‘WebInfo’: the new website for the national centre of the Danish Agricultural Advisory Service A. Hørning, N.F. Hansen and J.K. Rossel “WebInfo”: the new website for the centre of [email protected] Danish Danish Agricultural Advisory Service, Udkaersvej 15,national 8200 Aarhus, Denmark;

Agricultural Advisory Service

Abstract

A. Hørning, N.F. Hansen and J.K. Rossel Danish Agricultural Advisory Service, Udkaersvej 15, DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark Over the past 6 years, the Danish Agricultural Advisory Service (DAAS) has gradually built a [email protected]

new internet platform for its entire organisation. A platform which will be completed with the introduction of a new, restructured version of ‘WebInfo’(www.landbrugsinfo.dk) - the agricultural website of the National Centre – in 2009. The platform contains around 70 separate websites, of Abstract OverWebInfo the past 6isyears, Agricultural Advisory Service (DAAS) has gradually which by farthe theDanish most complex, containing close to 100,000 webpages. This built papera gives new internet platform for its entire organisation. A platform which will be completed with the and a characteristic of WebInfo and the role it has in the agricultural advisory system in Denmark, introduction of a new, restructured version of “WebInfo”(www.landbrugsinfo.dk) - the describes construction of the new website. agricultural website of the National Centre – in 2009. The platform contains around 70 separate websites, of which WebInfo is by far the most complex, containing close to 100,000 Keywords: metatagging, content mangement webpages. websites, This paperMOSS gives a2007, characteristic of WebInfo and the role it has in the agricultural advisory system in Denmark, and describes construction of the new website.

Background: what is DAAS?

Keywords: Websites, MOSS 2007, metatagging, content mangement

The Danish Agricultural Advisory Service (DAAS) is a two-level organization, which consists of Background – What is DAAS? approximately 35 local centres, scattered country,organization, and a single National Centre, The Danish Agricultural Advisory Servicethroughout (DAAS) is athe two-level which located in of Aarhus. The local35centres have close to 3000 employees, mainlyand advisors, consists approximately local centres, scattered throughout the country, a singlewhich have theNational direct contact theinlocal farmers. Thecentres role ofhave the National Centre is to provide Centre, with located Aarhus. The local close to 3000 employees, mainlythe local advisors, which the directthey contact the local farmers. role service of the National Centre The advisors with the have information needwith in order to offer the The optimal to the farmers. is to provide the local advisors with the information they need in order to offer the optimal National Centre has 500 employees. service to the farmers. The National Centre has 500 employees.

Location of advisory centres in Denmark.

Figure 1. Location of advisory centres in Denmark.

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WebInfo: the website of the national centre While the overall role of the National Centre is to provide local advisors with information, the goal of WebInfo has a broader focus, and a larger group of customers than just farmers and advisors. The main purposes of WebInfo are the following: 1. It serves as an extranet for DAAS. In order for the advisers of DAAS to be able to provide farmers with the best possible information, all advisers need to be continuously updated, and WebInfo is their main source of information. Besides from providing plain webpages with textual content, WebInfo also has a large number of applications, which can be used by the customers themselves (typically farmers), or by advisers on behalf of the customers. 2. It is the main online source of information for the vast majority of Danish farmers. In 2009 it is virtually impossible to find a Danish farm, which does not have access to the internet. And while the lack of broadband connections in rural areas has been a problem up until a couple of years ago, broadband connections are now available throughout the country. All members of the Danish Farmers Association (Dansk Landbrug), are automatically provided with a free membership of WebInfo, which gives them access to a large part of the information, that is also available to the advisors. This makes it possible for the farmers to stay updated, and gives them the opportunity to enter into a dialogue, as regards to the information given by their local advisor, on a firm foundation. 3. It is a commercial site, where it is possible for all types of users to purchase a membership. DAAS’ business is information, and the information on WebInfo is not only valuable to advisers and farmers, but also to a large number of people in related industries. Among others, these potential customers are financial institutions and firms which manufacture or trade products needed by the farming industry. These customers purchase their membership directly on the website, and in this way gain access to the same information, which the farmers get for free as part of their membership of the Danish Farmers Association. WebInfo’s history Up until the late ‘90s all information from the National Centre was distributed on print. This had a number of obvious disadvantages, to mention some: • Costly and time consuming to print and distribute information. • Outdated information on the local centres – as printed information was not updated. • Low findability – no central source of information, where relevant material could be located. In ’97, it was decided to try to get some of the information that was already being distributed on paper, published on the new website of the National Centre. In the beginning, this was seen as a supplement to the printed versions, but gradually more and more information was only published on the website, and today only a fragment (around 2%) of the information which earlier was distributed on print, is still being distributed in printed versions. Some years later – in 2001 – a new version of the website was introduced, with the main purpose of facilitating the end users access to the information. Previously the information had been arranged as an chronologically arranged online version of the printed publications, but now the pages were arranged according to subject instead. An application which would facilitate and standardize the publication process was build in-house and generally speaking it has worked satisfactory up until now. But obviously 8 years later – the technological possibilities have improved, and the National Centre is now in need of a more up-to-date publishing system.

