Changes to Cave Conditions

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12-13-2010 04:56 PM
Walter Pickel

Changes to Cave Conditions
So I have been trying to get motivated to develop CaveAtlas.com for a while. I now have some spare time on my hands. SO....I have out my time to good use by moving everything from TampaDiving.com to CaveAtlas.com and making some changes/improvements (IMO)

Here's a list of the particular sections:
- Home - Simplified interface. Just lists the last 5 condition reports now, Flag navigation for cave systems by country
- Cave Systems - New data table that allows better sorting as well as filtering (top right), Flag navigation for cave systems by country
- System Pages - Completely reworked, click the big location image for Mapping Tools, Location tab, Conditions tab, Resources tab, Nearby tab
  - Mapping Tools - Same integration with Google Maps (+ my TOPO tileset) but I have also added 3 new tilesets (OMSA, Mapnik and CAVES). The caves tileset (default) will show stick maps of systems I have converted (Eagles Nest - http://j.mp/e06vxi, Peacock - http://j.mp/fF6rUl). I have also integrated Google Earth 3D, it can be useful to some.
  - Location - Shows basic location information, max depth, geocoded address, etc.
  - Conditions - Same as before but to add a report it is no longer a pop up. Integration to Twitter (http://j.mp/f6d2oz)
  - Resources - All the maps, videos, etc I have collected
  - Nearby Systems - Same as before but a better data table with filtering
- Resources - Nothing is here yet so I need ideas
- Blog - Same as before, me talking about crap no one cares about. Although, I did just recently write about my first solo experience in Eagle's Nest - http://j.mp/hIppCJ
- Contact - Sends me an email rather than making you fire up an email engine, I added a CAPTCHA for kill SPAM, please don't hate me. If it matters, this was a ROYAL PITA!
- Search - Google custom site search...the index is rebuilding from the changes I have been making these past couple of weeks. You could just type Little River (etc) from the home page
Other new/different things:
- All tables are much more efficient now. They are sortable and there is actually a filter for paring down the list.
- The navigation to other countries is done via the "Flag Bar"
- Added UTM coordinates to the System page -> Location tab for those that are into that
- Added the ability for you to download a KML file
- Added an indication and system page logo for those systems with ADM Exploration Articles - http://j.mp/fUtvdp
- Better error handling (I think)
- Cleaned up how I handle the viewing of pictures on the System Page. If you click the overview picture it will popup and you can also view any resources that are images (maps) by hitting your arrow keys or clicking Next || Prev (close by clicking Close or typing C || X)
- Added geocoded Information on the system page -- Location tab (you'll understand when you see it).
- Just over 900 cave systems in the database now (20 countries)
- A bunch of crap I forgot...
About Browsers:
- Chrome works great
- FireFox works great
- IE works great
- No other browsers were tested
Let me know if you like it, hate it or whatever. If you find any errors, things that don't look right please let me know. I have tested a lot and a few people have help me test (they have helped immensely!) and know there are some minor issues but I will get to them when I've had more to drink.

Click here to view CaveAtlas.com
12-13-2010 05:03 PM
CGriffing

Safari seemed to work just fine on the site.
12-13-2010 05:28 PM
cavediver256

Looks great Walter !!!
12-13-2010 05:34 PM
icestac

Looks great. If you got REALLY bored, it would be fun if the colored map were clickable.

Cheers,
Jeff
12-13-2010 06:11 PM
K Mejean

The site looks great. Are you getting rid of the Tampa Diving website all together or will you maintain both?
12-13-2010 06:13 PM
Tegg

Wouldn't it be nice to have a "submit" button to add sites one is willing to add to the DB? Possibly allowing "registered members" to add photos (more recent, or interior shots) and/or new caves to the list? ;)
12-13-2010 06:26 PM
Walter Pickel

THANKS everyone for the compliments but it is the data your guys give me that makes the site worthwhile.

Which colored map?

Quote:

Originally Posted by icestac

Looks great. If you got REALLY bored, it would be fun if the colored map were clickable.

