NemasLan, MysidLan, NemasLan, MysidLan, Taxonlan:Taxonlan:

a story of database a story of database developmentdevelopment

T. Deprez, J. Wittoeck, G. De Smet and M. VincxT. Deprez, J. Wittoeck, G. De Smet and M. Vincx

Zoology department,University Ghent

Expertise in Nematoda:Huge collection of

reprints

IntroductionIntroduction

1998: • How to preserve collection for the future?• How to make this collection more valuable also for non – taxonomists ?• How to make the collection accessible worldwide ?

ANSWER: STORE THE INFORMATION IN A DATABASE

= systematical info= literature info= morphology info= ecology info= biogeography info

???

Biolgist ≠ Informatician

NemasLan (1)NemasLan (1)???

Biolgist ≠ Informatician

Private software developerwas contacted

Needs: • Input of taxonomical data must be possible in an easy way• Availability of morphological, ecological and distribution info at specis level• Connection to data source must be available• Data access and input in a network environment (LAN) must be possible

NemasLan was Born !!!!

NemasLan (2)NemasLan (2)

Evaluation:+ data input could be started+ project came alive - A lot of money involved - A lot of time in negociations - connection with software developer still needed

Informatician ≠ Biolgist

NemasLan NemasLan Mysidlan Mysidlan1999: Thesis project: Taxonomy and Biogeography of the

Mysida of the Western Indian Ocean

Database similar to NemasLan was needed

Software developer:Creation of Mysidlan

Addition of new features:• Quick Search module• Functional Search module• Export to Spreadsheets

Program Code NemasLan ≠ Program Code Mysidlan

MysidlanMysidlan

Evaluation:+ valuable dataset was created+ evolution in dataset concept - A lot of money involved - no independance of software developer - two program codes (NemasLan – Mysidlan)

=> double cost of maintenance

Towards TaxonLanTowards TaxonLanProgram Code NemasLan ≠ Program Code Mysidlan

If interest in new dataset 3 codes 3 Costs

Need for 1 generic database program: TaxonLan

• Specifications for each dataset defined in metadata• Multiple backend (mdb, SQL)

TaxonlanTaxonlanEvaluation:+ Can handle different datasets

+ Works with multiple types of backends+ Has all functionalities of MysidLan – NemasLan+ Creation of new datasets is possible

- Definition of new dataset in metadata: very complex - Code still remains property of software developer

=> still not independant - problems with installation of the software

cfr. New operating systems ...cfr. Keeping costs as low as possible

Datasets running: - Mysida- Nematoda- Copepoda BCP- Turbellaria BCP

TaxonLan = good concept aching of lots of child diseases

The future ...The future ...TaxonLan = good concept aching of lots of child diseases

Curing diseases will cost a lot of money

=> New steps were taken:

• Interest of software developper is disappearing• expertise in databases is rising• new evolutions in technology• contacts with institutions in belgium working on and with biological databases

Databases were converted to a more standardised format

The future ...The future ...Databases were converted to a more standardised format

+ independance of software developer+ one program code created in-house => maintainance easy + cheap+ exchange of data with other organisations easier+ publishing the data through a web-browser (intranet) => userfriendly + operating system independant

Current database structureCurrent database structure

TaxonomicUnitsITIS, VLIZ

Referencelibrary

Taxonlan

Geographicalgazetteer

Morphology

Characteristics –States

Measurements

Ecology

Records1-∞

1-∞

1-∞

1-∞

Pictures

SQL-SERVER

WEBFrontendLan-Wan

MSACCESSFrontend

Lan

ConclusionsConclusions

Setting up biological databases:Setting up biological databases: Theory ≠ realityTheory ≠ reality

Use of software developer: usefull Use of software developer: usefull but expensivebut expensive

New technologies can be a help for New technologies can be a help for giving a new value to ‘old’ sciencegiving a new value to ‘old’ science