Image Repository Abstraction Layer

Image upload

ACORN includes a function for user to upload digital images associated with conservation steps. These can be used to document initial condition, conservation measures taken, and final results.

At Harvard, this function interfaces with Harvard's Digital Repository Service (DRS). Groups of images are submitted directly to the digital repository along with necessary administrative and technical metadata. The digital repository returns persistent URLs that can be used to access and display the images within ACORN.

Image upload abstraction layer

For the open source version of ACORN, Harvard specific code has been removed and the image storage has been replaced with a system that simply stores uploaded images locally on the ACORN file system.

• Image files are uploaded to a temp directory on the server
• The ACORN user clicks on the "File Upload" function
• ACORN code invokes the ACORN "File Handler"

The File Handler

• Moves the image files from the temp directory to a specified directory on the server
• Updates the ACORN database with the file paths to the images