Discussion Group : Database structure
Chair: S.Brewer Rapporteur: M. Power
Database Release:
- Numbered versions released periodically versus instantaneously e.g. every 2 or 3 months EPD08v1
after period of quality control
- Increase traceability for publications purposes
- Recently added data available on FTP site, to avoid "I sent you data...where is it?"
- Provide tracking information to contributor, when data received, data being processed, data uploaded
- Automated email of database release
Ability to look at sites - Web Interface
- Standardized queries for the EPD
- Basic site info vs sites with metadata
- Mapping / Production of diagrams:
- Standardized web interface
- Using an external tool versus web-based tool?
- Extra tools (e.g. calibration programs etc.) 2nd priority
- Web-based more appropriate
- A web Portal for mapping/diagrams (Medias / Pangaea)
- Site Seer type mapping feature (e.g. query = distribution of oak at 6000)
- Medias tools can provide individual profiles or all taxa at individual sites
- Connecting/linking maps to Google/Terra Server. Plotting point data is straight forward, distribution maps more problematic
- Berkeley Mapper (at Univ Cal Berkeley)
- Choose the best tools available . harmonizing
- Data uploading
- Good example (Paleobiology database in Santa Barbara
- Web uploading interface - allows checking of the data - flags. Minimum requirements for uploading data
- Community discussion forum
How to encourage participation?
- Feedback from community
- Flagging problems
- Develop FAQ
Wish List: Things to add to EPD
- Make available standard request (user defines geographic limits of region)
- SiteSeer-type mapping options
- Having caveats "user beware"
- Age Documentation
- Adding new fields (e.g. Calibrated chronologies and radiocarbon)
- Hierarchy for grouping pollen . Classifications schemes
- Morphological Traits
- Biomes
- Image Library (satellite images, core stratigraphy, etc)
- Pollen ID Key (is this feasible . or within the scope EPD?)
- Input features for queries
- Standardized terminology
- New Fields to add:
- Contributor/Publication/Analyst more transparent
- Local and Regional Vegetation
- 14C errors associated with sample ages
- Other types of analysis performed on the same core (Site info table)
- Regional taxonomy
- Statistics on EPD usage
Activity Summary ▪
Final Programme ▪
Scientific Content ▪
Use of the Database ▪
Administrative Structure ▪
Database Structure
