Watershed Data System: Overview
Jean L. Steiner, E. John Sadler, Jin-Song ChenGreg Wilson, David James, Bruce Vandenberg
John Ross, Teri Oster, Kevin Cole
ARS: El Reno, OK; Columbia, MO; Beltsville, MD; Ames, IA: Fort Collins, CO
ARS Watershed Research
•USDA has conducted watershed research since early 1900’s
•Many watersheds are still operational
•Data managed locally and disseminated independently
•Accessibility has limited visibility and utility of these data
CEAP Team 1 Goal
To develop and implement a web-based data system to organize,
document, manipulate, and compile climate, water, soil, land-
management, and socio-economic data from ARS research watersheds
for assessment of conservation practices and other hydrologic
analyses
Data Management System
ArcGIS 9.2
Search Engine
Visualization Tools
ClientsData Providers Central Site
ARS usersResearch usersPublic users
Web Browsers: Netscape Internet Explorer FireFox
Build data definition tablesBuild data files Create metadata filesUpload to FTP site
STEWARDS Architecture
Software Developer
Network Administrator
DB Administrator
DB Designers/Team 1
Challenges
•Data not uniform across (or within) sites•No single organizational unit has
necessary knowledge, skill set or mandate
•Communication within heterogeneous team
•Competing demands on time for all team members
•Uncertain funding beyond annual budgets
Unique aspects of system
•Flexible to accept highly heterogeneous data
•Ability to capture and communicate rich descriptive data
•Bringing time-series and other measurement data into spatial context
•SiteID, DateTime, and Watershed ID as primary keys
Software Interface
Typical Watershed Data
•Descriptive data•Watershed Descriptions•Site Descriptions
•Spatial data (and metadata)•Watershed boundary•Digital elevation, streams, soils, land use, etc.•Sites
•Measurement data (and methods)•Climate, hydrology, water chemistry, sediment, etc
•Land management, conservation practices, soils, etc.
•Biological assessment, economic data, etc.
Tools for preparing data tables
•Access templates•Query Scripts•Data table construction tool•Method Table Builder•Parameter Description Builder
Implement System Design; Release For Alpha Test to Development Team
System Requirements
System Design
Metadata Requirements
Develop Prototype Systems
Refine based on Alpha Findings, Release to CEAP Watersheds for Beta Test
Refine based on Beta Findings, Public Release
July, 2007
Winter, 2007/8
Beta ReleaseJuly, 2007
• Implemented with data from some ARS Benchmark Watersheds (cropland)
•Data preparation and uploading ongoing
•Training on data preparation ongoing•Available to CEAP research team •On-line user’s manual, technical
documents will be provided
Version 1 ReleaseBy Spring, 2008
•Will be implemented with data from ARS Benchmark Watersheds (cropland)
•Will be available to public access•On-line user’s manual, technical
documents will be provided•STEWARDS will be publicized
through conferences, journals and web sites
Keys to success
•Integrated, iterative approach•Accepting ambiguity and
uncertainty•Careful definition of priorities
considering available resources•Open communication, respect•Trust•Shared commitment to mission•Strong support from agency and
within CEAP team
Ongoing efforts
•Data preparation and upload•Long-term operational plan•Long-term management
structure•Researchers, operations, leadership
•Meeting diverse expectations of diverse users
Challenges within ARS
•Lack of IT support system for national program and multisite research programs.
•Inconsistent data management skills within research units
•Lack of peer network across research data managers
Accomplishments
•STEWARDS system developed on schedule, according to requirements, within resource limits
•Innovative partnerships within agency and externally established
•Three journal manuscripts in review or preparation
Mission
To provide access to data and To provide access to data and analytical tools to facilitate analytical tools to facilitate
multidimensional watershed research multidimensional watershed research and conduct analyses to support and conduct analyses to support
individual-, organization-, and policy-individual-, organization-, and policy-level decision making level decision making
Parameter Descriptions
Parameter Name,
[modifier],
medium,
[temporal resolution],
[summary statistic],
units
Temperature, air, degrees CelsiusTemperature, air, maximum, degrees CelsiusTemperature, air, minimum, degrees CelsiusWind direction, air, degrees clockwise from true northHumidity, relative humidity, air, percentDischarge, water, cubic feet per second
degrees Cdegrees Cdegrees Cdegrees percentm3/sec