Pattrn

Data-driven, participatory fact mapping for:

• conflict monitoring
• investigative journalism
• human rights
• citizen science
• research and analysis

Pattrn is free and open source software, distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 or any later version.

This user guide is free and open source as well, distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3 or any later version.

Table of contents

• About Pattrn
  • What is Pattrn?
  • How does Pattrn work?
    • Components
    • Editors/Observers
  • Why Pattrn?
• Getting started
  • Prerequisites
  • Step one: Getting the Pattrn code
  • Step two: Link the Pattrn app to a dataset
    • A brief overview of the sample dataset
    • Download the dataset
    • Pattrn metadata: configuring variables
    • Configure basic settings for the Pattrn instance
    • Linking all the configuration files to the Pattrn instance
  • Step three: Publishing the Pattrn app
  • Creating a new Pattrn instance with your own data
• How to use Pattrn
  • Introduction
  • The event map
  • Event details
  • Charts and filters area
    • General information about the interactive charts
    • Charting and filtering over time
    • Charting and filtering by type
    • Charting and filtering by Yes/No questions
    • Checking/Resetting filters
    • Search field
    • Sharing a Platform
    • Submitting New Data and Edits
• Managing data for Pattrn
  • Principles of Pattrn Data structure
    • GeoJSON datasets
      • Cleaning up data and preparing it for Pattrn
      • Preparing metadata for a dataset
    • Google Sheets datasets
      • Where data is stored
      • Two ways of editing data
      • Customising your data structure
      • Photos, Videos, Web Links
      • Automatically populated fields
      • Required fields
      • Data Formatting Reference
      • Data limits
  • Indicative maximum number of events in a Dataset
  • Concerning tags
• Pattrn data packages
  • Prerequisites
  • Installing a Pattrn data package
  • Developing a Pattrn data package
    • Initializing the NPM package
    • Adding data and metadata to the package
• Setting up Pattrn with Google Sheets
  • Prerequisites
  • Setting up the Google Sheets data source
    • Copying the Pattrn sheets to your Google Drive
    • Inputting the IDKeys
    • Synchronising the Pattrn Editor script with the spreadsheets
    • Publishing the script and the Master spreadsheet
    • Pattrn Editor configuration
    • Creation of usernames and passwords for Editors
  • Setting up the Pattrn app
    • Downloading the Pattrn app files
    • Configuring the Pattrn app
    • Configuring the baselayers of the map
    • OpenStreetMap
    • Stamen
    • Satellite (via MapBox)
    • [Optional] Add sharing buttons to your Pattrn app
    • Upload the Pattrn app files to your web server
    • Pattrn settings
    • [Optional] Run your Pattrn app locally on your computer
• How to use the Pattrn Editor
  • Accessing the Pattrn Editor
    • Editing Tab
      • Main Table view
      • Create / Delete columns
      • Display of Events: by clusters, or all events
      • Adding or editing an event
    • Review of Contributions Tab
      • New contributions
      • Review of a new event contribution
      • Review of an edited event contribution
      • The PATTRN_Audit spreadsheet
    • Collaboration among multiple Editors
      • Simultaneous work among multiple Editors
      • Comments
      • Drafts
• Contributing to the development of Pattrn
  • Joining the Pattrn developers discussion room
  • Writing code
  • Reporting bugs and issues
  • Writing/Editing documentation
  • Sharing ideas and spreading the word
  • Financial support
  • Governance structure
• Troubleshooting
  • Pattrn isn’t loading any data when using the Google Sheets backend
• Help with Pattrn
  • Join the Pattrn developers discussion room
  • Google Group
  • Get in touch via email or Twitter
• Privacy, security, anonymity
  • Use Pattrn only with public data
  • Anonymous contributions

Authors and contributors

The Pattrn project was initiated thanks to a Proof-of-Concept Grant from the European Research Council, awarded to Prof. Eyal Weizman, in the framework of Forensic Architecture (2014-2015).

Pattrn v2.0

• Technical lead and data science: andrea rota
• Project management: Nick Axel

Pattrn v1.0

• Project Architect: FSBRG (Francesco Sebregondi)
• Frontend development: TEKJA Data
• Pattrn editor development: Digital Consolidation

All new contributors to the Pattrn project will be duly credited.

License

Pattrn is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

Pattrn is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Affero General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License along with Pattrn. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.