INFORMATION MANAGEMENT: a path less taken A PRESENTATION TO THE ITES PERSONNEL Two roads diverged in...

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT: INFORMATION MANAGEMENT: a path less takena path less taken

A PRESENTATION TO THE ITES A PRESENTATION TO THE ITES PERSONNELPERSONNEL

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth;

INFORMATION MANAGEMENTINFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Time set, Trajectory Time set, Trajectory and Introductionand IntroductionInformation FlowInformation Flow

–PathwayPathway–ToolsTools

LTER CultureLTER CultureOther ProjectsOther Projects

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :: Time setTime set

The Center for Energy and The Center for Energy and Environmental Research (CEER) Environmental Research (CEER) was the official was the official name of the Nuclear Center in name of the Nuclear Center in Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

Terrestrial Ecology Division (TED) was part of CEER when it was

dissolved in the 1990’s

The Puerto Rico Nuclear Center (PRNC) was created in 1957

INFORMATION INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :MANAGEMENT : Trajectory in Trajectory in

TimeTimeThe National Science Foundation (NSF) granted TED the Long Term-Ecological Research program (LTER) in 1988

Luquillo LTER (LUQ) was the first LTER site in the Tropics

In 1988 the first information manager and data entry person were In 1988 the first information manager and data entry person were recruited by TEDrecruited by TED

TED hired the current information manager in 1989 and the current TED hired the current information manager in 1989 and the current data entry person in 1995, and they both stayeddata entry person in 1995, and they both stayed

INFORMATION INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :MANAGEMENT : Trajectory in Trajectory in

TimeTimeIM staff has always been constituted by:

An information manager

One or two data entry person

One or two students

Assist the scientific community in their endeavor to understand nature and make sure that their products are widely available to the present generation as well as future ones

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Introduction : Introduction : MissionMission

Then took the other, as just as fairAnd having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wear;Though as for that, the passing thereHad worn them really about the same,

Scientific needs and new technologies:

•Changes in procedures•Science methods•Technology

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Introduction : Introduction : MissionMission

And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden blackOh, I kept the first for another day!Yet knowing how way leads on to way,I doubted if I should ever come back.

•Data entry protocols•Quality Control (QC) methods

•Communication with scientific staff

•Produce metadata

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Introduction : Introduction : ProcessesProcesses

= data about data

I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost... The Road Not Taken

INFORMATION INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :MANAGEMENT : Advantages Advantages

MINIMIZEDMINIMIZED Errors are

Facilitates:AnalysesCross-site investigationLong-Term life of data

Promotes the establishments of standard procedures

Measurements: unitsManagement: data structures

Field and / or Lab, Office

Web or Plone Analisys Publications

(Flowchart)(Flowchart)

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :INFORMATION MANAGEMENT : Flow of Flow of InformationInformation

Receive, entry, quality control (QC), Receive, entry, quality control (QC), reportreport, and archiving., and archiving.– Filing and lablingFiling and labling– Loging: project statusLoging: project status– Entry :Entry :

using spreadsheets and/or database using spreadsheets and/or database programsprograms

Saved in database formatSaved in database format

Information FlowInformation Flow

– QC:Data correctionQC:Data correction

Double check in IMDouble check in IM

Reports Reports – Backups : Backups :

2 different external media2 different external media

hardcopy archivalhardcopy archival– Data delivery (via email or Plone)Data delivery (via email or Plone)


– Data Entry sheets generationData Entry sheets generationIllustration of data entry sheets Illustration of data entry sheets evolution in timeevolution in time


Information FlowInformation FlowExample: CTE Seedling data entry sheet Example: CTE Seedling data entry sheet evolution:evolution:– June 30, June 30,

20032003

Example: CTE Seedling data entry sheet Example: CTE Seedling data entry sheet evolution:evolution:– Nov 13, Nov 13,

20072007


– Data Entry sheets generationData Entry sheets generationUsed for comparison with Used for comparison with previous data at the fieldprevious data at the field

Ease process of electronic data Ease process of electronic data entryentry

Facilitate registration of data in Facilitate registration of data in the field, e.g. unit of the field, e.g. unit of measurement taken (cm vs m)measurement taken (cm vs m)


Why are IM procedures important? …Why are IM procedures important? …

A centralized office for management …A centralized office for management …

Provides organizationProvides organizationPrevents data loss and repetitionPrevents data loss and repetitionMakes sure good quality metadata is Makes sure good quality metadata is

in placein place

Information Flow: ConclusionInformation Flow: Conclusion

INFORMATION INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :MANAGEMENT : Tools Tools

The selection of the computer program depends on the type of information to be entered

Data Base Management Systems (DBMS)Data Base Management Systems (DBMS)

vsvsSpreadsheetsSpreadsheets

• DBMS facilitate synthesis by standardizing data columns• DBMS usually export data more accurately• DBMS provide more powerful searching tools

• Spreadsheets facilitate data entry and visualization• The computer expertise needed to use a spreadsheets is less

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :: Tools Tools

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :: The LTER CultureThe LTER Culture

What is so peculiar about the LTER? What is so peculiar about the LTER? In the science component…In the science component…

Collaborative research is developed Centralized working hypothesis approach

to collaborationSpread all over the world

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :: LUQ IM in the LUQ IM in the LTER CultureLTER Culture


Short-Term data may be just part of the Short-Term data may be just part of the storystory


Data without metadata is worthlessData without metadata is worthless

..\lterdb114\metadata\lterdb114.htm


Fully compliant with the LTER Network minimum standards

LUQ developed metadata standards as early as 1990

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :: Other Projects Other Projects

- Buchanan Antilles Middle Schoolweb page:

http://luq.lternet.edu/outreach/IMandAMS.htm

http://luq.lternet.edu/outreach/IMRemoteSensingandSchoolComm.htm

Schoolyard Community special projects- Colegio creativo de Puerto Rico

web site and data:

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT :: Other Projects Other Projects

International presentations and workshopsMexicoVenezuelaCosta RicaTaiwan

Collaboration with other agenciesForest Service: Creation of a Research

web with an IM componentOther ITES’ Programs: ITES Scientists’ publication data baseWebsite: http://www.ites.upr.edu/

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