docs: SPARROW ecosystem alignment — MkDocs site, citation, issue templates, branding

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug-report.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+name: Bug Report
+description: Problems with SPARROW
+labels: [bug]
+body:
+  - type: markdown
+    attributes:
+      value: |
+        Thank you for submitting a Bug Report!
+
+  - type: checkboxes
+    attributes:
+      label: Search before asking
+      description: >
+        Please search the [issues](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/issues) to see if a similar bug report already exists.
+      options:
+        - label: >
+            I have searched the SPARROW [issues](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/issues) and found no similar bug report.
+          required: true
+
+  - type: textarea
+    attributes:
+      label: Bug
+      description: Provide console output with error messages and/or screenshots of the bug.
+      placeholder: |
+        💡 ProTip! Include as much information as possible (error messages, screenshots, logs, tracebacks, etc.) to receive the most helpful response.
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
+  - type: textarea
+    attributes:
+      label: Environment
+      description: Please specify the software and hardware you used to produce the bug.
+      placeholder: |
+        - SPARROW version / commit hash:
+        - Hardware: Jetson Orin Nano / other
+        - OS: Ubuntu 22.04
+        - Docker version:
+    validations:
+      required: false
+
+  - type: textarea
+    attributes:
+      label: Minimal Reproducible Example
+      description: >
+        This is referred to by community members as creating a [minimal reproducible example](https://stackoverflow.com/help/minimal-reproducible-example).
+      placeholder: |
+        ```
+        # Steps or commands to reproduce the issue
+        ```
+    validations:
+      required: false
+
+  - type: textarea
+    attributes:
+      label: Additional
+      description: Anything else you would like to share?
+
+  - type: checkboxes
+    attributes:
+      label: Are you willing to submit a PR?
+      description: >
+        (Optional) We encourage you to submit a [Pull Request](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/pulls) (PR) to help contribute to SPARROW for everyone, especially if you have a good understanding of how to implement a fix or feature.
+      options:
+        - label: Yes I'd like to help by submitting a PR!

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature-request.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+name: Feature Request
+description: Suggest an enhancement for SPARROW
+labels: [enhancement]
+body:
+  - type: markdown
+    attributes:
+      value: |
+        Thank you for submitting a SPARROW Feature Request!
+
+  - type: checkboxes
+    attributes:
+      label: Search before asking
+      description: >
+        Please search the [issues](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/issues) to see if a similar feature request already exists.
+      options:
+        - label: >
+            I have searched the SPARROW [issues](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/issues) and found no similar feature request.
+          required: true
+
+  - type: textarea
+    attributes:
+      label: Description
+      description: A short description of your feature.
+      placeholder: |
+        What new feature would you like to see in SPARROW?
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
+  - type: textarea
+    attributes:
+      label: Use case
+      description: |
+        Describe the use case of your feature request. It will help us understand and prioritize the feature request.
+      placeholder: |
+        How would this feature be used, and who would use it?
+
+  - type: textarea
+    attributes:
+      label: Additional
+      description: Anything else you would like to share?
+
+  - type: checkboxes
+    attributes:
+      label: Are you willing to submit a PR?
+      description: >
+        (Optional) We encourage you to submit a [Pull Request](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/pulls) (PR) to help contribute to SPARROW for everyone, especially if you have a good understanding of how to implement a fix or feature.
+      options:
+        - label: Yes I'd like to help by submitting a PR!

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/question.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+name: Question
+description: Ask a SPARROW question
+labels: [question]
+body:
+  - type: markdown
+    attributes:
+      value: |
+        Thank you for asking a general question!
+
+  - type: checkboxes
+    attributes:
+      label: Search before asking
+      description: >
+        Please search the [issues](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/issues) to see if a similar question already exists.
+      options:
+        - label: >
+            I have searched the SPARROW [issues](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/issues) and found no similar question.
+          required: true
+
+  - type: textarea
+    attributes:
+      label: Question
+      description: What is your question?
+      placeholder: |
+        💡 ProTip! Include as much information as possible to receive the most helpful response.
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
+  - type: textarea
+    attributes:
+      label: Additional
+      description: Anything else you would like to share?