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WebInfo today Today one of the primary roles for WebInfo, is still to serve as a knowledgebase for advisors. The majority of the pages which were originally published on the website in the late ‘90’s are now outdated, but since the number of pages published each day is still increasing, the website is continuously getting larger. Since information technology is being increasingly incorporated into the production at the farms, the need for applications which exchanges information with these systems is increasing too. This is also reflected in the complexity of WebInfo, where new applications are being introduced continuously. has worked satisfactory up until now. But obviously 8 years later – the technological

Disadvantages of the currentand website possibilities have improved, the National Centre is now in need of a more up-to-date publishing system. of the current website, is the lack of flexibility as regards to the administrators The main disadvantage possibilities of managing the pages. The system has a very rigid backend, which besides from WebInfo being quitetoday difficult to use – especially for new administrators - also requires a significant use of Today one of the primary roles for WebInfo, is still to serve as a knowledgebase for advisors. supplementary HTML-editors like MS Frontpage, in order for the pages to get the functionality, The majority of the pages which were originally published on the website in the late ‘90’s are thenow administrator intended. lackofofpages common standard administration, has made outdated, but since theThe number published eachand day flexible is still increasing, the thewebsite website unorganized regards to design as well as usability. is quite continuously gettingaslarger. One of the main objectives foristhe restructuring to clear administrative work up, and set the Since information technology being increasinglyisincorporated into the production at the farms, the need forthat applications which exchanges information with these systems is increasing common standards are needed. too. This is also reflected in the complexity of WebInfo, where new applications are being introduced continuously.

previous version of WebInfo Figure 2. The previous versionThe of WebInfo. Disadvantages of the current website The main disadvantage of the current website, is the lack of flexibility as regards to the administrators possibilities of managing the pages. The system has a very rigid backend, which besides from being quite difficult to use – especially for new administrators - also requires a significant use of supplementary HTML-editors like MS Frontpage, in order for the pages to get the functionality, the administrator intended. The lack of common standard and EFITA conference ’09 887 flexible administration, has made the website quite unorganized as regards to design as well as usability.

Restructuring WebInfo The project The restructuring of WebInfo has taken approximately 2 years, starting in the summer of 2007. During this time, in average 4-5 full time employees have been working on the project. The developmental process has been based on SCRUM, with cycles of 3 weeks development (sprints) in the main part of the project. All developed features have been put in automated tests, to ensure quality and stability of the new website. The new website One of the first things, the end-user notices, is that the websites now uses leftbar-navigation. Besides from this, the center part of the page is now free of navigation, and can be used for the presentation of content. The page contains 3 zones for webparts (boxes with content) – left, middle and right. MOSS provides the administrator with a large number of build-in webparts, which are supplemented withobjectives custom build webparts developed in house by DAAS.work Typically these One of the main for the restructuring is to clear administrative up, and set webparts the common standards that that is areautomatically needed. contain information extracted from the website, on the basis of metadata, but presentation of data from different applications is also common. Restructuring WebInfo

