LTER DataBits Spring 2008

The theme of this issue is Updating Legacy Websites, and several feature articles describe recent upgrades to LTER web sites and supporting technology. Linda Powell describes a major redesign of the FCE web site, Wade Sheldon describes the development of a web-based document and imagery archive at GCE, Hung Nguyen and Corinna Gries describe a novel approach to enhancing the effectiveness of metadata keyword searching in the CAP data catalog, and James Connors and Mason Kortz describe Application Program Interfaces designed by PAL and CCE to support web development projects.

LTER DataBits Fall 2007

This issue features an article on career development in the field of Information Management by Karen Baker, a longtime LTER Information Manager who also conducts theoretical research in this field. We also hear critical opinions on the pros and cons and progress of networking in LTER, and learn of the status of a new and welcomed network project. The Editorial section has been renamed Commentary in order to capture the experience of community participants and to suggest that observations and opinions presented are open to dialogue.

LTER DataBits Spring 2007

Featured in this issue: Welcome to the Spring 2007 issue of Databits! Twenty-two authors or coauthors submitted articles for this issue, which is a testament to the committment of Information Managers to sharing information. The articles represent the diversity of interests within the LTER IM community and highlight a number of current topics. Most notably, there is a discussion about proposed changes in the organizational structure of the IM committee that would better integrate the GIS working group and the Technology Committee.

LTER DataBits Fall 2006

Featured in this issue: This issue of Databits follows the September, 2006 LTER Information Managers’ Meeting in Estes Park, Colorado. The IM meeting was held in conjunction with the LTER All Scientists’ Meeting and included a number of Information Managers from around the world. In recent years, there has been an emphasis on establishing relationships among members of the International LTER community. This issue of Databits reflects this initiative with contributions from several ILTER participants.

LTER DataBits Spring 2006

Featured in this issue: Welcome to a robust issue of the Spring 2006 DataBits’!!! We had many submittals this issue and the articles really show the diversity of this group. We hope you have as much fun reading this issue as we did putting it together. As many of the LTER sites have EML documents being generated, the focus of the IM community has shifted from generating EML to working with EML. There is a series of four articles in this issue of DataBits’ that explore multiple approaches with differing timeframes that IM’s are developing that will lead to better data discovery within EML.

LTER DataBits Fall 2005

Featured in this issue: After most of the LTER sites have produced their Ecological Metadata Language (EML) packages up to Level 3, the subject still occupies a main line in our agendas. Not only do we want to share our methods to achieve this task with other communities, but we want to study the lessons that have we learned in the process.

LTER DataBits Spring 2005

Featured in this issue: Following years of efforts in developing a Network Information System (NIS), LTER information managers report on two of its completed components: CLIMDB/HYDRODB and Network All-Site Bibliography. More recently, the LTER sites started the process of exporting their metadata databases into Ecological Metadata Language (EML), a metadata specification developed by the ecology discipline and for the ecology discipline (http://knb.ecoinformatics.org/software/eml/).

LTER DataBits Fall 2004

Linda Powell describes new IM System tools at FCE LTER. Dan Higgins and Matt Jones explain the Kepler system for scientific workflows. Teresa Valentine introduces the Watershed DB. Also, EML in Latin America and new forest service database.

LTER DataBits Spring 2004

John Porter talks about the latest regarding the National Environmental Observatory Network (NEON) program. Jonathan Walsh shares his experience at the Web Services Workshop (February 2-5, 2004). Karen Baker, Shaun Haber, and Marshall White discuss the Postnuke Portal Software.

LTER DataBits Fall 2003

Featured in this issue: Theresa Valentine and Don Henshaw discuss their approach to the marriage of tabular and spatial data at the Andrews LTER. Barrie Collins gives his take on ArcIMS, ESRI, and his management philosophy. We are exposed to adding internet spatial visualization to environmental projects when Peter McCartney discusses three internet map applications produced by The Center for Environmental Studies, Arizona State University. Also in this issue a move towards maximizing the spatial aspect of the LTER Network is taken with a new Network-wide survey.