Relational databases as a tool to manage environmental data at the research plot scale Tyler Erickson Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research University of Colorado Deborah Donahue Data Manager, Snow Hydrology Research Group Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management University of California

Q: Why Relational Databases? A: To Manage Large Data Sets

Storage Choices Field notes –Good for data collection –Difficult to share

Storage Choices Field notes The bookshelf

Storage Choices Field notes The bookshelf The file cabinet

Storage Choices Field notes The bookshelf The file cabinet Etc.

Distributable Storage Choices Text data files –Most flexible; easy to set up & distribute –Difficult for analysis

Distributable Storage Choices Text data files Spreadsheets –Good for analysis –Inflexible distribution

Distributable Storage Choices Text data files Spreadsheets Database –Best for large high- dimensional datasets; flexible distribution –Work intensive to set up & maintain

Distributable Storage Choices Text data files Spreadsheets Database GIS –Best for spatial data –Uses a relational database

It’s 4pm and you are somewhere near Granby, Colorado… Do you know where your data are?

Data in Need of a Database Data Characteristics –Large volume –Constant format –Need for sharing

Designing a Database Data Modeling 1.Identifying related entities Sample locations, spatial extent, sampling methods, recorded data, data quality, topography… 2.Determining relationships between entities

Relationships CARDINALITY: Defines the numeric relationships between occurrences of the entities One-to-One –(one member to one home address) One-to-Many –(one region/state/province to many members) Many-to-Many –(many members to many papers)

Example: Keeping Track of the WSC

Example Table Data

(MMSA Example)

Database Information System

Other Examples EPA

Other Examples EPA USGS Surface Water

Other Examples EPA USGS Surface Water Snotel

Summary Relational databases can be overkill for small data sets. Relational databases are a good choice for large data sets with a consistent format, that need to be distributed to many users.

Acknowledgments NASA-EOS Mammoth Mountain Energy Balance Monitoring Site