SharkPulseApp

Abstract

The team was required to redesign, update, and implement changes to an existing website called SharkPulse for a project focused on monitoring global wild shark populations. Currently, the project is led by Dr. Francesco Feretti, an Assistant Professor for the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. The website was built using WordPress with frontend CSS and HTML, and the backend support was provided by PHP, Javascript, and RShiny to implement the Validation Monitor Page. Our team’s primary objectives were to convert the static framework of the website to a dynamic, responsive one. Additionally, we aimed to convert the Instagram monitor from a PHP script to a R Shiny app and merge the Instagram and Flickr monitors into a single page, which would allow toggling between the two pipelines. The Validation Monitor is a user interface that validates records collected from Flickr and Instagram (from the data_mining and Instagram tables). Since shark photos are primarily collected from social media platforms like Instagram and Flickr, the accuracy of the shark information may not be completely reliable. To address this issue, a form is provided with each picture of the shark for users to fill in, in order to validate the originality, type, pieces, and location of the shark. However, the Monitor's user interface is currently not responsive, dynamic, or easily navigable by users. By the end of the semester, we successfully combined two versatile pipelines on one page and redesigned both the Validation Form for Instagram and the Flickr Pipeline. Additionally, we added a feature for common name and scientific species autocompletion, supporting users in filling out the Validation form more easily. Furthermore, the map in the Instagram validation form now functions properly, showing the current location of the shark marker and allowing users to search for another location by name or coordinates, helping validate the shark's accurate location.