Biendata Backend (Express)

Backend API for Biendata, serving species, ranges, observations, occurrences, and trait data with download support. Built with Node.js and Express, backed by PostgreSQL.

Features

• Species & range data — Lookup and query species, ranges, and species-range associations
• Observations & occurrences — Single and bulk (multi-species) observation/occurrence queries
• Trait data — Trait lookups and downloads
• Download endpoints — CSV/ZIP exports for observations, ranges, and traits (single and bulk)
• Rate limiting — 100 requests per 15 minutes per IP on /api routes
• CORS — Allowed origins: biendata.org, www.biendata.org, and mint-pheasant.nceas.ucsb.edu:3004

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14 or later)
• PostgreSQL — Two databases are used: one for main app data (PGDATABASE), one for traits/occurrences/species-ranges (PGDATABASE2)

Setup

1. Clone and install

   npm install

2. Environment variables

   Create a .env file in the project root with:

   PORT=3005
   PGHOST=localhost
   PGUSER=your_user
   PGPASSWORD=your_password
   PGDATABASE=your_main_database
   PGDATABASE2=your_secondary_database
   PGPORT=5432

   • PGDATABASE — Used by config/db.js and most range/observation logic
   • PGDATABASE2 — Used by trait, occurrence, and species-range controllers

3. Run the server

   npm start

   Server listens on PORT (default 3005).

Scripts

Command	Description
npm start	Start server (node server.js)
npm test	Placeholder (no tests yet)

API Overview

All API routes are under /api. Rate limit: 100 requests per 15 minutes per IP.

Base path	Description
/api/species	Species lookup
/api/range	Range data and range queries
/api/species-ranges	Species–range associations
/api/observations	Observation queries
/api/occurrences	Occurrence queries
/api/multi-occurrences	Bulk occurrence records
/api/multiple-species	Multi-species lookups
/api/multiple-ranges	Multi-species range data
/api/multiple-observations	Multi-species observation lookups
/api/traits	Trait data
/api/download	Observation, range, and trait downloads (single and multi)

Download routes support CSV and ZIP. Geometry is handled with wkx where applicable.

Project structure

├── config/
│   └── db.js              # PostgreSQL pool (PGDATABASE)
├── controllers/           # Route handlers and DB logic
├── middleware/
│   └── errorHandler.js   # Global error handler
├── routes/               # Express routers
├── server.js             # App entry, CORS, rate limit, route mounting
├── package.json
└── README.md

License

MIT