Computer Techniques in Environmental Studies 477€¦ · 476 Computer Techniques in Environmental Studies wildlife refuge and preserve, pollution and hazards, as well as health and

Development of a database for small hydropower

technology projects and their environmental

attributes

B.C. Kalkani

Department of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of

Athens, Patission 42, Athens 10682, Greece

Abstract

A Microsoft Access database is presented developed in Microsoft Windowsenvironment. The database refers to small hydropower technology projectsand includes information in engineering, economics, development andenvironmental attributes. The main aspects of environmental attributesincluded in the database are those on environmental values, protectedenvironment, pollution, hazards and health-safety.

1 Introduction

Hydropower is based on well established technology, while technologicalimprovements are introduced into the design for commercial operation ofhydro powerplants. The exploitation of plant sites depends on the waterflow, the available head, the civil engineering works, the turbine-generatorsystem installed, and the environmental impact of the project. The Thermieprogram of the European Union, wanting to sponsor innovative small hydropowerplants, invited proposals by the private and the public sector. Thefinancially supported proposals are included in the database presented here.

The database is developed by using Microsoft Access in MicrosoftWindows environment, with the goal to process information on smallhydropower technology projects, as presented in European Unionpublications, and describe the environmental attributes of the projects. Thedatabase is called Eu(ropean) Ther(mie) Hy(dro technology projects). Thenumber of project records available is small, and most of the informationavailable is in engineering, economics, development and environmentalattributes. The main aspects of environmental attributes referenced in thedatabase are the attributes on environmental values, protected environment,

Transactions on Ecology and the Environment vol 10, © 1996 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541

476 Computer Techniques in Environmental Studies

wildlife refuge and preserve, pollution and hazards, as well as health andsafety attributes.

2 Overall design of the database

The database described here is a collection of data, which are grouped incategories. The data refer to small hydropower technology projectsdescribed in Thermic (1993). An example regarding hydro powercategories may be a group of general information, a group of plantcharacteristics and development stage, and a group of environmentalattributes.

Using the Microsoft Access (1994) database, a relational database iscreated which stores related data in one place. As an example, one buildsthe relational database to store the data related to powerplant information inone place, the data related to development stage in another, and so on.

The advantage of relational databases is that it is easier to find, analyzemaintain and protect the data, since the data stored in one place is easier toprotect.

The number of different objects that the Microsoft Access database cancontain are the following six:

- the tables that store data,- the queries that gather data which are requested from one or moretables to view, edit or print,

- the forms that display data from tables or queries used to view oredit data, and enter data,

- the reports that summarize and present data from tables andqueries to print or analyze it,

- the macros that perform actions without the need of programming,- the modules that customize, enhance, and extend the database byusing the Access Basic Language.

3 Designing the tables

A table is the collection of data regarding a specialized region, ie.information on small hydropower projects specific topics on economics ordevelopment. A presentation of the four tables used in the EuTherHydatabase is shown in Fig. 1. Each table organizes data into columns calledfields and into rows called records.

Each field contains information regarding each small hydro powerproject, concerning the title, the position, the contractor, the address, phoneand name of the contact person. Each record contains the informationabout the small hydro powerplant project with its specific projectidentification.

The two views of each table is the design and the datasheet view. Thedesign view is used to build or modify the structure of the table, where thedifferent kinds of data to be held in the table are specified, ie. text, number,date/time, etc. The datasheet view is used to add, edit or analyze the datarecorded on a table.


Computer Techniques in Environmental Studies 477

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development stageengineering economicsenvironmental

Fig. 1. Presentation of the four tables in Microsoft Access environment,which are used in the database EuTherHy.

The tables of a database can be built by using cue cards from a filedrawer. In this case information on small hydropower projects is indifferent drawers and by different names. The organization of theinformation requires first the creation of subjects, categories and groups.

For instance, information regarding the projects, such as the title of theproject, the identification code (part of a larger coding system), and even apicture of the site can be included.

After creating the table one can keep track of additional informationentered on hydropower technology projects, such as new activities and thecompletion of the project, the date of information aquisition and the date ofinitiation or completion of an activity on the site. The table can be used tocopy data from spreadsheet files, sequential file databases and make thesepart of the database described here.

The Microsoft Access database gives the possibility of link to a Paradox(Ansa Software, a Borland Co.) database, to a dBASE (Borland Int., Inc.)file or network, and the possibility to work dynamically with data.

When working with data on a table, in case one needs to add lines of



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Fig. 2. Contents of the Tables on Information, Engineering-Economics,Development Stage and Environmental.

new projects into the projects file, one can edit the names and addresses ofresponsible persons at all or some of the sites. It may be possible to hidesome columns that are not interesting at the moment, such as fax ortelephone numbers when a list of mailing addresses is necessary, or put sideby side interesting information such as project name and responsibleperson for contact, and phone and fax numbers.

Sorting information is possible for each column of the table, regardingnames, dates and values recorded on the table. Also, one can view projectsof specific interest, just by sorting the value for the specific interest bylarger to lower values and printing that information. A table datasheet canbe given on specific information that can be viewed at a glance. And aswell, one can replace very easily recordings that have to be renamed withthe new names at a very easy way.

