Network Information System Advisory Committee (NISAC) Membership (2004) PI’s: Gage (KBS), Harmon (AND), Kratz (NTL), Peters (JRN), Ross (PAL) IM’s: Benson (NTL), Boose (HFR), Henshaw (AND), McCartney (CAP) LNO: Brunt, Michener, Vande Castle, Waide

Recommendations Leading to Formation of NISAC Sevilleta, April 2002 The Executive Committee presented the following recommendations, which were approved unanimously: Support continued development of information systems to support synthesis Establish an ad hoc working group to improve coordination of IM development with synthesis work. Support NET Office request for additional resources to allow these synthetic activities

CC Approved Motions Kellogg, May 2003 NIS Advisory Group continues as a standing committee (NISAC) adopt a strategy of a tiered trajectory toward improved IM functionality for synthesis. adopt a general goal of improving each site’s position in the trajectory that individual sites commit to populate and update existing basic network databases (ClimDB, HydroDB, SiteDB)

NIS Mission as approved by the Coordinating Committee Santa Barbara, April 2004 The mission for the LTER Network Information System (NIS) is to provide the IM/IT infrastructure to facilitate and promote advances in collaborative and synthetic ecological science at multiple temporal and spatial scales.

NIS Mission (continued) This system includes cyberinfrastructure (hardware, software); expertise, standards, and protocols; and the information resulting from research activities across the network of LTER sites and their partners. The NIS primarily serves the LTER scientific community and collaborators but also provides a portal to LTER data products for the broader scientific community, natural resource managers, policymakers, and the general public.

Tiered Trajectory Discovery Access Usability Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Metadata completeness Tiered Trajectory Discovery Access Usability Tier 1 Unstructured, online site catalog with minimal metadata Data discovery through manual searches Establish data access policy Data and metadata access requires human intervention Unstructured, machine-readable metadata and data Data use requires human intervention Tier 2 Online, enhanced metadata with consistent internal structure Data discovery through machine search Automated access to data Access to site data and metadata does not require human intervention Structured, comprehensive metadata and data Data use does not require human intervention Tier 3 Discovery-enabling metadata structured in EML Data discovery integrated across network Access-enabling metadata structured in EML Data access is integrated across network Complete validated EML Data analysis is integrated across the network Future Outcome Semantic-based discovery through machine-based searches Data access through a knowledge-based query process Semi-automated knowledge extraction Metadata structure

Tier 1: Discovery-level metadata Tiered Trajectory Discovery Access Usability Tier 1 Unstructured, online site catalog with minimal metadata Data discovery through manual searches Establish data access policy Data and metadata access requires human intervention Unstructured, machine-readable metadata and data Data use requires human intervention Tier 2 Online, enhanced metadata with consistent internal structure Data discovery through machine search Automated access to data Access to site data and metadata does not require human intervention Structured, comprehensive metadata and data Data use does not require human intervention Tier 3 Discovery-enabling metadata structured in EML Data discovery integrated across network Access-enabling metadata structured in EML Data access is integrated across network Complete validated EML Data analysis is integrated across the network Future Outcome Semantic-based discovery through machine-based searches Data access through a knowledge-based query process Semi-automated knowledge extraction Percent of site data sets Tier 1: Discovery-level metadata Title, creator, contact, abstract, keywords Number of sites 21 responses

Tier 3: Access metadata Tiered Trajectory Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Discovery-level, entity, attribute Tiered Trajectory Discovery Access Usability Tier 1 Unstructured, online site catalog with minimal metadata Data discovery through manual searches Establish data access policy Data and metadata access requires human intervention Unstructured, machine-readable metadata and data Data use requires human intervention Tier 2 Online, enhanced metadata with consistent internal structure Data discovery through machine search Automated access to data Access to site data and metadata does not require human intervention Structured, comprehensive metadata and data Data use does not require human intervention Tier 3 Discovery-enabling metadata structured in EML Data discovery integrated across network Access-enabling metadata structured in EML Data access is integrated across network Complete validated EML Data analysis is integrated across the network Future Outcome Semantic-based discovery through machine-based searches Data access through a knowledge-based query process Semi-automated knowledge extraction Number of sites 21 responses Percent of site data sets

NISAC Assessment of EML Ecological Metadata Language EML implementation is critically important in developing generic tools to facilitate synthesis EML implementation is proceeding 71% of the sites plan to provide EML metadata for all or most data sets within the next 12 months (IM survey) Resources are needed Personnel/Training/Tools General IM consensus that maintaining EML will require minimal effort (after initial conversion)

ClimDB Temporal Coverage By Site Air temperature and precipitation 1869 1927 1931 1937 1955 1957 1957 Air temperature and precipitation 20 July 2004 1869 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2004

ClimDB Temporal Coverage By Site Air temperature and precipitation 1869 1927 1931 1983-2002 12 sites (50%) 1993-2002 20 sites (83%) 1937 1955 1957 1957 Air temperature and precipitation 20 July 2004 1869 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2004

ClimDB Temporal Coverage By Site Additional climate variables (Solar, wind, rel. humidity, soil temp., …) 1869 1927 1931 1989-2002 9 sites (38%) 1937 1955 1957 1957 Air temperature and precipitation Additional climate variables 20 July 2004 1869 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2004

ClimDB/HydroDB Status Possible next steps All 24 LTER sites are contributing to ClimDB 14 LTER sites are contributing to HydroDB Includes 260 stations and 6 million daily values Predominantly air temperature, precipitation, stream discharge Over 3300 plots generated or files downloaded since Feb 2003 Possible next steps Update station variables through 2003 Add more variables, e.g., RH, solar, wind, soil temp Add other representative stations Add historical data

NIS Direction and Content The NIS will provide the necessary expertise and other infrastructure to design and build science modules and other synthetic products NISAC will determine and agree on a process or series of processes for identifying new NIS science modules or network databases or additional components to existing network databases (e.g., ClimDB)

Proposed Process for Requesting New NIS Modules Open proposal process – proposals sent to LTER Exec Who proposes? Individuals Committees Standing committee Coordinating committee Executive committee Ad hoc committee Science synthesis theme group Ad hoc working groups NSF Partners – e.g. USFS, NASA, ILTER

Types of NIS Modules Administrative Network (general) e.g. personnel, email groups, bibliography Network (general) e.g. ClimDB, HydroDB, SiteDB Science question driven (specific) e.g. NPP, Disturbance Best practices documents e.g. EML, Websites, field methods Historic/Legacy datasets

Module Considerations Network resources required Open-ended updates vs completed datasets Software development Personnel Fraction of sites participating General vs specific question Raw data vs derived data

Strategies for NIS Development Improve the overall effectiveness of site information systems Enhance discovery and access of information across sites Enhance synthesis and integration of information across sites Leverage partnerships with other organizations to develop critical tools Promote interaction among CI developers, scientists, and information managers

IM Committee Input to Work Plans Network-wide data catalog and query interface EML implementation Site IM evaluation criteria Assess progress within the tiered trajectory Establish minimum site IM personnel resources Best practices documents Web site development, EML implementation Tool development Identify and prioritize critical tools, e.g., EML editors, query tools, data stream/sensor network management, web development Identify LNO resources for development/maintenance Partner with Cyberinfrastructure (CI) developers

Current Technology Issues Cyberinfrastructure and technology challenges: Spatial technologies, wireless networks, sensor technologies, real-time data processing, collaboration technologies, etc. How can these support LTER science? Convene LTER Technology Committee Partner with supercomputer centers, i.e., SDSC or NCSA