INTRODUCTION GAIA RESOURCES Environmental Consultants Association (WA) Practitioners Guide to Information Management Data Sources and Tools Information Management what is it? Data Sources available Tools available Directions Discussion Demonstrations P088; Presented in Canberra, 27 th March, 2008 GR000: Presented in Perth on 8 th October, 2008 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT There is data, information and knowledge. Data is the raw facts, information is the interpretation. Knowledge is the understanding. Our field data sheets contain data, our reports contain information and our experiences in the field gives us knowledge. How do you manage your data? How do you manage your information? How do you manage your knowledge? For environmental practitioners in Western Australia there are some valuable data sources: Your own data Traditional data sources Downloadable data Data catalogues Web maps Data feeds Your Own Data Two main things to think about regarding your own data: Can you find it again? Are you allowed to use it again (IP or )? If so, are you collecting, storing and managing it in the most efficient way? Business processes should be reflected in the supporting systems. Traditional Data Sources Organisations that provide data in the usual way GIS data providers delivering DVD s of data (e.g. Geoscience Australia), hardcopy map products, etc. Biological data managers delivering species lists (e.g. Museums, Herbaria), area searches, etc. 1
Downloadable Data Infrastructure Geoscience Australia Click on free data downloads Search for data Select dataset Register and download Also DOIR s Data Centre Data Catalogues These are web sites that have listings of data. WALIS Interragator+ Australian Spatial Data Directory (ASDD) DEC s Pilbara Biological Survey Database TDWG Biodiversity Information Projects of the World Geography Network Web Maps These are interactive maps, but often do not let you download data. Naturemap from the Department of Environment and Conservation (including WA Museum and WA Herbarium data) DOIR s GeoView.WA including all geological data and other information (e.g. tenements) Data Feeds These are internet based live feeds that require some tool to either harvest or directly consume. Landgate s SLIP services (WMS/WFS) DOIR s mapping services (WMS) Geography Network (WMS/WFS) NASA JPL imagery (WMS) OZCAM biological data (DiGIR provider) There are a range of tools that you can use to deal with these data sources Field Data Collection Databases GIS Services Field Data Collection Range of hardware and software packages for use in field work Hardware consider: Ruggedised or Non ruggedised Battery life Software consider: Cost, platform, integration 2
Databases Benefits of using a database competitive advantage Databases can be scaled up throughout the life of a business, so start small, think big Labour market! Databases Consider: staff skills, platform, compatability, cost Platform Price mysql $0 PostgreSQL $0 FileMaker $453 Microsoft Excel $619 Microsoft Access $758 Microsoft SQL Server $0 to US$25,000 Oracle US$5,800 to US$47,500 GIS Consider: staff skills, platform, compatability, cost Platform Price Google Earth $0 (non commercial) udig $0 Quantum GIS $0 gvsig $0 ArcGIS (ArcView) ~$4,000 MapInfo ~$4,000 ArcGIS (Arc/Info) ~$36,000 GIS Open source GIS packages are fast becoming viable alternatives to commercial software Even big vendors (Autodesk) are embracing open source There is a viable and active community of open source developers in Australia e.g OSGEO Labour market (again!) Services Some organisations offer services that can provide the required tools to you Online products: Delivered via the web (e.g. Greenbase, Earth 2.0) Offline products: Delivered via more traditional means (e.g. data entry, map products, etc) Where are we heading? Field Technologies are maturing collecting information in the field more efficiently and effectively (eg. PDAs, Anabat units) Open source software is changing the face of the software we traditionally used, and bringing huge benefits to business 3
Who do you need to provide data to? How will they accept this data? What are their needs? Bioinformatics standards groups like TDWG are developing standards like Darwin Core conference in Fremantle next week! Standards enable on line and other forms of data sharing more organisations are freely distributing data (eg. OZCAM) Large, funded projects across the world are looking to gather/share/provide biological data such as: Encyclopedia of Life Atlas of Living Australia Global Biodiversity Information Facility Copyright and Intellectual Property of data collected by environmental consultants What do we currently have? What might it look like? Field Data Sheets Data Entry Data File(s) Summaries Raw Data Archive Data File(s) Report Downloaded Data GIS Tools Products Digital Data Collection Database Storage Database Tools Report Products WMS, WFS, TAPIR, etc GIS Tools Other Institutions What does this mean? DISCUSSION Any questions or comments? Collection techniques will involve more technology delivering a competitive edge Desktop tools will be open source saving money Web based services will become more pervasive and will deliver better, cost effective solutions Data will be shared as live feeds more recent data, of better quality 4
DEMONSTRATIONS We will be demonstrating some of these technologies on the PCs in the room for people to have a look at. Open Source GIS packages udig QuantumGIS gvsig On line databases Earth 2.0 demonstrations 5