The fields in each of the four tables (information, engineering-economics, development-stage, environmental) are shown in Fig. 2, alongwith the data type necessary for the recording. Further, some entriesrecorded in the Information Table (already 118 entries) and a print-out vieware shown in Fig. 3, indicating the identification and code number, the titleof the project, the contractor's name and address, phone number and contactperson for each project.



»P Microsoft Accessl&le £dit Ffirtr t fiecotds Window- 'Help

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96; hy/00346/89/IT97; hy/00360/89/FR i98; hy/00407/89/IT !99: hy/00411/89/IT i100 hy/00123/91/UK1011 hy/00273/91/IR/102iliy/00314/91/DE103:hy/00330/91/FRi104|liy/00400/91/UK105 hy/00410/91/DEi106'hy/00485/91/HE!1071 hy/01002/91/DE108'hy/01051/91/DE109'hy/01058/91/DE110,hy/00010/92/HE<111ihy/00036/92/IR i112ihy/00037/92/IR i113!hy/00046/92/DE'114!hy/00104/92/IT i115!hy/0012G/92/FRi116| hy/00169/92/DE i117ihy/00200/92/FR^118|hy/OQ415/92/IT i

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Remote high head pi Sistemi di Er! Piazza Belgioioso ;| 7202192-! Mr. L. TamberiDiagonal flow pump j Somival | Boul. Pasteur 46,1 7393811 ij Mr. J. M. DucatRehabilitation with a! 0(engine SF; Via Greto di Comic! 010-652CJ Mr. W. HarderLow head large flow! Sistemi di Eri Piazza Belgioioso j 720-2192! Mr. L. TambenHydroelectric develd Yorkshire W; Western House, Pi 0274-6911 Mr. K. PitcherStandardised induct I Energy Contl Danford Hall 3, Stj 01 -28391! Mr. J. BrazilSubmerged scheme| Nechar Akti.| Birkenwaldstrasse! 711-165EI Mr. J. GuentherHydroelectric plant Cj SEM Gazosl! Hotel de Ville, FR-li 6293624l| Mr. M. GayraudPortwood weir small j Renewable i HeadieyHouse Wt'081-3982 Mr.E. WilsonRehabilitation of KatJ BadenwerkJ POB 1680, DE-751 721-6922! Mr. H. WallerInstallation of ecoloci Hellenic Age| Omirou 19, HE-10(! 3646994 j Mr. K. KonstantafInnovative Kaplan Sj CF RoHe Gkl MuehleZschopenj 0037-72EJ Mr. D. HeinleEnergy recovery frorj Wasser Ver^ KlaraZetkin Sir. 6.J 0037-566' Mr. G. MenzelNew guidevane corj Bindewald &• Paul-Greifzu-strass! 0037-597; Mr. K. BindewaldSmall hydro plant at j Public Corp.) Kipru 8, HE-65403! 051 -231 d Mr. A KakoulidisStandardized equipr! ECS { Standhouse Road! 01283911! Mr. J. BrazilControl system to rej! N. E. L. j Delwood Walk 10i! 0035-301- Mr. J. MurphyRehabilitation of Ingj E. V. S. j Kriegsbergstrasse if071112EiMr K. Sauer ,,Hydropower develop ENEA j Viale Regina Marg' 0039-6-8!; Mr. G. Scabbia *Pit turbine (oiless be' Dumont SA j Pont de St. Uze, Fl 7523092;) Mr. R. PontierStandard Centrifugal Arno Eichmc' Untere Hainbegstr| 064-077CI Mr. A. EichmannMicro hydro power s| SIVU de I'Hcj FR-05500 Saint jj 092-507C! Mr. E. D. CelestinHydro electric plant [ Azienda Ele,! Via Bertola 48, IT-111 -54491! Mr. G. Burzio

Fig 3. Outline of the Information Table and the recorded information onhydropower technology projects (118 entries),

4 Designing the queries

A query is the question one wants to ask about the data recorded in thedatabase. As an example one can ask:

- which hydropower projects have environmental values regardingwildlife, bird and fish, cultural, recreational, or geologic,

- which hydropower projects are within areas of wildlife refuge orpreserve,

- which hydropower projects are subject to reservoir pollution andnatural hazards,

- which of the powerplant sites have problems with protected landand protected environment,

- which hydropower projects have health and safety problems.With the query the information is gathered from one or more tables and

it is put on a dynaset that can be edited or on a snapshot that cannot beedited.

The query is a permanent request saved in the database, so that eachtime the query is run the latest information appears on the dynaset or on the



snapshot to see, or it performs an action on it, for instance deleting orupdating data.

The available views in a query are the design and the datasheet views.The design view is used to build or modify the layout of the query. On thedesign view one asks questions about the data in order to specify what dataare needed and how the data should be arranged, The queries may bedeveloped by using SQL commands (Structured Query Language). Thedatasheet view can be used to add, edit and analyze the data itself which arecontained in a dynaset or recordset, which answers the questions posed.

