Project Overview

This web application documents and visualizes the history of the University of Dayton's Computer Science Department. It brings together faculty timelines, department milestones, building history, and archival data into an accessible digital platform.

Our goal is to create a resource that supports students, faculty, alumni, and researchers by preserving institutional memory and making historical information easy to explore.

Key Features

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Sprint Documentation

Sprint 1 - Project Kickoff & Research

Client Meeting

Met with the project sponsor to discuss the history of the UD Computer Science Department.
Reviewed historical materials including news articles and archived content.
Discussed the proposed database schema design.
Clarified details related to faculty history and the department's accreditation process.

Historical Research Organization

Collected information into a shared research document.
Organized research into sections such as Chairs, Faculty, Buildings, Alumni, and Curriculum.

Historical Data Compilation

Recorded faculty and department chairs along with employment years.
Documented the department's movement across campus buildings.
Tracked the contributions of NCR in establishing the program.
Identified important milestones such as accreditation, major grants, and early degrees.

Database Planning

Began designing the database schema.
Selected Neo4j to model interconnected historical data.
Created a preliminary schema organized by department chair tenure.

Website & Web App Design

Began designing the web application in Figma.
Planned a 3x3 grid interface representing each department chair period.

Next Steps

Complete remaining historical research and verify faculty, curriculum, and building timelines.
Continue expanding the Neo4j database with new nodes and relationships.
Finalize the initial web application design in Figma.
Start integrating the Neo4j database with the website to move toward a working app.

Sprint 2 - Implementation & Development

Interface Design & Layout

Designed and refined both grid and timeline layouts for displaying department chairs.
Implemented a structure that supports switching between the two views.
Improved overall layout and organization using Figma prototypes.

Backend Integration with Neo4j

Integrated Neo4j into the backend and connected it to the React frontend.
Restructured data to represent relationships such as leadership succession.
Tested queries to ensure accurate data retrieval and connections.

Image Storage & Management

Implemented Cloudinary for storing and managing images.
Linked image URLs to Neo4j nodes for efficient access.
Updated frontend styling to improve image display and consistency.

Data Collection & Organization

Continued collecting and verifying historical data from archived sources.
Expanded and refined the Neo4j schema with additional nodes and relationships.
Worked with the client to gather missing materials such as photos and historical details.

Application Development

Connected frontend and backend components to create a functional application structure.
Established the foundation for displaying chair data dynamically.
Prepared the project for further feature development and expansion.