Regular programming conventions are used to record versioning for the BIRDIE platform, with the "major.minor.patch" system. Fixes and patches increase the last digit (e.g., v1.0.1). New features and database updates increase the minor version (second digit, e.g., v1.1.0). Reworks of the website and major changes that affect analyses or existing functionality importantly increase the major version (first digit, e.g., v2.0.0).
Please cite the release version appropriately when you utilise the BIRDIE platform, and check back regularly for release updates!
Release version 1.0.0 (14 December 2023)
The differences between the Beta version and the official version 1.0.0 that was available from 14 December 2023 are too numerous to list. The primary improvements are:
- The platform now incorporates all data up to the end of 2022
- More help is available for users through i-buttons and other features
Release version beta
While some of the BIRDIE functionality was available earlier, the official Beta version of the BIRDIE platform was available on https://birdie.sanbi.org.za from July 2023. The Beta version did not yet contain all data and models, but was intended to showcase to users how the platform works and obtain feedback for improvement.
Welcome to Biodiversity Advisor 2.0!
Biodiversity Advisor, developed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and its Data Partners, is a system that will provide integrated biodiversity information to a wide range of users who will have access to geospatial data, plant and animal species distribution data, ecosystem-level data, literature, images and metadata.
The integrated information comes from our much-loved Botanical Database of Southern Africa (BODATSA) also known as Plants of Southern Africa (POSA), Zoological Database of Southern Africa (ZODATSA), Biodiversity Geographic Information System (BGIS), SANBI's institutional repository (Opus) and others.
The system is still under development, so you may find a few bugs/issues. If you do, please report it via the error reporting button available in various sections of the website or provide us with any useful feedback you may have via the ‘Give us feedback’ option available in the sidebar menu. You can create a free account for yourself by clicking on the user profile icon which will take you through to the login page. Here you can choose the ‘Create an account’ option or simply fill in your details if you have an account already. Having an account on Biodiversity Advisor will provide users with free access to biodiversity resources.
In future, Team SANBI will be able to log in using their day-to-day login details, BGIS users will be able to use their existing accounts and details, and general users will be able to log in using their LinkedIn profile, but for now you will need to create an account.