|
|
LTER Site Byte
LTER Site: Coweeta LTER
Contributor: Barrie Collins (Sep 14, 2006)
Site Byte:
In the past year, Coweeta LTER IM has focused on improving metadata and data consistency. This is a follow-on . In addition, we've been in the process of debuting several large projects.
Land cover southern Appalachians (32,000 Square Miles):
Coweeta LTER has classified Landsat TM imagery on five year intervals (1986, 1991, 1996, & 2001). This data is the beginning of an ongoing record of land cover that will provide scientists with historic data of change over time.
Socioeconomic data for 22 LTER sites:
As part of the LTER Trends Project, Coweeta LTER IM has organized demographic data since 1790 over 31 variables covering 236 fields. This data is currently being folded into an online prototype for serving data to scientists and the public.
Internet Mapping:
A tough challenge under any circumstance, internet mapping is still a developing technology. Coweeta LTER IM is in the final stages of a product that will allow users to view and download gigabytes of GIS data covering over 30,000 square miles. Using wavelet compression technologies, we are successfully serving raster data sets for the entire southern Appalachians (original files size in some cases exceeding 8 gigabytes) across the internet. This product is still under development but should be released in October 2006.
It is worthwhile to note that Internet Mapping is a buzz-worthy concept that rarely has a well-defined elegant application in real-world situations. Coweeta LTER IM is trying to overcome the current design limitations and poor or non-existent design standards to release a truly useasble product.
Telling Stories:
In the 4th quarter of 2006, there will be a paradigm shift in how Coweeta LTER presents itself across the internet. We have a fine legacy of data and a capable dynamic data and publications database. However, our goal is to begin communicating the context of the research. Why is this research conducted? Who are the main players? What is the importance? Why does this matter? Our hope is to being to create a narrative of the research at Coweeta.
The first two prototypes for this plan are to create a larger narrative for the afore-mentioned land cover classification, as well as a real estate program being implemented by Dr. Carolyn Dehring focusing on Buncombe County, North Carolina (Asheville area).
It is our definite goal to create a larger understanding for our users of what is going on at the research level for individual projects. This will require IM to follow the recommendations of past reviewers to work closer with our scientiest to construct this narrative.
Best regards,
Barrie
|
