Unleashing the Power of [GEO]DASHBOARD: A Comprehensive Geospatial Platform for Data Management and Visualization

4 min readJun 23, 2023

Overview

[GEO]DASHBOARD is an advanced geospatial web platform designed to provide a flexible and customizable solution for visualizing and analyzing spatial data. Built as a WordPress template, [GEO]DASHBOARD combines the power of a robust backend with a user-friendly interface, making it an ideal choice for managing and presenting geospatial information. This documentation will delve into the technical aspects and functionalities of [GEO]DASHBOARD, highlighting its unique features and benefits.

WordPress Foundation

[GEO]DASHBOARD utilizes WordPress as its foundation, leveraging its built-in security features, file organization guidelines, and extensive function collection.
The WordPress dashboard handles user authentication and session management, ensuring secure logins and logouts.
WordPress enables efficient file management, allowing easy organization of documents and photos related to the geospatial data.

Theme and Child Theme

The [GEO]DASHBOARD theme is based on a custom child theme called Underscore, which serves as a simple starting point.
The theme provides the core design and layout of the [GEO]DASHBOARD, offering a consistent user experience.
Customization options are available within the child theme, allowing for personalized branding and visual enhancements.

Pages and Sub-Pages

[GEO]DASHBOARD primarily utilizes pages instead of posts, offering greater flexibility in content organization.
Pages are created dynamically using PHP functions, enabling the enable/disable functionality for various features such as maps, wiki pages, cards, and UI tools.
Each sub-page has a unique HTML template and can be accessed using WordPress’ query_vars, allowing for the creation and management of numerous maps, charts, wiki pages, and tools.

Database and Settings

[GEO]DASHBOARD relies on a Postgres database to store the platform’s settings and system tables.
The main database houses geospatial data from various sources, providing a centralized repository for spatial information.
The tb_map table within the database stores the settings and configurations for each sub-page, allowing customization and control over the display and functionality.

JavaScript Libraries and Customizations

The HTML templates for main pages and sub-pages load JavaScript files, serving two distinct purposes.
Generic JavaScript files contain widely-used functions and utilities that enhance the platform’s capabilities.
Customized JavaScript files cater to specific requirements, adding features such as interactive buttons or complex geospatial visualizations.
The loading of customized JavaScript files is optional, based on the configuration stored in the sub-page’s record or enabled through the dedicated user interface.

Plugin and API Services

[GEO]DASHBOARD incorporates a custom plugin that serves as an API, providing essential database functions such as SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, CREATE, and DELETE.
The plugin offers various data manipulation functions and supports PHP libraries for generating PDFs, Excel files, and integrating with Twitter APIs.
The plugin seamlessly integrates with the WordPress environment, enhancing the capabilities of [GEO]DASHBOARD.

SEO Optimization and Analytics Integration

HTML templates within [GEO]DASHBOARD include metadata and rich snippets optimized for search engine optimization (SEO).
The platform integrates with Google Analytics, enabling comprehensive tracking of page views, sub-page activity, and sub-item interactions.
Through Google Tag Manager, specific events can be tracked and analyzed in custom reports, providing valuable insights into user engagement.

[GEO]DASHBOARD can be defined as a comprehensive geospatial platform that combines elements of software, tools, and cloud-based infrastructure. It is designed to provide a structured framework for managing and visualizing geospatial data, offering a range of functionalities and capabilities to users.

At its core, [GEO]DASHBOARD is a software application that runs on a web server. It encompasses a collection of libraries, frameworks, and technologies that work together to enable geospatial data processing, visualization, and analysis. These libraries and frameworks include JavaScript mapping libraries (e.g., LeafletJS, OpenLayers, MapBox), PHP libraries for server-side functionality, and database management systems like PostgreSQL.

Additionally, [GEO]DASHBOARD can be considered a toolset, as it provides a variety of tools and features for working with geospatial data. These tools may include spatial analysis functions, data import and export capabilities, data manipulation functions, and customization options for creating tailored visualizations and user interfaces.

Furthermore, [GEO]DASHBOARD can be seen as a platform, especially when deployed in a cloud-based environment. It leverages the scalability and accessibility of cloud infrastructure to host and manage geospatial data, allowing users to access and work with their data from anywhere with an internet connection. The platform nature of [GEO]DASHBOARD enables collaboration, data sharing, and the integration of additional services or plugins to extend its functionality.

In summary, [GEO]DASHBOARD can be described as a software platform that combines the functionalities of geospatial tools and libraries, hosted on cloud-based infrastructure. It provides users with the tools and capabilities to effectively manage, analyze, and visualize geospatial data, offering a structured framework for geospatial data processing and decision-making.

WEBSITE: https://cityplanner.biz/project/

GITHUB REPO: https://github.com/piergiorgio-roveda/geodashboard-demo