1) The first project involves developing a new user interface and all the underlying programming for gathering weather data (from another system which was designed and built last summer) and displaying it on the web. The primary languages for this project are PHP and Javascript. The code you develop will gather data from other systems, put the data into a MySQL database, and present the data to web users. We’re striving for a clean and accessible format. The presentation part of this code will rely on CSS in modular, well-documented chunks. We would like to have this summer work finished by August 20th.
2) The second project involves developing a new database structure for all the weather data we have collected over the years. We will continue to use MySQL, as we have in the past. You will be dealing with data from multiple sources: the current data collection system, previous data collections (some in MySQL, some in Filemaker Pro, some on paper, some from previous computer systems), and planned future data collection systems. You will spend time getting to know good database design, the requirements of the weather site and also what we’ll need going forward. We would like to have a new, robust database in place by August 20th.
In both cases, we’re looking for people with a friendly attitude, an interest in weather and computing, and lots of attention to detail. The two people chosen for these projects will work closely together, as well as working with Tom Baraniak and Doug Foxgrover.
Carleton has been gathering and sharing weather data since 1881, and these data are the oldest official weather records in the state. The current weather site pioneered some now-common methods of presenting weather data graphics on the web. Most of the work on the current site has been accomplished by students, and we look forward to continuing that tradition. Please contact: Tom Baraniak, Olin 208, x4033, tbarania