A GIS-based A GIS-based Vegetation Vegetation

Database of the Database of the Austrian AlpsAustrian Alps

an application of JODIan application of JODIPPeterseil J., eterseil J., MMoser D., oser D., WWillner W. & illner W. &

GGrabherr G.rabherr G.

Institute of Ecology and Conservation BiologyInstitute of Ecology and Conservation BiologyUniversity ViennaUniversity Vienna

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

OrganisationOrganisation

Project leader Project leader Georg GrabherrGeorg Grabherr

Wolfgang Wolfgang WillnerWillner

Johannes Peterseil Johannes Peterseil Dietmar MoserDietmar Moser

Andreas Exner Andreas Exner

Christine JakominiChristine Jakomini Siegrun ErtlSiegrun Ertl

Financed by the Financed by the Austrian Academy of Austrian Academy of ScienceScience

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Project aimsProject aims

Development of the database Development of the database structurestructure

Input of relevés from the Austrian Input of relevés from the Austrian AlpsAlps

Linking of the relevés with GISLinking of the relevés with GIS

Exemplary analysisExemplary analysis

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

What are the main What are the main problems?problems?

Different sampling approachesDifferent sampling approaches Systematic errors Systematic errors Missing dataMissing data Different methods and scalesDifferent methods and scales Different accuracy of localisationDifferent accuracy of localisation Assigned vegetation typesAssigned vegetation types many others …many others …

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

How to deal with them?How to deal with them? Design a consistent and flexible database Design a consistent and flexible database

structurestructure Building of central definiton lists, e.g. Building of central definiton lists, e.g.

speciesspecies Design of tools for the selection, edit and Design of tools for the selection, edit and

aggregation of dataaggregation of data Design of interfaces to other commonly Design of interfaces to other commonly

used vegetation databases, e.g. used vegetation databases, e.g. TURBOVEG, VegBank or analysis TURBOVEG, VegBank or analysis programs, e.g. MEGATAB, VEGI, JUICE, programs, e.g. MEGATAB, VEGI, JUICE, SYNTAX, ...SYNTAX, ...

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

JODIJODI Microsoft Access database application Microsoft Access database application

splitted intosplitted into User InterfaceUser Interface Definition listsDefinition lists Link to Spatial DataLink to Spatial Data Data (project, literature, species, Data (project, literature, species,

environmental data)environmental data) FlexibilityFlexibility Original data are stored unchanged Original data are stored unchanged Translation done via Central Definition Translation done via Central Definition

ListsLists

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Data modelData model

LITERATURE

[publ_id]

Tables

[table_id]

RELEVÉ

[sample_id]

Header data

(sampling date, descriptions, …)

Site data

Environ.data, structure, …

Vegetation

Species and abundance

Classification

alliance, vegetation type

METHODSData fields, default

values

DEFINITION LIST

[value_id]

PROJECT

[proj_id]

Localisation

coordinates, maps (GIS)

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Date Elev Slope Aspect … Sample 1 1.6.1954 200 Slight SE Sample 2 1.7.1976 350 Steep E Sample 3 20.5.1986 alpine Steep E Sample 4 1.8.1999 500 5 NW …

Data modelData modelNormal structure

DATA FIELD VALUEUNIT

New! Data are structured as records

METHODMETHOD

PROJECTDEFINTION LIST

elevation alpineCLS

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

MethodsMethods

What are methods? What are methods? A summary ofA summary of DATA FIELD, e.g. slope DATA FIELD, e.g. slope UNIT, measured as °UNIT, measured as ° DEFINITION LIST, e.g. a list of free entriesDEFINITION LIST, e.g. a list of free entries Additional information, e.g. type of deviceAdditional information, e.g. type of device

What are they for?What are they for?Used for the generation of user defined input Used for the generation of user defined input

formsformsDocumentation of the used methodsDocumentation of the used methods

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Data modelData modelS1_SAMPLE_DATA

