IPTD-477
NJGWS Photo and Document Archive
Description
Public Section: A dedicated website for viewing and retrieving all archived photos, maps, field manuals, and other NJGWS resources.
Metadata Search Functionality: A built-in search feature that queries metadata associated with each individual item in the Past Perfect database to improve user search and filtering options. This shall include filters for date range, file type, NJGWS category and more.
Spatial Search Functionality
Database Driven Website: Identify technology used to link the new public facing website interface to the Past Perfect database records
Content Organization: Develop categories for organizing the various types of geologic information so its laid out in an easy-to-understand format for the Public.
Problem Statement
The NJGWS utilizes Past Perfect, a software solution for archiving legacy data. This system manages scanned images, PDFs, TIFFs, and JPGs of historical maps and photographs, essentially serving as a comprehensive library catalog of archived images dating back over 100 years. Each image and file are accompanied by detailed metadata, enhancing its usability. Past Perfect operates on a Visual FoxPro database located at V:\ArcticParkway\Shared\LUM\NJGS\Archival\PastPerfect\pp5.
While NJGWS is pleased with the software’s ability to archive and preserve information, extracting or querying data for public access poses significant challenges.
While NJGWS is pleased with the software’s ability to archive and preserve information, extracting or querying data for public access poses significant challenges.
Project Justification
• Currently there is no adequate front-facing public tool for NJGWS to share archived data stored in the Past Perfect data management system with the public.
• All archived items are currently managed through the United States Geological Data Preservation Grant which requires NJGWS to submit these items to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). While USGS provides a solution to access these items, it is not satisfactory to NJGWS, and they prefer to have their own website for dissemination of content out to the Public.
Goals include ...
• Develop a platform for publicly sharing New Jersey’s archived geological information.
• Investigate the best technology or data flow process that can utilize Past Perfect metadata to facilitate easier searching of the database to locate the files for download.
• Use New Mexico’s Bureau of Geology Photo archive (https://photoarchive.nmt.edu/pages/home.php) as a template for the design and development of this webpage.
• Provide robust filtering options to filter information by date, type, and other various search categories.
• All archived items are currently managed through the United States Geological Data Preservation Grant which requires NJGWS to submit these items to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). While USGS provides a solution to access these items, it is not satisfactory to NJGWS, and they prefer to have their own website for dissemination of content out to the Public.
Goals include ...
• Develop a platform for publicly sharing New Jersey’s archived geological information.
• Investigate the best technology or data flow process that can utilize Past Perfect metadata to facilitate easier searching of the database to locate the files for download.
• Use New Mexico’s Bureau of Geology Photo archive (https://photoarchive.nmt.edu/pages/home.php) as a template for the design and development of this webpage.
• Provide robust filtering options to filter information by date, type, and other various search categories.
Estimated Transactions
Thousands of archived files are stored in the Past Perfect database. Unknown how many transactions this will lead to.
Components
Other/New Web System
Target Rollout Date
31 December 2025
Target Rollout Date Reason
There is no urgency to getting this project done. The program is under no regulation or legal obligations. The rollout date is more of a target time frame so that this project remains on people's radar.
Activity
Show:
NJGWS has completed the first phase of the project which was organizing and posting pictures on their website.
NJDEP| NJ Geological Survey | NJGWS Photo and Document Archive
The second phase is for the Geological Survey to work with BGIS to implement an interactive map component built with Experience Builder for Field Maps and Notebooks. The plan is currently under review by BGIS.