NRDT Phase 3

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Natural ResourceDatabase Template
Joe Gregson Natural Resource GIS Coordinator
Inventory and Monitoring Program Natural Resource
Information Division National Park Service
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NRDT Phase Version 3

• An Improved Model for IM Natural Resource
  Databases
• Chris Dietrich, Lisa Nelson,and Joe Gregson

Inventory and Monitoring Program
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NRDT A Brief History

• Fall 2001
• NRDT development begins
• Develop Phase 1
• Spring 2002
• Beta test Phase 1
• Develop and release Phase 2
• Fall and Winter 2004
• Functional re-assessment of Phase 2
• Draft Version 3 for review and comment
• Version 3 released

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NRDT What and Why?

• A standard data model with application tools to
  facilitate data sharing and integration with
  other databases and GIS at parks and networks
• NRDT has a history of successful implementation
• Many Phase 2 databases created
• Concept of Location_ID and tabular GIS data
  adopted by others

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NRDT Functional Re-assessmentand Database
Revision Project

• Chartered by National Monitoring Coordinator (and
  popular demand)
• NRDT User Survey (of Phase 2)
• Revision Team
• Recruitment
• RD revised database model and issues
• Review and revise first drafts, test results
• Address major issues from NPS-wide review
• NPS-wide User Review (of Version 3)
• Finish Products, Post Results, Close Out

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Functional Re-assessment

• Phase 2 NRDT User Survey Results
• Primary key structure was not optimal
• Core relationships did not model many of field
  sampling protocols very well
• Therefore, interface design (forms, queries,
  reports, etc.) unnecessarily difficult
• Not clear how to integrate with GIS

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NRDT User Survey

• Sent to all Data Managers
• Questions about
• Primary key structure
• Usefulness of Phase 2 database structure
• Need for integration with GIS
• Need for a data transfer/export standard
• Most important vital signs being studied
• Desired tools and functionality for NRDT
• Need for a NRDT mandate from IM

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NRDT Revision Team

• NRDT Revision Team formed to assess issues and
  provide redesign expertise
• Seven IM data managers (new and senior)
• Three IM program analysts
• Seven networks from across the NPS
• Professional backgrounds
• Computer Information Systems RDBMS
• Geographic Information Systems
• Biology, Ecology, Forestry, Geology

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NRDT Revision Team

• Rose Cook - Sierra Nevada IM Network
• Chris Dietrich - IM National Office (Fort
  Collins)
• Joe Gregson - IM National Office (Fort Collins)
• Mark Hart - Great Lakes IM Network
• Susan Huse - Northeast Coastal Barrier IM
  Network
• Lisa Nelson - IM National Office (Fort Collins)
• Velma Potash - Cape Cod N.S. Data Manager
• Gareth Rowell - Heartland IM Network
• Brian Witcher - South Florida/Caribbean IM
  Network
• Christina Wright - Southeast Coast IM Network

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Revision Team Guiding Principals

• Assume legacy databases need not be changed
• Develop an improved core database model that
  better matches the most common field protocols
• Define an extendable core that is well-designed
  and optimized for ease of interface design
• Facilitate connection to GIS applications
• Anticipate possible future need for data roll-up
  or integration at park, network, regional levels

Inventory and Monitoring Program
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Version 3 Core

• Optimized for the majority of protocols
• Simplifies core table relationships
• Simplifies interface design
• Provides core common tables and fields necessary
  for data integration/roll-up
• Formalizes link(s) to GIS
• Backwards compatibility with Phase 2

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Phase 2 Model
Core Tables
Protocol-specific Tables
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Version 3 Core Model
Protocol-specific Tables
Core Tables
Metadata
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Version 3 Extended Core

• Provides tables, fields and relationships to
  handle second-tier commonalities
• Provides the flexibility needed to model all
  field sampling protocols

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Version 3 Extended Model
Protocol-specific Tables
Extended Core Tables
Metadata
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Version 3 Data Sharing

• Primary key issues resolved in a way that
  facilitates data sharing and integration
• GUIDs (Globally Unique Identifiers) create unique
  record keys for shared data
• Keys auto-generated in the backend

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Version 3 Integration

• Improved integration with other IM data systems
• Dataset Catalog metadata
• NR-GIS Data Store metadata
• NPSpecies taxonomic lookup tables and species
  evidence
• GIS integration/spatial data analysis

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Version 3 GIS Functionality

• Issues with storing locations resolved in a way
  that facilitates integration with GIS
• Formalized GUID link to GIS features
• Conforms to established NPS GIS standards

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Version 3 NRDT Standardizaton

• Extended core for 2nd level commonalities
• NRDT Data Standards Committee (BOFAT)
• Standard fields tables for common protocols
• Facilitates rapid application development
• Promotes service-wide consistency
• IM Recommended Naming Standards for Inventory
  and Monitoring Databases
• Table/field naming convention promotes
  consistency throughout IM databases
• Preserves investment in NRDT applications

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Example NRDT Database for Rapid Application
Development

• NER developed a startup V. 3 application
• A conversion SOP to facilitate creation of new
  NRDT Version 3 databases with little code editing
• Saltmarsh monitoring example
• 2 protocols
• Vegetation
• Nektons
• gt1000 event records
• User SOP for the Saltmarsh database

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NRDT Version 3 Timeline/Closeout

• Formal Version 3 review in Dec. 2004
• Final documentation and initial example completed
  in Jan. 2005.
• NRDT Version 3 documentation, survey results,
  review comments, and initial example now on NRDT
  website
• Development of field applications and additional
  examples can begin anytime
• Direct tech. support and database development by
  WASO IM will end in March 2005
• NRDT and NR-GIS Data Store training tentatively
  set for May 2005

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Related NRDT Events

• NRDT Version 3 examples needed, send to Chris
  Dietrich for posting
• Get the latest NRDT News and Version 3
  athttp//science.nature.nps.gov/im/apps/template
  /
• Database object naming convention was sent out
  for service-wide review in January 2005, revision
  due in February
• NRDT Standards (BOFAT) Committee resumed work in
  January 2005
• NRDT and GIS standards web application
  development will start in April 2005

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National Park ServiceInventory and Monitoring
Program
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Conceptual Database Relationships w/ NR Systems