress of the large request downloads.

Download requests 1

Download requests 2

58.11 BIMS: Endemism

Here you manage the endemism categories including the Name (what is shown on the dashboard), description and display order. The endemism categories are added during the uploading of the taxonomic master lists. Note that if the description is used in the master list, then this will be shown on the side panel and / or dashboard. It is important to always upload the Name only. Endemism categories can be merged in the event that erroneous uploading of categories occurs.

Endemism 1

Each endemism category can be edited by clicking on the Name

Endemism 2

58.12 BIMS: Hydroperiods

Here you manage the hydroperiods, including display order. New hydroperiods can be added if required.

Hydroperiods

58.13 BIMS: IUCN status

Here you can manage the Conservation status categories for global and national. Global is pulled down from the IUCN, while national is from SANBI. Status’s only applicable to national need to be opened and national checked. To change a status click on category.

IUCN Conservation status 1

IUCN Conservation status 2

The colour used can also be changed. For example, the colour template codes for the Global Conservation Status and National Conservation Status (in South Africa as an example) are:

Status Colour code
Extinct #C9CAC7
Extinct in the Wild #A2A3A0
Regionally Extinct #797A78
Critically Endangered – Possibly Extinct #DD456A
Critically Endangered #641F30
Endangered #8D2641
Vulnerable #525351
Near Threatened #3D647D
Near Threatened – Legacy #4D7E9D
Critically Rare #005904
Rare #009106
Declining #91900D
Data Deficient #D7CD47
Data Deficient – Insufficient Information #D7CD47
Data Deficient – Taxonomically Problematic #D7CD47
Least Concern #17766B
Least Concern – Legacy #14655C
Conservation Dependent #0F4D46
Not evaluated #39B2A3

58.14 BIMS: Location context filter group orders

Here you can manage the spatial layers shown in the side panel and dashboards, as well as the display and filter orders. The side panel dashboard is visible on the right hand side of the map. The detailed dashboard is visible once the user has clicked on the dashboard for a specific biodiversity module.

Side panel dashboard

Detailed dashboard

Overview dashboard

Location context filter group orders 1

Clicking on the ID opens up this form, where one can select the Group and Filter, and change the group display order. One can also add new groups and / or filters.

By clicking the box “ Show in dashboard” and /or “ show in side panel” the filters and groups are included or excluded in the different dashboards.

Location context filter group orders 2

If you do not want the Group visible as a spatial filter, click the "Is hidden in spatial filter" box.

If the filter is visible, and includes a long list, then it may be easier to click "Use autocomplete in filter", which allows the user to select one or more from a dropdown list.

Autocomplete filter

58.15 BIMS: Location context filter

Here you can change the name and display order of the spatial filters.

Location context filter order 1

58.16 BIMS: Location context groups

Here you can manage the spatial layers and groups, which relate to geocontext. Each layer can be opened to view detail.

Location context groups 1

To change what is displayed click the ID Number and check or uncheck the box for each. Note that there are some extra aspects that still need clarifying related to order etc.

58.17 BIMS: Location sites

Here you can view sites, filter for specific site and update site codes.

Location sites 1

Here we are also able to update the geocontext data for each site or selection of sites.

Location sites 2

58.18 BIMS: Non-biodiversity layers

Here you manage the order that spatial layers are shown. This includes viewing and/or editing the order, name, Wms url and Wms layer name. By clicking on the order, the details of the layer can be viewed and edited. Only administrators experienced in geocontext and GIS should edit this as it links directly to these components.

Non-biodiversity layers 1

Non-biodiversity layers 2

58.19 BIMS: Notifications

Here you can assign specific administrator(s) to receive the different notifications that are generated when, for example, a new user signs up, or a new taxon is added. This is changed by clicking on the Name of the notification and revising the list of Chosen users.

When a system is first set up the administrator has to add the notifications as well as the individuals who should receive each notification.

Notifications

Change notifications

58.20 BIMS: Record types

Here you manage the record types used for collection of biodiversity occurrence data. New record types can be added and sort order changed.

Record types

58.21 BIMS: Roles

Here you manage the roles for users who sign up to the platform. New roles can be added and sort order changed.

Roles

58.22 BIMS: Sampling effort measure

Here you manage the sampling effort measures used for collection of biodiversity occurrence data. These sampling effort measures are initially populated by the biodiversity data upload files, where each sampling method is specified in the dropdowns. New measures can be added, existing ones edited, and a measure can be linked to a specific module if required.