SA

MP

LE

_ID

LA

YE

R DATA FIELD

ROW TEXT

VALUE

SC

AL

E_I

D

Category, text or numerical value

CO

VE

R %

1

1

1

1

2

2

All

All

All

HL

All

All

Altitude

Slope

Aspect

Layercover

Altitude

Slope

Seehöhe in m

Neigung in °

Expostion

Schichtdeck.%

Altitude

Slope category

UN

IT

m

°

°

%

CLS

CLS

Free

Free

Free

Free

RA01

SL02

250 – 300 - 350

10 - 15

180

75

montanous

slightly

100

100

100

100

100

100

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Data ModelData Model

DA

TA

FIE

LD

SD

EF

INIT

ION

LIS

TS

RE

LE

VÉ

HE

AD

ER

Fixed table structure

Flexible data structure

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Definition ListsDefinition Lists

Problem: Different Lookup Tables for the data

Solution: Central Definition List

Data Definition List A

Definition List B

Central Definition List

Transformation doneOriginal values unchanged

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Definition ListsDefinition ListsProblem: Different thematic resolutions of the dataSolution: Hierarchical structured definition lists

CLASS

ORDER

ALLIANCE

ASSOCIATION

Example: Syntaxonomical Units

Assigment on different hierarchical levels possible

Aggregation of the data on a certain hierarchical level

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Definition ListsDefinition Lists• each category is assigned to a parent category

and a certain hierarchical level• with a special designed functions it is possible

to aggregate data on certain hierarchical levels, e.g. on the alliance level.

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Spatial DataSpatial Data• ArcView Shape Files

• Accuracy of localisation

• Coordinates

• Most propable location

• ArcView application for the communication to the vegetation database

• POLYGON_ID

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Data SelectionData Selection

Manage huge data amounts

All data fields within the database can be used for the selection

Selection can either done by data query or by spatial selection

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Data ExportData ExportInterfaces to :

vegetation databases, e.g. TURBOVEG, VegBank,

or analysis programs, e.g. MEGATAB, JUICE, SYNTAX, VEGI

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Data ExportData Export• Transformation and aggregation based on

the central definition list• Possibility of User defined aggregation of

the values of a DATA FIELD • Aggregation files can be saved and used

again

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Data ExportData Export• Transformation and aggregation based on

the central definition list• Possibility of User defined aggregation of

the values of a DATA FIELD • Aggregation files can be saved and used

again

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Structure of the Structure of the ApplicationApplication

JODI97 - User Interface

Entry, import, management, export, analysis, …

DATAProject, Literature

reference, Vegetation,

Environmental data, …

DEFINITION LISTSHierarchical structured defintion lists

SPATIAL DATALocation and accuracy of the samples

ArcView Microsoft Access Database

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

TimetableTimetable

2001 2002 2003 2004

•Development of database Development of database structure and the design of input structure and the design of input and export formsand export forms

•Building up the Central Defintion Building up the Central Defintion Lists Lists

•Building up the literature Building up the literature database database

•Development of a new Development of a new syntaxonomical checklist for syntaxonomical checklist for Austria to alliance levelAustria to alliance level

Data input and importData input and import

exemplary exemplary analysis and analysis and presentationpresentation

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

Design of the database structureDesign of the database structure Design and check of the input, Design and check of the input,

selection and edit toolsselection and edit tools Review of the existing literature for Review of the existing literature for

the Austrian Alpsthe Austrian Alps 16.374 relevés16.374 relevés 9.891 polygons 9.891 polygons ……

Status QuoStatus Quo

IAVS 2003 – Databases and Information Systems for Vegetation ScienceJODI

SummarySummary

Advantages of this Advantages of this design of the data modeldesign of the data model FlexibilityFlexibility Original values preservedOriginal values preserved Transformation of data is not nessecary at the Transformation of data is not nessecary at the

stage of the data entry – only the link between stage of the data entry – only the link between the lookup table and the the lookup table and the Central Defintion ListCentral Defintion List has to be defined has to be defined

Easy accessEasy access on all data for selection and export on all data for selection and export IntegrationIntegration of different data sources and of different data sources and

methodological approaches into one database methodological approaches into one database possiblepossible

Thank you!Thank you!

Departement of Conservation Biology, Vegetation and Landscape EcologyDepartement of Conservation Biology, Vegetation and Landscape Ecology

Institute of Ecology and Conservation BiologyInstitute of Ecology and Conservation Biology

University of ViennaUniversity of Vienna