‘Behind the scenes’: technical features of the new website The project

The restructuring of WebInfo has taken approximately 2 years, starting in the summer of

While mainthis objective been 4-5 to transfer existing have information structure andproject. webpages to 2007.the During time, inhas average full timethe employees been working on the developmental process hashas been based withthe cycles weeks development theThe new site, substantial effort also put on intoSCRUM, improving site of as 3regards to adding facilities the main part of enabling the project. All developed features have beentoput in automated to (sprints) keeping in content updated, collaboration among coworkers, establish more efficient tests, to ensure quality and stability of the new website. metatagging and introduce SSO (Single Sign On) to all applications provided by DAAS. The new website

Page layout of the new website

Figure 3. Page layout of the new website.

One of the first things, the end-user notices, is that the websites now uses leftbar-navigation. Besides from this, the center part of the page is now free of navigation, and can be used for the presentation of content. The page contains 3 zones for webparts (boxes with content) – 888 EFITA conference ’09 left, middle and right. MOSS provides the administrator with a large number of build-in webparts, which are supplemented with custom build webparts developed in house by DAAS. Typically these webparts contain information that is automatically extracted from the website,

more efficient metatagging and introduce SSO (Single Sign On) to all applications provided by DAAS.

The administrators view of the new website

Figure 4. The administrators view of the new website.

Improving administrative tools As mentioned earlier, the previous version of WebInfo required frequent use of third party Improving administrative tools HTML-editors in order for the administrator to be able to create a website according to his Aswishes. mentioned earlier, the previous version of WebInfo required of third The new website introduces a WYSIWYG-editor (Whatfrequent You See use Is What Youparty Get)HTMLeditors in order(www.telerik.com), for the administrator to not be able create the a website according from Telerik which only to provides administrator with to allhis the wishes. The new website introduces a WYSIWYG-editor (What You See Isto What Get) from Telerik (www. features needed in a text editor, but also is easily customizable suit You our needs.

telerik.com), which not only provides the administrator with all the features needed in a text editor, updated butKeeping also is content easily customizable to suit our needs. One of the worst threats towards an updated, reliable website, is the fact that once content is published, it is usually just left at the website, without ever being reviewed and evaluated as Keeping content updated to whether the content is still relevant. As the pages have been moved from the previous to the One the worst threats towards an all updated, reliable is the fact that the once content is newofwebsite, we have made sure that pages now have website, an expiration date within next published, it isexpiration usually just the website, without the everauthor beingofreviewed evaluated as to year. As the dateleft of aatgiven page approaches, the page isand continuously alerted the by email, that has a page needs have to be reviewed. If no action taken bytothethe new whether content is he/she still relevant. As that the pages been moved from theisprevious author (or one of the other employees which will receive notices in case the author does year. not As the website, we have made sure that all pages now have an expiration date within the next review the page), the page will automatically be marked as a page, that is not updated. This expiration date of a given page approaches, the author of the page is continuously alerted by email, mark will be visible both to the end-user and the administrators, and eventually it will be that he/she has a page that needs to be reviewed. If no action is taken by the author (or one of the automatically removed from the website.

other employees which will receive notices in case the author does not review the page), the page will automatically be marked as a page, that is not updated. This mark will be visible both to the Collaboration: The website is based on Microsoft SharePoint (MOSS 2007), whichfrom provides end-user and the administrators, andOffice eventually it willServer be automatically removed the website. advanced workflow functionality. Since the national centre has a large number of employees,

Collaboration The website is based on Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS 2007), which provides advanced workflow functionality. Since the national centre has a large number of employees, and there are a lot of different types of content on the website, it has been decided not to implement a mandatory workflow with common standards throughout the organization. Instead each department can set op workflows on different parts of the website according to their needs. E.g. it is possible to establish a