To design a query cue cards are used, in order to:- collect and organize related data from more than one table, such asrecreational and geologic values of a site, along with contactperson's name and phone number,

- present a dynaset displaying only the largest powerplantsregarding installed capacity or produced annual energy,

- indicate total attributes of powerplants (capacities, energy, totalcost),

- assign a problem factor to hydropower projects that have longterm delays.

The great advantage of the query is that one can work with data andperform specific tasks, such as to:

- view related data at a glance from several tables, such asdevelopment stage and reservoir pollution or hazards,

- find and replace entries with a specific name with a moreexplicatory expression,

- edit values in the query dynaset and update directly on thedynaset, such as telephone numbers and names of responsiblepersons (the changes are updated in the relevant table),

- hide uninteresting columns such as hydropower projectidentification and move interesting columns side by side, such asrecreational value and health-safety attributes.

5 Designing the forms

A form is a way to view and edit information in the database record-by-record. The form displays the information we want to see in the way wewant to see it.

The form uses familiar controls such as text boxes and check boxes usedin windows, which make entering data and viewing them an easyprocedure. The forms can be colorful and distinctive since we have controlover the size and appearance of every element on it.

We can work on the design view and the form view. The design view isused to build or modify the structure of the form, by adding controls whichare bound to fields in a table or query, including text boxes, option bottons,graphs and pictures. In the form view one can add, edit and analyze thedata itself record-by-record. In the datasheet view one can see a row-and-column presentation of the data.

To design a form by using cue cards one may:



- create a form for the projects displaying useful fields such asname of the project and the closest environmentally protected area,but not the name of the contact person and his phone number,

- add controls, for instance to a pamphlet to the management,regarding an easy to use check box for information to be added,

- add a command button to the form that prints the current recordwhen clicking on the button,

- add a graph on the form or update the graph without leavingMicrosoft Access.

To work with data on a form one uses cue cards to perform differentactivities, such as to:

- add or edit data from a hydropower projects information form,- view development in the last year with certain characteristics ofprojects completed,

- sort the projects by the size of plant (installed capacity) or by thename of the country in which the projects are found,

- illustrate the different projects with the type of turbine available byusing a series of pictures,

- find entries in the same country and replace the name with acomplex one, indicating for instance the region of the project.

6 Designing the reports

The reports are used to view and print information from the database. Withthe report, information is displayed in the way we want to see it. Also agrouping in many levels of the records can be established, so that totals andaverages can be computed by checking values from many records at once.One can have control of the report, its size and appearance, and of all theinformation on it.

The report can be viewed in the design view and the print preview. Thedesign view is used to build or modify the structure of a report. One canadd controls that are bound to fields in a table or query, or unboundcontrols that calculate totals or averages. The print preview is used toanalyze the data itself, or open a report in sample preview, so that the layoutis checked.

To design a report cue cards are used, in order to:- group the hydropower projects with the wildlife high values,- group a list of projects by type of dam and sort them by years ofcompletion,

- group the projects with problems of reservoir pollution andhazards,

- count the number of projects in each country and calculate thetotal capacity installed or the total produced energy per year,

- add a graph to the list of the hydropower projects indicating thetype of dam or the position on the map, and update it withoutleaving the Microsoft Access.



7 Designing the macros

A macro is a set of commands for specific actions. It may open a form orprint a report, and in general it performs automation of specific tasks withthe goal to work smarter and save time.

Specific things made faster by using macros are to:- set up and print reports,- open the everyday working forms automatically,- check data to make sure they are correct,- open a second form at a click of a botton to find related records.

To write a macro cue cards are used. The different actions may be to:- set up and print reports automatically when one opens the databasestarting his work,

- open a variety of forms one works on every day just by pressing akey,

- open a second form at the click of a botton and find recordsrelated to the first form,

- check data on a form to make sure all information entered is valid.

8 Designing the modules

Modules are units of codes written in basic (Access Basic Language).Modules are useful to automate and customize the database in somesophisticated ways.

One needs to be comfortably programming in basic, and modules aremore powerful than macros to use, although they are more complex towrite.

9 Conclusions

A database is developed with the use of Microsoft Access in MicrosoftWindows environment. The database includes most of the informationavailable in engineering, economics, development and environmentalattributes of small hydropower technology projects. The main aspects ofenvironmental attributes referenced in the database are the attributes onenvironmental values, wildlife refuge or preserve, protected environment,pollution, hazards, health and safety.

References

1. Thermic Project, Community Energy Technology Projects in the sectorof Hydro Electric Energy - Small Hydro Power Plants, Commission of theEuropean Communities, Directorate General for Energy, DG XVII, Oct.1993, p. 212.2. Microsoft Access, Building Applications, Relational DatabaseManagement System for Windows, Microsoft Office, MicrosoftCorporation, Document DB57111-1294, 1994, p. 428.


Documents

Computer Techniques in Environmental Studies 477€¦ · 476 Computer Techniques in Environmental Studies wildlife refuge and preserve, pollution and hazards, as well as health and