[PSUBS-MAILIST] SUBDB Announcement

[Jon Wallace <jonw@psubs.org>]

Today, I am announcing the formation of the International Submersible 
Database (ISDB) and the availability of SUBDB (www.subdb.info) a 
database of non-military submersibles and new web site associated with 
PSUBS.  SUBDB was inspired by the efforts of Dan Hryhorcoff over two 
years ago, who collected information about various subs owned by 
psubbers.  At the 2008 Convention in Maine, I presented the idea of 
expanding that collection into a formal database which would not only 
serve as a current and historical reference for submersibles but also as 
a central repository of detailed information that could be accessed via 
the internet and used to aide the rescue or recovery submersibles that 
might find themselves in an emergency situation.  This was well received 
and so development began on a part time basis.


While much work remains to be done on the software and web site 
interface, enough has been completed to make it available for immediate 
use.  Please note that some functionality such as database searching is 
not yet implemented.


Four major goals of SUBDB have been defined and are available for review 
on the website at http://www.subdb.info/aboutus along with a mission 
statement and contact information.  The main page at 
http://www.subdb.info contains links to an overview of the site as it 
currently exists and enough documentation to provide a basic 
understanding of various graphics, icons, and symbols that are used on 
the web site.  Please note that the web site has implemented extensive 
use of javascript and pop-ups which means you may need to enable 
javascript and disable pop-up blockers in your browser to navigate the 
site.  However, I assure you these are ALL entirely for purposes of 
SUBDB and you will not be subject to advertising or redirects to 
non-database related web sites.


The Database - http://www.subdb.info/database
SUBDB is targeted to any non-military submersible, manned, unmanned, ROV 
or AUV.  The vessel can be used for personal, commercial, research, 
government (again non-military), or passenger carrying purposes.  I have 
incorporated into the database as many submersibles from DanH's list, 
the PSUBS projects web pages, and other sources as I felt I could 
reasonably do with the information available to me.  One of the 
restrictions for database entries will be that enough information exists 
about a particular submersible to make it worthwhile submitting into the 
database.  In some cases, the existing information I had at the time did 
not fit that qualification and so the submersible was left out.  So in 
other words, submitting a photo of a sub with the only information being 
"A friend of a friend of a friend knows a guy with a girlfriend who has 
a brother that owns this sub.  I think his name is Fred" simply is not 
going to be enough to get that submersible listed in the database.  The 
minimum requirements for submersible entries will be the information 
contained within a "basic" listing (see documentation on web site).  A 
photo is not required, but would be nice to have.


SUBDB is not intended to be a free service.  We have an interest in 
collecting submersible entries from a wide variety of sources and will 
do so resulting in a "basic listing" without charge.  However, 
submersible owners must be ISDB members in order to submit detailed 
information and photos of their vessels and to edit/modify segments of 
their submersible entries.  The difference will become more clear if you 
view both a basic and detailed listing from the web site (see 
documentation at http://www.subdb.info).  PSUBS members will receive 
access to SUBDB as a benefit of their membership and therefore will not 
incur any additional charges for maintaining their SUBDB entries.  
Non-PSUBS members will be charged an annual fee if they want their 
submersible listing changed from basic to detailed.  I hope this model 
of revenue generation will suffice to cover any expenses until another 
model can be investigated (more on that later).  In either case, if 
membership is not kept current that owners submersible listings will 
revert back to a basic listing automatically.


SUBDB Management
SUBDB is currently owned and operated solely by PSUBS LLC.  From a 
management perspective, my hope is that SUBDB will fit the needs of 
numerous industry organizations and become a unified database supported 
by a consortium of the submersible industry and governed by a Board of 
Directors comprised of representatives from that consortium.  This seems 
to make more sense than every entity creating and maintaining its own 
database of specific material, including PSUBS.  There may also be good 
reasons for not taking this approach as well, so I would be interested 
in hearing your thoughts off-line if you have an opinion.


SUBDB Future Functionality
The functionality of SUBDB today represents about only half of what I 
expect SUBDB to support with 12-18 months.  Submersible operations is an 
area that I think we need to expand into heavily, and I see SUBDB 
offering that opportunity.  I already have prototypes created for 
expanded SUBDB functionality related to submersible operations but 
actual implementation will take many months since the software 
development is only a part-time evening project for me.


NOW ACCEPTING SUBMERSIBLE ENTRIES.
Please feel free to explore SUBDB and comment on it.  If you know of a 
submersible that should be added to the database, please fill out the 
form at http://www.subdb.info/support and let us know about it.  
Submersibles under construction, operational, in a museum, or just 
sitting in the yard as a lawn ornament all qualify.

If you are a PSUBS member with a submersible listed in the database and 
you want to expand it to a detailed listing, simply send me email off 
list and I'll get it set up for you.  The same is true for any PSUBS 
member with a submersible not listed in the database.  If you don't find 
your submersible listed in SUBDB, submit it for consideration at 
http://www.subdb.info/support


Jon




************************************************************************
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
The personal submersibles mailing list complies with the US Federal
CAN-SPAM Act of 2003.  Your email address appears in our database
because either you, or someone you know, requested you receive messages
from our organization.

If you want to be removed from this mailing list simply click on the
link below or send a blank email message to:
	removeme-personal_submersibles@psubs.org

Removal of your email address from this mailing list occurs by an
automated process and should be complete within five minutes of
our server receiving your request.

PSUBS.ORG
PO Box 53
Weare, NH  03281
603-529-1100
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
************************************************************************