ILTER Information ILTER Information Management CommitteeManagement Committee
Kristin Vanderbilt, Ph.D.Kristin Vanderbilt, Ph.D.Sevilleta LTERSevilleta LTER
University of New MexicoUniversity of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM USAAlbuquerque, NM USA
Information Management in the Information Management in the ILTERILTER
The ILTER Strategic Plan states that ILTER’s 10-The ILTER Strategic Plan states that ILTER’s 10-year goals are to:year goals are to:• Improve comparability of long-term ecological and socio-Improve comparability of long-term ecological and socio-
economic data from sites around the worldeconomic data from sites around the world• Facilitate exchange and integration of, access to, and Facilitate exchange and integration of, access to, and
preservation of long-term, site-based datapreservation of long-term, site-based data• Deliver non-biased information to scientists, Deliver non-biased information to scientists,
policymakers, and the public to meet the needs of policymakers, and the public to meet the needs of decisionmakers at multiple levelsdecisionmakers at multiple levels
To meet these goals, coordinated information To meet these goals, coordinated information management programs are needed throughout management programs are needed throughout the ILTERthe ILTER• An ILTER IM Committee has been formed to guide the An ILTER IM Committee has been formed to guide the
development of information management throughout development of information management throughout the network. the network.
ILTER IM Committee CharterILTER IM Committee CharterApproved at 2006 ILTER Coordinating Committee MeetingApproved at 2006 ILTER Coordinating Committee Meeting
Facilitate data exchange and Facilitate data exchange and preservation through preservation through adoption of adoption of standardsstandards
Coordinate development of network-Coordinate development of network-level information management level information management systemsystem
IM Committee CharterIM Committee Charter Committee consists of a maximum of two representatives from each ILTER regionCommittee consists of a maximum of two representatives from each ILTER region Terms are two yearsTerms are two years Officers:Officers:
• Chair: Kristin Vanderbilt, USAChair: Kristin Vanderbilt, USA• Vice-Chair: Avinash Chuntharpursat, South AfricaVice-Chair: Avinash Chuntharpursat, South Africa• Secretary: Cristiana Cocciufa, ItalySecretary: Cristiana Cocciufa, Italy
Kristin Vanderbilt
Atzimba Lopez
Kathi Schleidt
Avinash Chuntharpursat
Sheng Shan Lu
Honglin He
John Irish
Cristiana Cocciufa
Tasks for the ILTER Information Tasks for the ILTER Information Management CommitteeManagement Committee
Assess IM capabilities and resources Assess IM capabilities and resources in the ILTER in the ILTER • Identify areas where improvement is Identify areas where improvement is
required required • Support trainingSupport training
Present options for IM standards to Present options for IM standards to Executive Committee for their voteExecutive Committee for their vote
Promote development of an Promote development of an information system design that information system design that scales to network levelscales to network level
ILTER Information Management ILTER Information Management Capacity Survey 2006:Capacity Survey 2006:
ResultsResults
Kristin VanderbiltKristin VanderbiltSevilleta LTERSevilleta LTER
Chau-Chin LinChau-Chin LinTaiwan Forestry Research InstituteTaiwan Forestry Research Institute
Survey Goals:Survey Goals:
Data content and accessibilityData content and accessibility Hardware availability and internet Hardware availability and internet
connectivityconnectivity Software availabilitySoftware availability Human ResourcesHuman Resources Identify Potential Training NeedsIdentify Potential Training Needs
Countries Responding (total Countries Responding (total respondents = 31) respondents = 31)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Brazil
Costa
Rica
Namib
ia
South
Afri
ca
Czech
Rep
ublic
Hunga
ry
Roman
ia
Ger
man
y
Switzer
land UK
China
Japa
n
Phillip
ines
South
Kor
ea
Taiwan
Mex
ico
# o
f re
spo
nd
ents
Centra
l/Sou
th
America
East A
sia-P
acific
North
Amer
icaAfri
ca
Centra
l/Eas
tern
Europ
e
Wes
tern
Eur
ope
Lack of training related to
data/information management
Inadequate systems
administration support
Obsolete equipment
Network Connectivity
(e.g. inadequate bandwidth)
Other
What are the most critical IM/IT Issues at your ILTER Site?What are the most critical IM/IT Issues at your ILTER Site?
