Ecosystem Information System Development

区域和更大规模的生态系统建模的有效性取决于模型形成的科学基础的质量和信息系统的质量。该奖项将支持开发面向对象的生态系统信息系统(EIS)，以解决困扰大型建模工作的四个关键问题：(1)将数据源的逻辑属性与其实现细节分开：(2)确定不同数据源之间的关键异同；(3)维护来自各种来源的大量大型数据集实例；以及(4)通过组合来自各种来源的输入的模拟系统来维护数据集使用的一致性。环境影响评估系统的开发将包括信息系统和生态系统建模专家的积极参与。环境信息系统将包括两个主要组成部分：一个软件支持系统和一组以面向对象范式实施(即转换为)的生态系统研究组成部分。环境信息系统软件将是一个强大的分布式系统，为不同实验室的用户提供对共同信息资源的访问。将在环境影响报告书中实施的研究组成部分包括重要的“公共”数据层(如土壤、海拔、遥感影像)、通过我们的研究得出的独特数据层(如气候水文学、土地覆盖)、以及本地开发的模拟组件，用于生成和分析各种数据层。环境信息系统支持的面向对象的范例将很容易扩展，使用户能够轻松地添加新的数据源(对象类)，数据集的设计和实施不仅将提供如何建立信息系统以便利用户访问的范例，而且还将允许各种生物学科的研究人员访问重要的生态系统组成部分集合。该奖项由生物科学和生态研究项目中的数据库活动共同支持。

The effectiveness of ecosystem modeling at regional and larger scales hinges on both the quality of the science underlying model formulation and the quality of the information system. This award will support the development of an object-oriented Ecosystem Information System (EIS) that addresses four key problems that plague large modeling efforts: (1) separation of the logical attribute of data sources from their implementation detail: (2) identification of key similarities and differences between different sources; (3) maintenance of numerous, large data set instances from various sources; and (4) maintenance of consistency in data set usage by simulation systems that combine inputs from a variety of sources. EIS development will included the active participation of both information systems and ecosystem modeling specialists. EIS will include two major components: a software support system and a collection of ecosystem research components implemented in (i.e., converted to) the object-oriented paradigm. The EIS software will be a robust distributed system that provides users in separate laboratories access to a common information resource. The research components to be implemented within EIS include important "public" data layers (e.g. soils, elevation, remote-sensed imagery), unique data layers derived through our research (e.g., climate hydrology, land cover), and locally developed simulation components that produce and analyze various data layers. The object-oriented paradigm supported by EIS will be readily extensible, allowing users to easily add new data sources (object classes), data set design and implementation will provide not only an example of how to build information systems to facilitate user access, but also permit researchers in a variety of biological disciplines to access an important collection of ecosystem components. This award is jointly supported by the Database Activities in the Biological Sciences and Ecological Studies programs.