Sampling effort measure

58.23 BIMS: Sampling methods

Here you manage the sampling methods used for collection of biodiversity occurrence data. These sampling methods are initially populated by the biodiversity data upload files, where each sampling method is specified in the dropdowns. Details are provided below.

For each sampling method the administrator needs to select the taxon group or groups that the method is associated with and certain sampling methods may be associated with one or more taxon groups / modules. As more biodiversity modules are added, it may be necessary for the administrator to update the sampling methods.

Module Sampling method
Invertebrates only Baited Line
Invertebrates only Box/Surber
Invertebrates only Drift Net
Invertebrates only Kick Net
Invertebrates only Light Trap
Invertebrates only Stone
Invertebrates, fish Hand Net
Fish only Fyke net
Fish only Gill net
Fish only Rod and line angling
Fish only Seine net
Fish only Snorkelling
Fish, anurans Underwater video analysis
Fish, anurans Electro-fishing
Fish, anurans Visual survey
Anurans Active acoustic survey
Anurans Passive acoustic survey
Anurans Baited trapping
Anurans Non-baited survey
All Unspecified
All Multiple

Sampling methods 1

Changes can be made to each sampling method by clicking on the Sampling method and editing the name, order and Taxon group it is appropriate to. To select more than one taxon group click Control Select simultaneously. If these have not been included in the data occurrence upload files, then they are blank. New sampling methods can be added by clicking the “+ Add sampling method”.

We have also added functionality to merge sampling methods, in the event that the same sampling method is added, but with a slight variation. For example:

Sampling methods 2

To merge these two or more sampling methods, first you need to verify the correct one, by opening the method and ticking the verify box.

Sampling methods 3

Then you use the select “Merge sampling methods” and click Go.

Sampling methods 4

58.24 BIMS: Site settings

Here you manage several components related to the setting of the site (i.e. webpage, url for the information systems, e.g. FBIS, RBIS, ORBIS etc.). Details of the sections that an administrator can change are provided below.

Site notice can be changed in the Site settings section.

Site settings 1

You can specify the readme file that is bundled with the downloaded occurrence data.

Site settings 2

You can specify the taxonomic upload template for the Master lists. This is then downloadable on the Upload – Taxonomic data.

Site settings 3

You can specify the generic occurrence upload template for the occurrence data. This is then downloadable on the Upload – Occurrence data. If different biodiversity groups have customised master and occurrence upload templates then these are added in Taxon Management. See notes on Taxon Management

Site settings 4

You can view and/or edit the disclaimer form text and disclaimer doc text.

Site settings 5

You can enable or disable the third party layer as not all information systems have links to third party data

Site settings 6

Site settings 7

You can enable or disable sass as not all information systems have sass data

Site settings 8

You can enable or disable water temperature data as not all information systems have water temperature data

Site settings 9

You can enable or disable download request approval. If this is disabled then the user can download the data without waiting for approval from the administrator.

Site settings 10

You can enable or disable the module summary on the landing page dashboard. This is not applicable to FBIS, only RBIS and ORBIS, and future platforms.

Site settings 11

Site settings 12

You can enable or disable the remove all occurrence tool in Taxon Management. This should never be activated on the live/production site as clicking the Remove all button, will delete all the occurrence data for the module. It can be enabled on the testing site as this allows administrators to practice the creation of new modules, uploading of taxonomic master lists and the uploading of occurrence data.

Site settings 13

Site settings 14

You can enable or disable allow edit in admin.

Edit in Admin

You can view and/or edit the copyright text that is visible at the bottom of the landing page.

Site settings 15

If occurrence data are uploaded for an area/Park that does not have a latitude and longitude, then it is possible to upload a csv of the Park Names with latitude and longitudes generated. These are then used to upload occurrence data for a Park.

Uploading centroids

58.25 BIMS: Source references

Generally it is easiest to manage source references (i.e. the metadata associated with each occurrence record).

Source references 1

However, on occasions, issues arise whereby the source reference is duplicated, possibly because of a small typo during data capture. In the Admin - Source references – section it is possible to merge two source references. One does this by finding the two relevant source reference, opening the correct one and selecting “Verify”, then checking the box next to the two (or more) references to be merged, and using the Merge from the dropdown lists, then Go. Note that the Source reference needs to be the same type to be able to merge.