Data SharingData Sharing
Does your ILTER site have a data Does your ILTER site have a data sharing policy?sharing policy?• Yes: 12 out of 26 respondentsYes: 12 out of 26 respondents
• Some policies were detailed, but others Some policies were detailed, but others
were generalwere general
LONG-TERM FOREST ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH LWF DATA ACCESS POLICY
GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTABLE USE OF LWF DATA • Data access is given after submission of an official request (including a copy of the research proposal and/or other information about the data use) to: Norbert Kräuchi Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research …
GENERAL CITATION Data sets were provided by the Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research Programme LWF, a partnership between the Swiss Federal Institute of Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL and the Swiss Federal Agency of Environment, Forest and Landscape SAEFL.
DATA USER RESPONSIBILITIES: By using LWF data and documentation, the Data User agrees to abide by the terms of this agreement. LWF shall have the right to terminate this agreement immediately by written notice upon the Data User's breach of, or non-compliance with, any of its terms...
Data Sharing:Data Sharing:
Example of a typical data access Example of a typical data access policy:policy:• ““All long-term data are gathered by the All long-term data are gathered by the
Academy. The Excel data are shared by Academy. The Excel data are shared by all researchers. Recently the data have all researchers. Recently the data have been launched in an Oracle database, been launched in an Oracle database, which is supposed to be shared in the which is supposed to be shared in the near future.”near future.”
Does your site store data?Does your site store data?
100% Yes100% Yes• Estimated amount of data per site: Estimated amount of data per site:
6 Mb to 3 Terabytes6 Mb to 3 Terabytes
How are data accessed at your site How are data accessed at your site (check all that apply)?(check all that apply)?
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Local computeraccess to files
Web accessible Paper copy only Other
Pe
rce
nt
If data at your site aren’t publicly If data at your site aren’t publicly accessible, explain why not. accessible, explain why not.
Human resource limitations Human resource limitations The policy is to only share metadataThe policy is to only share metadata No metadataNo metadata Lack of disk spaceLack of disk space Language issuesLanguage issues Data owned by government bodiesData owned by government bodies Data still in the hands of the individual Data still in the hands of the individual
researchersresearchers Lack of softwareLack of software Information Management system is presently Information Management system is presently
being implemented; data will be online soonbeing implemented; data will be online soon
Internet Connectivity/HardwareInternet Connectivity/Hardware
Does your ILTER site have a Does your ILTER site have a connection to the internet?connection to the internet?• 23/25 (92%) Yes23/25 (92%) Yes
7/22 are connected via universities7/22 are connected via universities 15/22 are connected via National 15/22 are connected via National
telecommunications entities or private telecommunications entities or private Internet Service ProvidersInternet Service Providers
• Internet connection speedInternet connection speed < 256 kbps (11/21 respondents)< 256 kbps (11/21 respondents) > 1 Mbps (8/11 respondents)> 1 Mbps (8/11 respondents)
Human Resources:Human Resources:
Does your ILTER site have personnel Does your ILTER site have personnel with specialized skills in data with specialized skills in data management?management?• 13/23 (57%) Yes13/23 (57%) Yes
Is there computer system Is there computer system administration support available at administration support available at your ILTER site?your ILTER site?• 18/24 Yes (75%)18/24 Yes (75%)
What are the most pressing What are the most pressing software needs at your ILTER site?software needs at your ILTER site?
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
DatabaseManagement
System
Data EntrySoftware
BilbiographicSoftware
GIS Software StatisticalSoftware
MetadataSoftware
Tools
# of
res
pond
ents
02468
101214161820
# o
f re
spo
nd
ents
Which training programs would be Which training programs would be most beneficial in meeting your site most beneficial in meeting your site
needs?needs?
Summary:Summary: Most ILTER sites lack a formal data sharing and Most ILTER sites lack a formal data sharing and
access policy.access policy. ILTER sites have rich archives of data, but few ILTER sites have rich archives of data, but few
sites have made their data publicly accessible.sites have made their data publicly accessible. 57% of sites have personnel trained in 57% of sites have personnel trained in
information management, yet lack of training in information management, yet lack of training in information management and IT is cited as the information management and IT is cited as the greatest barrier to IM at ILTER sites. greatest barrier to IM at ILTER sites.
