Pedon PC File StructurePedon PC File Structure

►4 Parts4 Parts

Pedon PCFront-End Application

(INTERFACE)

Spatial_link.mdbData Exchange for ArcMap

Prevents database lockingwhen viewing data in ArcMap

Workspace LegendBack-End Database

Holds working copy ofcomponent and mapunit legends

Pedon.mdbBack-End Database

Pedon PC File StructurePedon PC File Structure►Use Windows to browse to C:\pedonUse Windows to browse to C:\pedon►Open pedon_pc.mdbOpen pedon_pc.mdb

►Pedon PC Main MenuPedon PC Main Menu

►Pedon PC Setup MenuPedon PC Setup Menu

Serves as a database structure learning tool.

Also allows domain choice show/hide.

Updates NASIS supplied choice lists.

Infrequently used.Opens the Choice List Menu.

Allows editing of choice lists to suit local needs.

Allows retention of choice list edits made in another database.

Used for: A. Sharing choice list with another Pedon_PC user.

B. Retaining choice lists edits from a previous Pedon_PC version.

Not applicable in Alaska.

See Pedon_PC UserGuide for instructions.

Updates table links. Quick and easy way to change the source path of the table links for the Pedon and Workspace Legend databases.

Set the default path for Spatial Link database.

►Pedon PC Import MenuPedon PC Import MenuImports a flat-file exported as an ASCII report in NASIS.

Allows external editing of Pedon Data.

Imports Waypoints from a .txt file created by DNR Garmin.Tool for managing and linking photos to records within the pedon database.

►Pedon PC Main MenuPedon PC Main Menu

►Pedon PC Forms MenuPedon PC Forms MenuPrintable fieldsheet (Alaska standard).

A “Workspace” mapunit and component legend manager.

Allows correlation and aggregation of mapunit composition and component horizon “layers”.

Used to build data-driven, model-oriented NASIS legends.

Organizes pedons into transect “stops”.

Primary “site” data entry interface.

Allows 1to1 population of important horizon “child” records like texture, fragments, color, etc.

Primary interface for in-depth point data analysis.

Basic understanding of SQL is required.

Features include custom-field naming, “drill-down” filtering, spatial filtering, and charts.

Printable fieldsheet (Montana example)

Pedon Database – Table Relationships

Site Observation Pedon Horizon

4 Basic Tiers of the Database

1 3 42

Site Table – Locational Information

The Site table is the “top” table in database. It describes the locational information and characteristics of a particular geographic location.

A site may be a specific location such as a point where a soil profile description is taken, or it may have some spatial area that is chosen to be treated as a single point.

Various kinds of data such as soil profile descriptions, lab data, vegetative data, etc. may be linked to a site in this database.

Example Fields: User Site ID, Lat-Long, UTM’s, Hillslope Profile, etc.

Site Observation Table – Temporal Information

The Site Observation table records the date that the various observation or analytical data is collected for the specific site or location.

Soil or site properties that may change with time are also recorded here. If a site is revisited at a later date for additional data collection, a new row with the appropriate date is entered in this table.

Separate tables exist for properties that may have multiple entries.

Example Fields: Date, Surface Water Depth, etc.

Pedon Table – General Profile Description Information

The Pedon table contains information collected at the time a soil profile description is made.

It has data that relates to the profile as a whole.

Examples: Soil Name (Component), Taxonomy, Describer, etc.

Transect Table – Transect Information

The Transect table is used to record groupings of pedons that are the stops alongs transects.

A transect is NOT required for a site to exist.

Example Fields: Delineation Size, Selection Method, etc.

Pedon Horizon – Profile Description Information

The Pedon Horizon table lists the horizons for each pedon. Example Fields: Horizon Designation, Depths, pH, etc.

NOTE:If the horizon thickness is greater than zero (low=5, RV=8, high=12), the horizon exists throughout the exposure of the profile.

If the horizon thickness includes zero (low=0, RV=1, high=3), the horizon may exist in some places, but may not exist in other places.

Horizons that have two distinct parts, such as E/B or E&Bt, are recorded twice. Once for the characteristics of the first part; and again on another row, using the same depths and thicknesses, for the characteristics of the other part.

Pedon Database – Table Relationships

Site Observation Pedon Horizon

4 Basic Tiers of the Database

1 3 42

A Site record can have more than one Site Observation.

Example: A pedon is described in September 2005. The soil scientist returns to the site the following spring to check the depth to water table.

Pedon Database – Table Relationships

Site Observation Pedon Horizon

4 Basic Tiers of the Database

1 3 42

Site – Child tables •Each of these tables can have multiple records related to their “parent” site record.

•Parent Material (sitepm)

•Geomorphic Description (sitegeomordesc)•Note: landscapes, landforms, anthropogenic features, and micro features are all recorded in the same table column. Only a geomorphic type differentiations them.

•Site Area Overlap (siteaoverlap)•Site Mapunit Overlap (sitemuoverlap)

•Site Text (sitetext)

Site Observation – Child tables•Each of these tables can have multiple records related to their “parent” site observation record.

