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LTER Site Byte
LTER Site: Virginia Coast Reserve
Contributor: John Porter (Sep 17, 2006)
Site Byte:
This has been a busy year for information management at the VCR/LTER in a number of areas. The first has been work on developing tools that use EML to produce documents, such as statistical programs, for use by researchers. Converters were developed that convert suitable EML documents to SAS, SPSS and R statistical languages. In addition, a web interface to the tools was developed and means to link the programs to static web pages were developed.
The VCR/LTER also hosted the second-to-last Coordinating Commitee meeting in the fall of 2005 (the CC was replaced by the "Science Council" in the spring of 2006). We used a system we have developed for easy-to-use online forms to manage the complex logistics of getting everyone to and from the airport.
During 2005 and January 2006, we also wrote our new proposal. During that process we made extensive use of videoconferencing to bring together (virtually) investigators taking the lead on specific proposal sections. The system we used consisted of PC's running the Polycom PVX software ($120) using an inexpensive ($50) USB-camera/microphone combination. These then linked to a higher-end Polycom FX unit that allowed us to have 4 participants in the conversations. We also continued revamping our web page using the PostNuke Content Management System.
This has also been an important year for international collaboration with the Taiwan Ecological Research Network (TERN). It started in January when John Porter (VCR), Don Henshaw (AND) and Peter McCartney (NSF) participated in a series of workshops with Taiwanese researchers and with other LTER Information Managers from the East Asia Pacific (EAP) region. The trip also included visits to several of their research sites. As a result of the trip, several sites now participate in CLIMDB. Closer to home, we have had a series of visits by members of the TERN "IM Team." Chien Wen "Kevin" Chen visited the VCR/LTER during February-May 2006. The focus of his visit was collaboration on the development of wireless sensor networks for field research. He was followed by a return visit (June-Sept) from his colleague Meei-ru Jeng. She focused on collaborations involving EML, specifically the creation of EML documents, XML editors, stylesheets and "R" statistical language programming. In Sept. 2006 she was joined by her colleagues Yunyin Yeh and Fu-Ching "Tanya" Yang. During their visit they focused on the examination of several US LTER web sites and how they provide services to researchers. This was followed up by visits to the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, Harvard Forest and Hubbard Brook LTER sites, where they met with the information managers from each site. This fall, their colleague Chi-Wen Hsao will be coming to work on GIS-related issues.
We also saw the openning in August of the long-awaited "Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center of the University of Virginia" (ABCRC). The new ABCRC provides much improved laboratory and housing facilities, and replaces our old, rented farmhouse as the field headquarters for VCR/LTER activities. IM activities at the new Center involve moving our T-1 connection, developing wireless and wired networks in the new buildings and connecting those networks to wireless field equipment.
We have also been active in several ongoing network-wide activities. We have been involved in the Cyberinfrastructure working group of the LTER Planning Grant activity, and hosted a modeling workshop at the University of Virginia in January 2006. We have also been active with the controlled-vocabulary working group and ILTER training in the East Asia Pacific region.
Plans for the coming year include continued improvement of the EML we produce, specifically in the areas of units and geographical information, development and improvement of tools for using EML , continued collaborations with TERN and EAP researchers, and development of systems to support management of the expanded LTER facilities at the ABCRC.
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