.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+name: Deploy MkDocs site
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+    paths:
+      - 'docs/**'
+      - 'mkdocs.yml'
+      - 'docs-requirements.txt'
+
+jobs:
+  deploy:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.10'
+
+      - name: Install MkDocs dependencies
+        run: pip install -r docs-requirements.txt
+
+      - name: Deploy to GitHub Pages
+        run: mkdocs gh-deploy --force

.gitignore

@@ -3,6 +3,15 @@
 ##
 ## Get latest from https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/VisualStudio.gitignore
 
+# Docs build output (served from gh-pages branch)
+site/
+
+# Local archive directories
+archive/
+
+# Workspace files
+*.code-workspace
+
 # User-specific files
 *.rsuser
 *.suo

README.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-![image](https://zenodo.org/records/17547596/files/SPARROW-banner.png)
+![SPARROW — Solar-Powered Acoustic and Remote Recording Observation Watch, edge AI for wildlife monitoring](https://zenodo.org/records/17547596/files/SPARROW-banner.png)
 
   </a>
 </p>
@@ -28,6 +28,20 @@ The resulting critical information is then transmitted via low-Earth orbit satel
 <!-- This section has the latex citation 
 To learn more about project SPARROW, please checkout our SPARROW paper here 👉 [aka.ms/sparrowpaper](https://aka.ms/sparrowpaper)-->
 
+---
+
+## Part of the Microsoft Biodiversity Ecosystem
+
+| Repository | Description |
+|---|---|
+| [microsoft/Biodiversity](https://github.com/microsoft/Biodiversity) | Umbrella hub — PyTorch-Wildlife, MegaDetector, ecosystem overview |
+| [microsoft/MegaDetector](https://github.com/microsoft/MegaDetector) | Animal/human/vehicle detector for camera traps |
+| [microsoft/Pytorch-Wildlife](https://github.com/microsoft/Pytorch-Wildlife) | Unified AI framework: detection + species classification |
+| [microsoft/SPARROW](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW) | This repo — solar-powered edge AI for wildlife monitoring |
+| [microsoft/SPARROW-Studio](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW-Studio) | Dashboard for SPARROW data visualization |
+
+---
+
 # ✨ Key Features
 
 1. **🔋 Autonomous operation**  
@@ -37,7 +51,7 @@ To learn more about project SPARROW, please checkout our SPARROW paper here 👉
    Camera traps, acoustic monitoring, and environmental sensors - SPARROW integrates multi-modal sensing to capture images, sounds, and enviromental metrics for comprehensive biodiversity monitoring.
 
 3. **🧠 On-device AI**  
-   Runs optimized PyTorch Wildlife models on power efficient edge GPUs (e.g., Jetson Orin Nano) for real-time image and acoustic detection, species classification, and event recognition.
+   Runs optimized PyTorch-Wildlife models on power efficient edge GPUs (e.g., Jetson Orin Nano) for real-time image and acoustic detection, species classification, and event recognition.
 
 4. **🌐 Global connectivity**  
    Even in the most remote ecosystems, SPARROW maintains a link to the cloud or on-premise infrastructure through low-Earth-orbit satellites, ensuring that vital conservation data reaches researchers in near real time.

SUPPORT.md

@@ -1,25 +1,13 @@
-# TODO: The maintainer of this repo has not yet edited this file
-
-**REPO OWNER**: Do you want Customer Service & Support (CSS) support for this product/project?
-
-- **No CSS support:** Fill out this template with information about how to file issues and get help.
-- **Yes CSS support:** Fill out an intake form at [aka.ms/onboardsupport](https://aka.ms/onboardsupport). CSS will work with/help you to determine next steps.
-- **Not sure?** Fill out an intake as though the answer were "Yes". CSS will help you decide.
-
-*Then remove this first heading from this SUPPORT.MD file before publishing your repo.*
-
-# Support
-
-## How to file issues and get help  
-
-This project uses GitHub Issues to track bugs and feature requests. Please search the existing 
-issues before filing new issues to avoid duplicates.  For new issues, file your bug or 
-feature request as a new Issue.
-
-For help and questions about using this project, please **REPO MAINTAINER: INSERT INSTRUCTIONS HERE 
-FOR HOW TO ENGAGE REPO OWNERS OR COMMUNITY FOR HELP. COULD BE A STACK OVERFLOW TAG OR OTHER
-CHANNEL. WHERE WILL YOU HELP PEOPLE?**.
-
-## Microsoft Support Policy  
-
-Support for this **PROJECT or PRODUCT** is limited to the resources listed above.
+# Support
+
+## How to file issues and get help
+
+This project uses GitHub Issues to track bugs and feature requests. Please search the [existing issues](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/issues) before filing new ones to avoid duplicates.
+
+- **Bug reports:** Use the [Bug Report](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/issues/new?template=bug-report.yml) template
+- **Feature requests:** Use the [Feature Request](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/issues/new?template=feature-request.yml) template
+- **Questions:** Use the [Question](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/issues/new?template=question.yml) template or start a [GitHub Discussion](https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW/discussions)
+
+## Microsoft Support Policy
+
+Support for this project is limited to the resources listed above.