•Site Observation Text (siteobstext)

•Site Soil Moisture (sitesoilmoist)

•Site Soil Temperature (sitesoiltemp)

•Site Erosion Accelerated (siteerosionacc)

•Site Existing Vegetation (siteexistveg)

Pedon Horizon – Child tables •Each of these tables can have multiple records related to their “parent” pedon record.

Pedon – Child tables •Each of these tables can have multiple records related to their “parent” site observation record.

Pedon Database – Table RelationshipsStructural Questions/Issues

Why record the mapunit symbol with a point (that has a spatial geometry)?Notice that a site can “overlap” many areas (state, county, MLRA legend, Non-MLRA Legend, rainfall factor). An area boundary can change. An area can have many different mapunits. Mapunit delineations can change.

What is another option?Record the mapunit on a map. Spatially intersect the map and point. Describe the Mapunit in a Polygon Note or Mapunit Composition Note.

Why the one-to-many relationship between a site observation and a pedon?In what instance would a pedon be described more than once on the same day at the same time in the same exact location?

Why not make a home for photo hyperlinks in the database?Alaska is maintaining photo hyperlinks as site observation text notes under a “Photo” category. Photos can be valuable site correlation tools and deserve their own table in the database.

Why is there no place to store Mapunit/Polygon Composition estimates?

Pedon is a “point” database, composition describes a 2-dimension extent (spatial).Alaska is storing their Polygon composition estimates in a linked “workspace legend” database.

The only available table for recording collected vegetation data is the siteexistveg table. Why isn’t there more?Strata, Cover, and Production estimates could be included in the database by relating them to an individual species listed in the siteexistveg table. The only structural modification to the database would be to add child tables under the siteexistveg table to house the data.

► Explore the Database Structure.Explore the Database Structure.► Navigate to Setup > See Pedon Table StructureNavigate to Setup > See Pedon Table Structure► Clicking the + at the left of each record will expand the subdatasheet, Clicking the + at the left of each record will expand the subdatasheet,

showing any “child” tables. A Child table requires the “parent” record to exist showing any “child” tables. A Child table requires the “parent” record to exist first. Many child records can exist for the same parent record.first. Many child records can exist for the same parent record.

Pedon PC File Structure - ExercisesPedon PC File Structure - Exercises► The Table Description explains the contents of the table.The Table Description explains the contents of the table.► Double-clicking the record selector at the left of the record opens a form that Double-clicking the record selector at the left of the record opens a form that

displays all of the fields for the selected table.displays all of the fields for the selected table.► Clicking the + at the left of any column with a “domain id” will expand a Clicking the + at the left of any column with a “domain id” will expand a

subdatasheet showing the available choices for a given “domain”.subdatasheet showing the available choices for a given “domain”.

Exercise – Using the Link Manager to change Exercise – Using the Link Manager to change the table links to a different dataset.the table links to a different dataset.

► Expand the Tools Menu.Expand the Tools Menu.

► Under Database Utilities, Under Database Utilities, select the Linked Table select the Linked Table Manager.Manager.

► Select all of the tables EXCEPT Select all of the tables EXCEPT those tables with a those tables with a “workspace” prefix. “workspace” prefix. Select All…Select All… THEN deselect all of the THEN deselect all of the

“workspace” tables by “workspace” tables by removing the check mark in removing the check mark in front of them.front of them.

► Place a check mark next to Place a check mark next to “Always prompt for new “Always prompt for new location”location”

► Click OK, then navigate to the Click OK, then navigate to the PEDON database you wish to PEDON database you wish to link to and click Open.link to and click Open.

► When the linking completes, When the linking completes, select ONLY the “workspace” select ONLY the “workspace” tables and then repeat the tables and then repeat the steps, selecting the steps, selecting the corresponding WORKSPACE corresponding WORKSPACE database as the final step.database as the final step.

This process can now be done much faster using the Relink Tables option on the Setup menu, but it is still useful to know how to do it throught the stock MS Access Link Manager.

Exercise – Database OptionsExercise – Database Options► Expand the Tools Menu.Expand the Tools Menu.

► Select OptionsSelect Options

► View TabView Tab Remove the check marks next Remove the check marks next

to Hidden Objects and System to Hidden Objects and System Objects. This hides all the Objects. This hides all the background queries, background queries, temporary tables, etc. used temporary tables, etc. used for some of the database for some of the database utilities.utilities.

► General TabGeneral Tab Select the default database Select the default database

folder of your choice folder of your choice (defaulted to C:\pedon)(defaulted to C:\pedon)

► Edit/Find TabEdit/Find Tab Remove the check marks next Remove the check marks next

to:to:► Record changesRecord changes► Document deletionsDocument deletions► and Action queries.and Action queries.

NOTE: This turns off NOTE: This turns off delete warnings delete warnings database-wide. Think database-wide. Think twice before touching the twice before touching the delete key.delete key.

Pedon PC File StructurePedon PC File Structure

►This concludes the This concludes the Pedon_PC_Database_Structure Pedon_PC_Database_Structure PowerPoint.PowerPoint.

►To continue to the next module, see To continue to the next module, see the Pedon_PC_DataEntry PowerPoint.the Pedon_PC_DataEntry PowerPoint.