Availability of computers appears to be adequate, Availability of computers appears to be adequate, but bandwidth is relatively low in 50% of cases.but bandwidth is relatively low in 50% of cases.
Many kinds of software are available at sites, but Many kinds of software are available at sites, but more database management system software more database management system software and tools for generating metadata are needed. and tools for generating metadata are needed.
IM Committee ActivitiesIM Committee Activities
IM Workshop at LTER All Scientists’ Meeting in IM Workshop at LTER All Scientists’ Meeting in Estes Park, Colorado, USA September 23, 2006Estes Park, Colorado, USA September 23, 2006
International Information exchange, sharing, International Information exchange, sharing, and cooperation activities:and cooperation activities:
Information Management AlternativesInformation Management Alternatives Introduction to Working Group – Hen-biau Introduction to Working Group – Hen-biau
King/Kristin VanderbiltKing/Kristin Vanderbilt Ontology-based IMS – Katharina Schleidt (Austria) Ontology-based IMS – Katharina Schleidt (Austria) EML-based IMS – Corinna Gries (CAP LTER) EML-based IMS – Corinna Gries (CAP LTER) TERN IMS – Meei-ru Jeng (Taiwan) TERN IMS – Meei-ru Jeng (Taiwan) Site Characteristics Search Engine – Atzimba Site Characteristics Search Engine – Atzimba
Lopez (Mexico)Lopez (Mexico) SAEON Collaborative GIS IMS – Avinash SAEON Collaborative GIS IMS – Avinash
Chuntharpursat (South Africa)Chuntharpursat (South Africa) Discussion Discussion http://sev.lternet.edu/ilter_im/http://sev.lternet.edu/ilter_im/
Two conference callsTwo conference calls
International LTER Data Access and International LTER Data Access and Use PolicyUse Policy
ILTER Information Manager ILTER Information Manager Mentoring Web PageMentoring Web Page
Interactions with GBIF (Global Interactions with GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)Biodiversity Information Facility)
IM Workshop at Annual ILTER IM Workshop at Annual ILTER Meeting in Beijing, August 2007:Meeting in Beijing, August 2007:
“From EML to Ontologies”“From EML to Ontologies”
Some members of ILTER have an Some members of ILTER have an ontology-based Information ontology-based Information Management System, while others Management System, while others use EMLuse EML
IM Workshop AgendaIM Workshop Agenda
Intro to EML and what we can do with Intro to EML and what we can do with it (Chin and Kristin)it (Chin and Kristin)
Intro to Ontologies and how they can Intro to Ontologies and how they can be used (Kathi Schleidt and Michael be used (Kathi Schleidt and Michael Mirtl, Austria)Mirtl, Austria)
ILTER Coordinating Committee ILTER Coordinating Committee Meeting (Beijing)Meeting (Beijing)
IM Committee will propose that ILTER IM Committee will propose that ILTER support formation of an ILTER support formation of an ILTER Interest Group at TDWG (Taxonomic Interest Group at TDWG (Taxonomic Data Working Group)Data Working Group)• EML task group -- to study how to make EML task group -- to study how to make
EML more ontology-likeEML more ontology-like IM Committee will propose an ILTER IM Committee will propose an ILTER
Network Data Access and Use PolicyNetwork Data Access and Use Policy
What next? What next?
IM advances should occur in two phasesIM advances should occur in two phases• Phase I: Resolve issues identified in survey and Phase I: Resolve issues identified in survey and
strengthen site-level information management systems strengthen site-level information management systems (years 1-5) (years 1-5)
TrainingTraining Establish web accessible data archives at all sitesEstablish web accessible data archives at all sites Metadata standardsMetadata standards Create cross-site databases (promotes network identity!)Create cross-site databases (promotes network identity!)
• ILTER data catalogILTER data catalog• ILTER ClimDBILTER ClimDB
• Phase II: Based on ILTER regional and global science Phase II: Based on ILTER regional and global science questions, guide development of ILTER Information questions, guide development of ILTER Information Management Systems to facilitate collaboration and Management Systems to facilitate collaboration and network research (years 6 – ?)network research (years 6 – ?)