A Database for Environmental Research Programmes

Good-quality, long-term data sets are invaluable in researching environmental change. A relational database management system and a geographical information system have been loosely integrated to provide researchers, working in an environmental research program, with access to such potentially important data sets. Due to varying data quality, missing information and the diversity of the data, metadata plays a key role in the system design. The environmental research database incorporates two inter-related databases, containing meta-information and data for analyses, respectively. A menu-driven user interface enables geographically remote researchers, connected to an academic-wide area network, to access these databases. Due to the complexity of the geographic information system and the need to perform data transfers, users must submit requests, via the menu system, to take advantage of such "off-line" facilities. Proposed improvements in information systems technology will permit the geographical information system and the relational database management system to be integrated further, as well as reducing data management effort.