citation.cff

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+cff-version: 1.2.0
+message: "If you use SPARROW in your research, please cite it using this metadata."
+type: software
+title: "SPARROW: Solar-Powered Acoustic and Remote Recording Observation Watch"
+version: "1.0.0"
+date-released: "2026-05-14"
+license: MIT
+repository-code: "https://github.com/microsoft/SPARROW"
+url: "https://microsoft.github.io/SPARROW/"
+keywords:
+  - edge-ai
+  - wildlife-monitoring
+  - camera-traps
+  - acoustic-monitoring
+  - conservation
+  - jetson
+  - solar-powered
+  - PyTorch-Wildlife
+  - ai-for-good
+authors:
+  - family-names: Lavista Ferres
+    given-names: "Juan M."
+  - family-names: Chalmers
+    given-names: Carl
+  - family-names: Demuro Segundo
+    given-names: Bruno
+  - family-names: Miao
+    given-names: Zhongqi
+  - family-names: Hernandez Celis
+    given-names: Andres
+  - family-names: Chacon Silva
+    given-names: Isai Daniel
+  - family-names: Kim
+    given-names: Allen
+  - family-names: Marotti
+    given-names: Luana
+  - family-names: Michaels
+    given-names: Amy
+  - family-names: Ruiz Lopez
+    given-names: Daniela
+  - family-names: Dodhia
+    given-names: Rahul
+  - family-names: Becker-Reshef
+    given-names: Inbal
+  - family-names: "Arbelaez Escalante"
+    given-names: "Pablo Andrés"
+  - family-names: Alves Torres
+    given-names: Federico
+  - family-names: Machado
+    given-names: Meygha
+  - family-names: Cintron Roman
+    given-names: Anthony

docs-requirements.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+mkdocs>=1.6
+mkdocs-material>=9.7
+mkdocs-material-extensions>=1.3
+pymdown-extensions>=10.0
+mkdocstrings>=0.27
+mkdocstrings-python>=1.0

docs/build_mkdocs.md

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+---
+description: "How to build and deploy the SPARROW MkDocs documentation site locally and to GitHub Pages."
+tags:
+  - SPARROW
+  - documentation
+  - MkDocs
+  - developer-guide
+---
+
+# Developer Guide — Building the Docs
+
+This page explains how to build and preview the SPARROW documentation site locally.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+Install the documentation dependencies (separate from the ML/hardware requirements):
+
+```bash
+pip install -r docs-requirements.txt
+```
+
+## Local Preview
+
+Start the live-reload dev server:
+
+```bash
+mkdocs serve
+```
+
+Open [http://127.0.0.1:8000](http://127.0.0.1:8000) in your browser. The site rebuilds automatically when you save any file under `docs/` or `mkdocs.yml`.
+
+## Build (Static)
+
+To build the static site without serving it:
+
+```bash
+mkdocs build
+```
+
+Output goes to `site/` (gitignored — never commit this directory).
+
+## Deploy to GitHub Pages
+
+Deployment happens automatically via GitHub Actions on every push to `main` that touches `docs/**`, `mkdocs.yml`, or `docs-requirements.txt`. The workflow in `.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yml` builds the site and force-pushes to the `gh-pages` branch.
+
+To deploy manually:
+
+```bash
+mkdocs gh-deploy --force
+```
+
+## Adding a New Page
+
+1. Create `docs/<page-name>.md` with the required SEO front matter:
+
+```yaml
+---
+description: "One-sentence description for search engines and the site description meta tag."
+tags:
+  - SPARROW
+  - relevant-tag
+---
+```
+
+2. Add the page to the `nav:` section of `mkdocs.yml`.