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workflow, which makes it possible to publish a news page in less than a minute without any review from another employee, while at the same time ensuring that pages which present specific types of research, will need to be reviewed by one or more colleges before it is technically possible to actually publish the page. Elaborate metatagging To facilitate optimal retrieval of pages in all relevant contexts, the webpages have been intensively metatagged. The set of metatags is based on Dublin Core standards, and incorporates thesaurus based subject tagging based on Agrovoc (www.fao.org/agrovoc). The metatagging is especially important on MOSS, because a lot of the webparts (content boxes) on the pages, contain information which is automatically extracted from the website based on the metatags. Single sign on Ever since WebInfo was originally build, it has been a problem, that usually when new applications were developed, they needed to have their own user database – because of technical limitations to the exchange of identification across different technical platforms. However, this have changed now, since a common federated login has been introduces. It is a service based solution, where each individual application can exchange information with the common user database in order to authenticate the user. The basic information about users is stored in AD, and additional information is stored in SQL – all information is accessible through a custom build webinterface. Custom development Though MOSS obviously is a very elaborate framework, that provides a large number of facilities for administrators and users, it has also been necessary to carry out custom development, in order to get the features the organization has required. Some of these are: • ‘Shortcuts’ in the site structure. ‘Shortcuts’ which make it possible to access some parts of the site hierarchy from different entry paths. (One child-note in the structure can now have multiple mothers.). • Multiple simultaneous placements of a page. One page can be accessed using a number of paths through the site hierarchy. • Applying user rights filtering to standard functionality. As mentioned earlier, our website serves as an extranet, a site that is open to the public, and a membership based online service all at the same time. This makes it necessary to implement rights filtering at virtually all the information that is contained on the website. Since not all parts of MOSS have integrated rights filtering, custom development have been carried out in order to make e.g. webparts respect the filtering. Future development At the moment, only the most necessary features of the new website have been implemented. In the following months and years, we have a long list of more advanced features and services we plan to offer end-users and administrators. Some of these are: Internationalisation In DAAS there is an increasing awareness, that the information and services we sell, have potential uses outside the Danish borders. The new website is technically prepared for the introduction of versions in other languages, and it is our plan to introduce a website in English in the near future. Besides from English, other potential languages are Dutch, as well as Russian, Polish, Estonian

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and other eastern European languages. The eastern European languages are especially important to us, partly because it has become very popular among Danish farmers to employ people from Eastern Europe, partly because an increasing number of Danish farmers are establishing farms in Poland, Russia, Estonia etc. The internationalization of the farming community of course calls for a website, which reflects this development. ‘My Page’ One of the main benefits of using MOSS, is the concept of ‘My Page’, which provides the user with a fully customizable page, where content can be edited according to the users own preferences. The concept has already been used by DAAS for several years on the portal ‘Landmand.dk’ (www. landmand.dk), where farmers have their own ‘My page’ with content of their choice. Landmand. dk is built on a MS SharePoint 2003 platform. Since the launch of Landmand.dk in 2004, it has been the intension of DAAS to extend the concept of ‘My page’ to include employees in the organization itself. Other features Though the new website offers far more advanced administrative functions than the previous version, it still needs some functions which are considered basic for a large website in 2007. These functions include blogs, calendars, video, discussion forums, tagclouds, wikis, more advanced newsletters etc. Some of these functions are part of MOSS’ out-of-the-box-functionality, and just need minor adjustments before they can be used on WebInfo. Others might be implemented by the acquisition of third party products, while others might require custom coding. References Hansen, J.P., Hansen, N.F., Hørning, A. and Schultz, E. 2005. ‘Landmand.dk – a personal portal for farmers’. Proceedings of EFITA 2005. Fifth conference of the European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and Environment. Hansen, J.P. and Hørning, A., 2001. ‘Re-organizing information architecture of a large agricultural web site why and how.’ Proceedings of EFITA 2001. Third conference of the European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and Environment. Hørning, A., Hansen, J.P., Hansen, N.F. and Schultz, E. 2005. ‘A Common Internet Platform for the Danish Agricultural Advisory Service’. Proceedings of EFITA 2005. Fifth conference of the European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and Environment.

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