RiverWeb: An Introduction to RW Technology

RiverWeb Technology

In this demonstration web site, our goals are very modest in that we seek only to give prepackaged "glimpses" of the fuller, dynamic Internet-based capabilities that we aim eventually to implement in RiverWeb. As for content, here too we only intend to provide snapshots of the range of possibilities, in part because we envision that much of the content of RiverWeb will be driven and created locally or regionally.

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Prominent among the Internet-based capabilities we plan to prototype, are the following:

* Advanced web design, navigation and interactivity, including: extensive use of 3-D interactive flythroughs (e.g. VRML); 2-D interactive maps; and support for search, query and dynamic page creation

* User-friendly, web-based interfaces to access, query, view, annotate and publish electronic products from rich sources of Mississippi River Basin data stored in national or regional databases or repositories.

* Geographical information systems (GIS) with the ability to layer different features on top of each other and generate maps "on the fly"

* Online computer simulations that illustrate essential processes behind the interplay of rivers and human activity, with varying degrees of complexity, user control and powers of answering "what if" questions

* Satellite imagery and other important archived and realtime environmental data, with display and interaction capabilities linked to the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF)

* Other types of data pertaining to variety of themes in the sciences, arts and humanities (e.g. population, archeology, land use data; literary, art and music archives)

* Samples of prototype, Internet-based, K-12 curriculum projects that emphasise student-centered, project-based, engaged learning along with computer and multimedia literacy

* Online tutorials and more informal "how to" resources to encourage and enable RiverWeb audiences to make effective use of the digital resources being developed in the program

* Synchronous and asynchronous, collaborative Internet or web spaces to promote:

a. Electronic discourse among citizens and key stakeholders in river basin communities
b. Internet-based, interdisciplinary, K-12 curriculum projects focused on understanding river processes
c. Collaboration between museum staff for the design, development and evaluation of exhibits pertaining to river basin themes and topics.