National Park Service Upper Columbia Basin Network Protocol Deployment Challenges from a Data...
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National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Protocol Deployment Challenges
from a Data Manager’s perspective
Gordon DicusUCBN, Moscow ID
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Presentation Overview
• Identify primary protocol deployment challenges• Discuss challenges, including some examples• Briefly contrast small Network vs large Network• Draw some conclusions
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Primary Challenges• Communication on protocol data needs and solutions• Flexibility in responding to protocol changes
(variables, data collection tools, analysis, etc.)• Smooth procedures for getting data into protocol DB• Data summaries and analyses/reports that are useful
to Protocol Leads, Park Managers, Network staff, and Cooperators
• Fitting core data management roles/responsibilities to individual protocol staff and Network staff/time
[“Get the data out!”]
[“HELP!”]
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Communication on protocol data needs• Imperative that Data Manager is well informed on protocol
data needs and data collection strategies• Complex protocols may require postponing some DB
components until Protocol Lead refines methods & analysis• Data Managers must adequately convey time required to
develop (and to modify!) DB components• Manage expectations regarding data management roles
(consider skills of Protocol Lead and staff, if any, and workload of Network Data Manager and staff, if any)
• Protocol Leads must understand and meet Network requirements for data products and documentation (Project Tracking and/or annual Close Out/Review process)
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Flexibility in DB for protocol changes
• Minimize changes to data variables !• NRDT table structure standards help ease burden
of design modifications• Big headache – how to maintain old data in revised
DB to serve multi-year summary and analysis ?• Digital data collection strategies and data analysis
requirements will change, so DB revisions are an on-going need
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Procedures for getting data into DB
• Paper field datasheets are simple and some folks desire a paper archive record, but…
• Digital data collection is efficient and can eliminate transcription errors
Some basic examples…
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Aspen monitoring (UCBN)
• Using MS Access database running on tablet PC (Samsung Q1)– allows robust Access data integrity rules and
validation procedures to control data entry– data entry accomplished in one process– tablets put in “Otter boxes” on rainy field days– must accept that no paper record exists for
vegetation plot data
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Sagebrush-steppe monitoring (UCBN)
• Abandoned data collection on tablet PCs– difficulty seeing tablet PC screen in bright sunlight– weight and durability concerns for crews traversing
long distances over rough terrain
• Currently using PDA devices (Archer) running Data Plus software– less robust data integrity and validation capability– relatively quick data entry on small, durable PDAs– must accept additional processes to transfer field data
into protocol MS Access database
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Benthic Marine monitoring (PACN)• Using photo analysis to determine benthic cover on coral
reefs and presence/absence of disease symptoms• Reef “rugosity” and marked coral colony measurements
recorded on paper datasheets• Recruitment tiles, deployed for 6 months, analyzed in lab to
identify coral species and count number of juveniles• Photo analysis results are processed for transfer into
protocol MS Access database; other data is manually entered into database– manual data entry components require careful QA/QC procedures
to minimize and document transcription errors– photo analysis component requires attention to detail in managing
digital photos and PhotoGrid output files
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Water quality monitoring (UCBN)
• Using Hydrolab data loggers to collect water chemistry data• Aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling work uses paper field
datasheets; results come back from lab in MS Excel format• Using Aquarius Time-Series software to process and
analyze water chemistry data• Output from Aquarius Time-Series (raw and corrected data)
and macroinvert lab results are processed for transfer into protocol MS Access database– still in development; will facilitate export of data to NPStoret and
sharing/posting of annual and multi-year datasets– requires considerable processing to transfer data into protocol MS
Access database
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Getting out Protocol data/summaries• Annual Reports, Resource Briefs, and Network
website used to share protocol data and analyses• Science Advisory Committee meetings are another
opportunity for sharing protocol findings• Frequent communication and emailing of data files
meets more immediate data needs• NPS Data Store for certified Protocol data products• VSIMS has promise for dynamic sharing of
Protocol data (ability to download selected data?)
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Data Management roles – Considerations…
• Who is Protocol Lead and staff ?– (Cooperator, Network staff, Park staff, Contractor)
• How fit data management roles to skill/time constraints of Protocol staff vs Network staff ?– (allocating sample points, loading points on GPS,
preparing field maps and datasheets, file management for PDA/Data logger files and photos, QA/QC, certifying data, etc.)
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Staffing – Large vs Small Network
• Large Network– Data Manager– DB Developer– GIS Specialist– Data Management
Assistant– NPS IT support
• Small Network– Data Manager– Part-time, temp-hire
assistant– minimal NPS IT
support
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Data Management roles – Creative Solutions
• Assign more to Protocol Lead– pre-field prep (sample points, GPS loading, field maps
& datasheets)– annual file management (file naming and organizing
within file directory structure)
• Find new ways to meet Network data mng needs– organize for quarterly website updates by contractor– organize for annual updates to NBib and NPSpp– share GIS staff among Networks and/or with Parks
National Park ServiceUpper Columbia Basin Network
Conclusions
• Be FLEXIBLE
• Keep it SIMPLE !
• COMMUNICATE
• Support Network ACCOUNTABILITY