Source references 2

Source references 3

58.26 BIMS: Taxa

Here you manage all aspects related to taxa within the information system. Most of this is done easily within Taxon Management, but there are some actions that can only be done within this table, including deleting a taxon (this cannot be done if occurrence data are associated with it), merging taxa and updating taxa (when one taxon is a synonym of another).

The table includes the Canonical Name (also referred to as the "true name”), the Link to GBIF, the Scientific Name, the Taxonomic Rank, the Parent, the Import date, the Taxonomic Status, the Legacy Canonical Name, and whether the taxon has been Verified. Ultimately all taxa in the information system should be verified.

Taxa 1

Clicking on the canonical name opens up the Change Taxonomy form for the selected species. Note that this is the same as that accessed within Taxon Management.

Taxa 2

A search field and filters are also included to assist you to navigate.

Taxa 3

To delete a taxon, click the check box, and select Delete selected taxon, and click Go.

Taxa 5

There is a check, and if you click, "Yes, I am sure", then the taxon will be deleted.

Taxa 6

Sometimes errors are picked up in the taxa, for example there are two taxa that are the same. One then needs to merge these taxa. Prior to merging, the correct taxon needs to be checked and the verified button checked. Then to merge the two taxa, click the check box, and select Merge taxa, and click Go.

Taxa 7

Updating is used when one wants to update a synonym with the accepted name. Prior to updating, the accepted taxon needs to be checked and the verified button checked. Then to update the synonym, click the check box of both taxa, and select Update taxa, and click Go. This functionality is currently being refined.

58.27 BIMS: Taxon groups

Here you manage the taxon groups added to the information systems.

Taxon groups 1

To note is the need to add the singular name so that it is correct in the Add XXXX data form.

Taxon groups 2

Taxon groups 3

You can also manage the wheel chart type that is viewed on the landing page. Options include: Global Conservation Status, Endemism, Division (Algae only), SASS Ecological Category (Invertebrates only).

Biodiversity Wheel Chart

58.28 BIMS: Wetland indicator status

Here you manage wetland indicator status used for collection of biodiversity occurrence data. A new status type can be added and sort order changed.

Wetland Indicator Status

58.29 Flat pages

This is access outside of the BIMS section, in Flat Pages. From here you can update the “About us”, Citation guidelines and Help page.

Flat Pages 1

58.29.1 Flat pages: about us

Text for the About Us on the menu bar can be modified here by nativigating to the Admin Page - Flat Pages - Flat Pages.

58.29.2 Flat pages: citation guidelines

Flat Pages 2

Text for the Citation on the landing page can be modified here: https://freshwaterbiodiversity.org/admin/flatpages/flatpage/3/change/

58.29.3 Flat pages: Help

Text for the Help on the menu bar can be modified here: https://freshwaterbiodiversity.org/admin/flatpages/flatpage/2/change/

Here's how to update the link to the FBIS manual:

  • Open this page https://freshwaterbiodiversity.org/admin/flatpages/flatpage/2/change/
  • Double click the user manual Flat Pages 3
  • Open the Link tab, and change the url Flat Pages 4
  • Click Ok, and then click Save

Get the url for the FBIS Manual by opening Source References and right clicking the green title, and choose 'Copy link address'. Then insert this url into the URL in the Link tab and Save.

58.30 People

58.30.1 People: Users

People 1

58.30.2 FBIS user sign up procedure

New users will click on the sign up button and enter details including email, First Name, Surname, Organisation, Role, Password.

User sign up 1

User sign up 2

A link will then be sent to the administrators for approval.

User sign up 3

The administrator will click on the activation link for their email.

User sign up 4

The activation link will take you to the following page where you will activate the user. Change the username to start with capital letters and check the Active checkbox and click Save.

User sign up 5

User sign up 6

The user has now been added successfully.

58.30.3 Managing users

Details of all users are visible here and can be edited as needed. When a user first registers they are activated by clicking the Permission - Active box.

Several filters have been included to manage and find users.

Managing users

58.30.3.1 Restricting access of certain data to specific users

Administrators can control which users are able to view different data types by including a column called Data Type in the occurrence upload template. The user roles are then managed in the People – Users table.

Public or empty data type: All users will be able to see the data.

PrivateDataGroup: All the staff of the tenant site will be able to see the data. For example, Sanparks staff will be able to see Sanparks occurrence data with the data type set to private.

SensitiveDataGroup: Only users able to see sensitive data will be able to see the data.

Restricting data