Sharing of spatial information via Geographic Information Systems has, until now, been limited to the dissemination of files in formats often only readable using expensive software such as ESRI's ArcGIS. Recent advances in software capable of integrating these files into websites now enables people with limited or no knowledge of GIS to explore online spatial data without the need for expensive client-side software.
The ability to communicate spatial information is essential for ecologists. Whilst only a few years ago species distribution data were available only in text books and field guides, the internet is now frequently used to distribute this information among researchers and the public. The public play a key role in conservation and sharing information with them via the internet can not only raise awareness of issues such as the impacts of climate change, but can also encourage people to get involved with surveying, monitoring and protecting species. The Nature's Calendar, developed by the Woodland Trust, for example, enables anyone in the UK to contribute records on seasonal occurrences (e.g., the timing of frogs spawning or the date of first fruit ripening), thereby providing evidence as to how UK wildlife is responding to climate change.
Using the latest open source technologies, abcGIS specialises in the development of applications for the internet that enable users to explore spatial datasets, particularly those relating to ecology and conservation. These websites can encompass even the advanced functionality of GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS), allowing the user to select, view and explore a region of interest and the data associated with it. abcGIS can build an entirely new website devoted to displaying and describing your spatial data or can integrate a GIS into your existing website.