CIPA 2005 XX International Symposium. 26 September - 01 October. 2005. Torino. Italy
describing the entity selected, as for example an historic
monument.
As mentioned in paragraph 2.1, the management of data on the
dynamic map are passed through MapServer system and then
elaborated by Java Engine to be prepared for Web visualization
as HTML page. Descriptive cards are generated by Java Engine
also, but the repository of reference is based on SDX system,
that is connected to Postgres Database. From SDX are then
directly generated the pages that are result of searches
introduced in Web site. In this case the functionality is similar
to a classical textual search engine.
2.3 Web presentation and Site Flow
The navigation flow of a Website is fundamental for interest
that can be received from users and an easy structure of the site
is one of the most important requests from Internet users.
For this purpose, the project of Website structure was discussed
and decided with the researchers of cultural part, with the goal
to find the optimal specifications for navigation flow inside the
Website.
To improve interest in the data contained in P.I.C.A. it was
decided to develop a didactic section, accessible from any web
page. As mentioned, the project is in fact addressed to general
users also, not necessary experts of the disciplines contained in
P.I.C.A.. For this reason several didactic pages have been
implemented to explain terminology, keywords and the parts of
the site that were selected to be more useful for schools or for
simple tourist usage. Specific tourist information have been
integrated to the description of the entities contained in P.I.C.A.
(accessibility of cultural sites, opening times of monuments, ...)
and these information has been completed with simple
explanations of P.I.C.A. contents.
P.I.C.A., the possibility to have in the same time and with the
same access different types of information.
Figure 4. Entity Description Page
In upper left part of the page it is possible to choose to enter in
these more specific information and the sections are named for
example Documents, Photo Gallery, Specific Analysis, Tourist
Information, ...
In the lower left section of monument card it is possible to
access to didactic pages (Figure 5) that explain arguments
connected to the entity described in the card. An interesting
characteristic of these pages is that have been implemented
using a simple language and a large use of illustrations has been
done, in particular using picture made by hand with drawings
technique, obtaining an appealing presentation of arguments.
PICA - Portal« Inforrnatko dell« Alpi occidental! • Moïllia Firefox warn
Citrt C-TiF V7ÎÀ-.» Ta«.!^ 1 i.-.Ia,
Figure 3. P.I.C.A. Homepage
From the homepage (Figure 3) it is possible to choose the
region where to work and to have access to the dynamic map
where to select the entity of interest; from the homepage it is
also possible to insert a specific research and to directly use
P.I.C.A. search engine.
On the map it is possible to use all the powerful facilities of
MapServer that will be described in section 0 below and to
choose the entities on which to have specific information.
The card that describes for example a monument (Figure 4) has
been projected to have basic information in the first page that is
visualized to user, but it is possible from this first page to access
more specific data connected to entity. These information can
be both tourist and technical for expert people (researchers)
usage. In this manner is reached one of the main goals of