Title: Innovation of botany education by cloud-based geoinformatics system

Authors: Rostislav Nétek; Zdena Dobesova; Ales Vavra

Addresses: Department of Geoinformatics, Palacký University in Olomouc, 17.listopadu 12, Olomouc, 77146, Czech Republic ' Department of Geoinformatics, Palacký University in Olomouc, 17.listopadu 12, Olomouc, 77146, Czech Republic ' Department of Geoinformatics, Palacký University in Olomouc, 17.listopadu 12, Olomouc, 77146, Czech Republic

Abstract: The paper describes the educational portal BotanGIS. It is an innovative geographical information system developed to improve botany education. It is divided into two main parts. The database contains more than 50 characteristics of about 500 plants from the Botanical Garden in Olomouc, the Czech Republic. In the database, students can search and filter and, with the help of an interactive map, locate plants on the map. From a technical point of view, it is built on the rich internet application concept, which enables the creation of a sophisticated online application. The cloud computing interface provides an innovative approach for students' education because the BotanGIS portal is available online. It offers an effective and attractive way to study botany and geoinformatics utilising modern web technologies.

Keywords: botany education; geoinformatics; cloud computing; rich internet application; RIA; education; Czech Republic; information retrieval; interactive maps; botanical plants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJITM.2014.059149

International Journal of Information Technology and Management, 2014 Vol.13 No.1, pp.15 - 31

Received: 03 Dec 2012
Accepted: 16 May 2013
Published online: 10 May 2014 *

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