SPARC Portal annotation tool
A guide for viewing and creating annotations in a map
For any given map or scaffold on the SPARC Portal, authorized users can now view and create annotations for desired features. Authorized users need to be logged in to the SPARC Portal in order to access these features. Map annotations made using this tool are stored in a database on the map server. As appropriate, these annotations are exported for ingestion and curation using SCKAN Composer. Once they pass through curation and are accepted into SCKAN they become standard knowledge used to construct the map.
As shown in Figure 1, clicking on the Change Settings icon allows the Viewing Mode to be changed.
Figure 1: The viewing mode can be changed using the settings menu.
Selecting Annotation will then prompt the annotations tooltip when selecting features (as shown in Figure 2). This tooltip displays information relating to the selected feature, including the feature’s ID, name, model, and resource.
Figure 2: Clicking on a feature prompts the annotation tooltip.
Users who are signed in and have been added to the Annotation Team will be able to view and add annotations to features.
Figure 3: When signed into the SPARC Portal, annotation team members are able to select the pencil icon to view existing annotations and to create new annotations about the selected feature.
Note:
These features are also available and behave similarly for the Functional Connectivity and 3D scaffold maps, as well as any given scaffold.
Figure 4: The annotation features are available for the FC and 3D maps.
Figure 5: The annotations features are also available for scaffolds.
How to get authorized?
As aforementioned, only authorized users can access, view, and add annotations. This refers to the user’s account being a part of the Annotation Team. At this time, we envision only invited users to be authorized to use this capability on the SPARC Portal. Authorisation can be requested, however, via the SPARC Portal by utilizing the Contact Us page.
As shown below, on the Contact Us page, select Share Feedback with the reason I am interested in a SPARC Service. Enter your details, and under Additional information, express your interest in being a part of the Annotation Team for the SPARC Maps. After review, users may then be granted the capability to view and add annotations to SPARC Maps and Scaffolds.
Figure 6: The Share Feedback section of the contact page. Requests for annotation access can be made here.
Future development
The future of the SPARC maps and scaffolds annotation tool will involve the capability for users to draw shapes, paths and drop pins on maps. Maps will also be extended to allow the annotation layer to be turned on and off. Annotations will also have the capability to be extracted and fed into SPARC curation tools. The annotations tool will also be tested by various anatomical experts for validation.
Updated 2 months ago