endorsedOngoing

Digital Collections Platform for National Institute for Newman Studies (NINS)

Services Covered:

Custom Software Development

Industry

Education

Duration

100 months

Budget

50K - 199K

Start Date

1 April 2018

Team Size

6-10 Employees

Engagement Model

Offshore

Project Capability Score (PCS)

73/100

Good

Project Capability Score (PCS) estimates how capable Third Rock Techkno is of successfully delivering a project like this, based on its past experience, track record, and ability to handle similar work. Learn more about PCS

Client

National Institute for Newman Studies (NINS)

Pittsburgh, United States of America

Project Summary

Third Rock Techkno built a digital collections website and curator interface for the National Institute for Newman Studies (NINS), organizing 40TB of manuscripts, images, scores, and publications. They delivered scalable data architecture, advanced search and deep-zoom viewers, and customized IIIF integrations; the platform has been well received by scholars and supports future collaborations. Project management is agile and coordinated across time zones, ensuring continuous progress.

Key Challenges

Build user-friendly web interfaces leveraging the IIIF framework to showcase 40TB of digital collections
Provide deep-zoom, annotations, OCR, advanced search, transcription panes, and data visualization for manuscripts and documents
Architect a scalable data structure and integrate required APIs to support large-scale scholarly access

Project Deliverables

Curator web application
Public-facing web application
Scalable data architecture for 40TB of digital collections
Search functionality with detailed filters, deep-zoom, multi-document comparison, and full metadata
Customized IIIF-based viewers (Mirador, Leaflet) and IIIF JSON editor integrations

Project Solution

Third Rock Techkno developed two mobile-ready web applications (one for curators and one for end users) using a MEAN-stack approach with MongoDB, Angular, and Node.js. They customized IIIF tools (Mirador, Leaflet, Bodleian manifest editor), architected a scalable data structure to handle 40TB of digital collections, implemented advanced search, deep-zoom, multi-document comparison, and delivered proofs of concept while working in an agile, multi-timezone process.

Project Outcome

Received international press coverage and positive reviews after launch
Became central to the institute's mission and a draw for scholars, enabling future collaborations
Continuous, multi-timezone development and effective project management ensured reliable delivery

Platforms

Web
Cloud

Tech Stack

MongoDB
Angular
Node.js
Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Client Endorsement

Overall Review Rating

Timeliness

Cost Rating

Willing to Refer

Quality of Deliverables

“Third Rock Techkno's solution forms the heart of the research library and receives great reviews from scholars and experts. Their work integrates complex frameworks and features to offer everything researchers need. They are open-minded and worked smoothly with the academic subject matter.”
Daniel Michaels, Ph.D.
CTO
Date: 08/27/2019