The IPT is an open source software server written in Java that allows users to publish and share biodiversity datasets through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility network (GBIF). Designed for interoperability, it enables the publishing of content in databases or text files using open standards; namely the Darwin Core and the Ecological Metadata Language.

The IPT supports the publishing and registering, through the GBIF network, of

• Primary occurrence data
• Species checklists and taxonomies
• Dataset descriptive metadata

As a GBIF community-driven project, the IPT is developed, tested, and supported by a diverse international group of contributors.

GBIF works to make digital biodiversity data openly and freely available on the Internet for everyone. GBIF provides access to scientific biodiversity data for decision-making, research endeavours and public use. GBIF endorses both open source software and open data access.

GBIF is also a network of data publishers who retain ownership and control of the data they share. Linked datasets provide a more robust representation of biodiversity than any single dataset.

In this framework, GBIF develops software tools to make possible to easily integrate biodiversity data from heterogeneous sources using common standards and protocols.