LTER Site Byte

LTER Site: Bonanza Creek LTER

Contributor: Brian Riordan (Aug 01, 2005)

Site Byte:

It has been a busy half a year at BNZ. I took over the reins as Data Manager on Dec.1st. Since then I have redesigned our database for a flat file mysql database to a relation database supporting views, triggers, and stored queries. In addition, we rebuild the servers to have up to date hardware and software. I have taken all of the old ascii dataset and generated mysql tables for each one. This will allow us to generate complex searching capabilities as well as ensure better data-backups. We have installed a robust back-up unit that now backs up our servers as well has the majority of the BNZ staff.

We are in the process of generating full PDF’s of our publications as well as deploy a more error free searching format for locating publications.

The next step is to redo our Coldfusion queries to generate results form the new database.
In addition, we are exploring the best way to generate our EML out of this new format. Currently we have little to no metadata in EML format. I have handed out the Excel worksheet that FCE created and the PI’s have responded well to it.

All in all it has been a year of learning for me. I have gained a lot of knowledge about the BNZ database/website as well has how to make it better. The next year will be focused on deploying the database and generating EML for each data file. If this EML will be generated dynamically or stored as hard files is still to be decided.

See everyone soon!

Web design by Wade Sheldon, Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER