Trying to add an interactive map capable of holding lots of data

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1

I’m looking to add an interactive map to my website for a citizen science project. Volunteers survey for threatened animals and record locations where they find them. Currently, I manually create PDF maps with pins, but I want a dynamic, web-based solution.

The goal is a map where users can:

View all survey data points (potentially several thousand pins across the state)

Zoom and pan to explore surveyed areas and identify gaps

Ideally, volunteers could also upload their own data. A system where users could create accounts—subject to admin approval—and submit coordinates that appear on the public map would be perfect.

To begin with I’d like a simple map, capable of holding that many drop pins. People can log onto the website, navigate to the map and then zoom in and out on the map to see which ares are lacking data. In an ideal world there would be a system for the scientists to upload their own data to the map as well. If it was possible for them to create an account which required admin approval, then they could log in and submit their own coordinates to the map which would save publically.

Any recommendations for tools, platforms, or approaches would be greatly appreciated.

2

It sounds very much like something that is best suited to a custom build. Based on what you’ve shared, you’re likely looking at a combination of:

  • Members area (to give people accounts and attribute data to them)
  • CMS (to hold the data)
  • A map library that allows for the customisation you need - something like Leaflet.js
  • Code to connect the pieces together