Cheers,
Jeff
12-13-2010 06:29 PM
Walter Pickel

For now, just use the Contact page..I am bantering around with a members section as well. I just have done so much on this is the past couple of weeks (everything) that I wanted to get the core functionality down before I extended anything.

Interior shots are something I am thinking about as well. I have been toying with the idea of adding a tab for PANARAMIO and using the API to get shots "nearby" but again, not much time for new stuff. I think the interior shots would be more valuable but I have to come up with a datastore other than a file system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegg

Wouldn't it be nice to have a "submit" button to add sites one is willing to add to the DB? Possibly allowing "registered members" to add photos (more recent, or interior shots) and/or new caves to the list? ;)
12-13-2010 06:31 PM
giles45shop

Looks great. One thing I liked on the old site was how the dates were color coded by age. It was real easy to visually scoll down the list and see which caves had recent reports. I realize you can do that w/the sort funtion, but I liked the color coding better.

John
12-13-2010 06:43 PM
jlillest

Quote:

Originally Posted by icestac

Looks great. If you got REALLY bored, it would be fun if the colored map were clickable.

I'm betting Jeff has the same thoughts as me. What if the colored world map in the banner of your home page were clickable by country? Instead of searching for the country's flag you're looking for (what does the Merican flag look like again?) you could just click on the country of interest.

I'd also like to mention that you should probably put more emphasis on this being a site for underwater cave exploration and dive sites. It wouldn't be entirely wise to post information, locations and conditions for dry cave systems across the US. I know a few that are normally on the edge of being considered for closure (most are privately owned) and even obscure publicity could tip the balance.

Except for that, a great site and a good deal of great web design! I wish I had half the design and programming skills that you do.

-Jon
12-13-2010 06:46 PM
Walter Pickel

I had to kill that for better (correct) sorting. I am looking at how to bring that back though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by giles45shop

Looks great. One thing I liked on the old site was how the dates were color coded by age. It was real easy to visually scoll down the list and see which caves had recent reports. I realize you can do that w/the sort funtion, but I liked the color coding better.

John
12-13-2010 06:48 PM
Walter Pickel

Gotcha...I may end up doing that but it will be hard to hit the smaller countries and would be more of a hunt and peck. Maybe I will...Just drawing polygons...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlillest

I'm betting Jeff has the same thoughts as me. What if the colored world map in the banner of your home page were clickable by country? Instead of searching for the country's flag you're looking for (what does the Merican flag look like again?) you could just click on the country of interest.

I'd also like to mention that you should probably put more emphasis on this being a site for underwater cave exploration and dive sites. It wouldn't be entirely wise to post information, locations and conditions for dry cave systems across the US. I know a few that are normally on the edge of being considered for closure (most are privately owned) and even obscure publicity could tip the balance.

Except for that, a great site and a good deal of great web design! I wish I had half the design and programming skills that you do.

-Jon
12-13-2010 07:59 PM
SuPrBuGmAn

Looks great Walter, great work and definately an improvement over TampaDiving.

... oh, and I read the blogs, and find them entertaining :P
12-13-2010 08:11 PM
jj1987

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegg

Wouldn't it be nice to have a "submit" button to add sites one is willing to add to the DB?

No.
12-15-2010 06:06 PM
Walter Pickel

Added the first Brazilian cave system today...sweet map! - http://www.caveatlas.com/systems/sys...p?ID=789&co=BR

Also, counts of how many systems are listed for each country is now in the tooltip when you mouse over that country's flag.
12-15-2010 07:17 PM
Tegg

Quote:

Originally Posted by jj1987

No.

You wouldn't be able to visit most of what I would post anyway... They would require shirt and shoes... ;)
12-16-2010 06:05 AM
FW

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegg

You wouldn't be able to visit most of what I would post anyway... They would require shirt and shoes... ;)

You go caving in restaurants?
12-16-2010 08:52 AM
Tegg

Quote:

Originally Posted by FW

You go caving in restaurants?

According to waters journey.... yes. ;)
12-16-2010 04:49 PM
BillBowden

Great! Thank you sooo much!