Watershed Data System: Overview

Jean L. Steiner, E. John Sadler, Jin-Song ChenGreg Wilson, David James, Bruce Vandenberg

John Ross, Teri Oster, Kevin Cole

ARS: El Reno, OK; Columbia, MO; Beltsville, MD; Ames, IA: Fort Collins, CO

ARS Watershed Research

•USDA has conducted watershed research since early 1900’s

•Many watersheds are still operational

•Data managed locally and disseminated independently

•Accessibility has limited visibility and utility of these data

CEAP Team 1 Goal

To develop and implement a web-based data system to organize,

document, manipulate, and compile climate, water, soil, land-

management, and socio-economic data from ARS research watersheds

for assessment of conservation practices and other hydrologic

analyses

Data Management System

ArcGIS 9.2

Search Engine

Visualization Tools

ClientsData Providers Central Site

ARS usersResearch usersPublic users

Web Browsers: Netscape Internet Explorer FireFox

Build data definition tablesBuild data files Create metadata filesUpload to FTP site

STEWARDS Architecture

Software Developer

Network Administrator

DB Administrator

DB Designers/Team 1

Challenges

•Data not uniform across (or within) sites•No single organizational unit has

necessary knowledge, skill set or mandate

•Communication within heterogeneous team

•Competing demands on time for all team members

•Uncertain funding beyond annual budgets

Unique aspects of system

•Flexible to accept highly heterogeneous data

•Ability to capture and communicate rich descriptive data

•Bringing time-series and other measurement data into spatial context

•SiteID, DateTime, and Watershed ID as primary keys

Software Interface

Typical Watershed Data

•Descriptive data•Watershed Descriptions•Site Descriptions

•Spatial data (and metadata)•Watershed boundary•Digital elevation, streams, soils, land use, etc.•Sites

•Measurement data (and methods)•Climate, hydrology, water chemistry, sediment, etc

•Land management, conservation practices, soils, etc.

•Biological assessment, economic data, etc.

Tools for preparing data tables

•Access templates•Query Scripts•Data table construction tool•Method Table Builder•Parameter Description Builder

Implement System Design; Release For Alpha Test to Development Team

System Requirements

System Design

Metadata Requirements

Develop Prototype Systems

Refine based on Alpha Findings, Release to CEAP Watersheds for Beta Test

Refine based on Beta Findings, Public Release

July, 2007

Winter, 2007/8

Beta ReleaseJuly, 2007

• Implemented with data from some ARS Benchmark Watersheds (cropland)

•Data preparation and uploading ongoing

•Training on data preparation ongoing•Available to CEAP research team •On-line user’s manual, technical

documents will be provided

Version 1 ReleaseBy Spring, 2008

•Will be implemented with data from ARS Benchmark Watersheds (cropland)

•Will be available to public access•On-line user’s manual, technical

documents will be provided•STEWARDS will be publicized

through conferences, journals and web sites

Keys to success

•Integrated, iterative approach•Accepting ambiguity and

uncertainty•Careful definition of priorities

considering available resources•Open communication, respect•Trust•Shared commitment to mission•Strong support from agency and

within CEAP team

Ongoing efforts

•Data preparation and upload•Long-term operational plan•Long-term management

structure•Researchers, operations, leadership

•Meeting diverse expectations of diverse users

Challenges within ARS

•Lack of IT support system for national program and multisite research programs.

•Inconsistent data management skills within research units

•Lack of peer network across research data managers

Accomplishments

•STEWARDS system developed on schedule, according to requirements, within resource limits

•Innovative partnerships within agency and externally established

•Three journal manuscripts in review or preparation

Mission

To provide access to data and To provide access to data and analytical tools to facilitate analytical tools to facilitate

multidimensional watershed research multidimensional watershed research and conduct analyses to support and conduct analyses to support

individual-, organization-, and policy-individual-, organization-, and policy-level decision making level decision making

Parameter Descriptions

Parameter Name,

[modifier],

medium,

[temporal resolution],

[summary statistic],

units

Temperature, air, degrees CelsiusTemperature, air, maximum, degrees CelsiusTemperature, air, minimum, degrees CelsiusWind direction, air, degrees clockwise from true northHumidity, relative humidity, air, percentDischarge, water, cubic feet per second

degrees Cdegrees Cdegrees Cdegrees percentm3/sec