Data Management LWF: Concept, Setup, and Maintenance

Rationale

In long-term projects like Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research LWF, collected data represent an important scientific asset/treasure. It is of primer importance to store this data in controlled and well documented structures in order to preserve the high initial investment for collecting data. This structured and documented storage is the base for a mid- or long-term use of the data. In the case of a loss of data not only the only financial loss of the initial investment for collecting the data has to be considered. Often is not possible to regain the same data so that a loss of data is priceless.

Project aims

• Store LWF-related data permanently, securely and without redundancy in Oracle databases and/or GIS structures
  
• Flexible, internet based access to LWF data through defined user interfaces must be possible.
  
• Develop simple and flexible solutions for using and maintaining LWF Data.
  
• Prepare LWF data for international organizations (FIMCI).
  
• Publish all aspects of the storage structures on the Intranet.
  
• Market products and know how customer oriented.

Methods

• Oracle as a commmon database
  
• GIS from ESRI as a another standart
  
• SQL as database query language.
  
• SDE/SDO for the integration of GIS and database data.
  
• PL/SQL or Java as programming language.
  
• ERWIN and Visio as tools for data-modelling.
  
• Internet based client-software should be used wherever it makes sense or is possible.
  
• Continous professional training of all the praticipants is a prime concern.

Data

LWF Data can be obtained from the project leaders.

Results

• Description of developed databases and applications.

Participants

• Peter Jakob (Project leader)
• Flurin Sutter (Project leader)
• Peter Waldner
  

Contact

• Peter Jakob
  

• Flurin Sutter
  

• Peter Waldner
  

Publications

• Jakob P., Bernhard L., Schneiter G., Sutter F., 2001. Environmental Data Processing: Science meets Business Engineering. In: L.M. Hilty, P.W. Gilgen (eds), Sustainability in the Information Society. Marburg, Metropolis, pp. 541-546.
  
• Jakob P., Ginzler C., Kräuchi N., Baltensweiler A., 2000. Modern ecology requires a state-of-the-art data acquisition and management methodology. Conference of European Statisticians. UN/ECE Work Session on Methodological Issues Involving the Integration of Statistics and Geography. Neuchâtel, Switzerland, 10-12 April 2000. Working Paper No. 19, 8 p. Available online: http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/2000.04.gis.htm
  
• Schaub M., Innes J.L., Skelly J.M., Bernhard L., Jakob P., Kräuchi N., 21 october 2002: UN/ECE ICP-Forests LWF web page for the assessment of visible foliar injury. Available online: http://www.ozone.wsl.ch