North Coast Explorer: A Natural Resources Digital Library Renee Davis-Born and Kuuipo Walsh Institute for Natural Resources Oregon State University Oregon State University

Purpose of the Website An interactive website providing information about Oregon coastal watersheds and the species inhabiting them

Collaborators Created through a partnership between the Institute for Natural Resources and OSU Libraries, along with technical support from the University of Oregon and the Oregon Department of Fish and WildlifeCreated through a partnership between the Institute for Natural Resources and OSU Libraries, along with technical support from the University of Oregon and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Ongoing support (i.e., maintenance, hosting) provided by OSUOngoing support (i.e., maintenance, hosting) provided by OSU Financial support from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board – legislative direction to coordinate data and make natural resource information available to the publicFinancial support from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board – legislative direction to coordinate data and make natural resource information available to the public

Target Audience Citizens and decision makers actively involved in natural resource use, policy and planningCitizens and decision makers actively involved in natural resource use, policy and planning Involved a representative user group in the design and development processInvolved a representative user group in the design and development process

Key Information Needs 1. 1.Regional trends and current status of salmonids and other native fish species 2. 2.Regional trends and current status of land use and stream habitats 3. 3.Human caused barriers to fish passage and locations of currently inaccessible habitat 4. 4.Areas of greatest intrinsic potential for production of salmonids USERS NEED DATA, TOOLS AND EXPERTISE!

Design and Usability Users can search for and download informationUsers can search for and download information Information organized byInformation organized by 1.Content type 2.Content theme 3.Spatial footprint Menus mirror content organization

Classifying Content All content tagged by topic and spatial keywordsAll content tagged by topic and spatial keywords Uses hierarchical classification systemUses hierarchical classification system TOPIC EXAMPLE Fish  Coho Salmon  Observation/Habitat Direct Take SPATIAL EXAMPLE 4 th Field Watersheds  Alsea Necanicum Necanicum

Different Ways to Access Information

Users can browse multi-media stories to learn about various topics and understand the context of their decision-making Stories to Help People Learn

Technology Used ASP.NET database driven web application – All page content pulled from database upon menu selections and searchesASP.NET database driven web application – All page content pulled from database upon menu selections and searches Provides topic-Provides topic- Search by content type and topic classification (Coho Salmon) and place-based searching

Advanced Search Free Text Place Categories Topic Categories Content Categories

Functionality and Tools Special tools for: Mapping and web-based GIS Interactive report generation (statistics) Submission to the Explorer Digital Library via Discussion Forum (used very little) Administration

Mapping / Web-Based GIS Technology ESRI ArcIMS back-endESRI ArcIMS back-end Moximedia IMF (Internet Mapping Framework) front-end ( IMF (Internet Mapping Framework) front-end ( oJava Server Page-based application for creating web interfaces for ArcIMS oSends and receives ESRI ArcXML

Mapping Tools Pre-made mapsPre-made maps Mapping Tool Wizard for novice users (average number of maps generated per day ranges from 6 to 41 for the Oregon Explorer basin-level portals)Mapping Tool Wizard for novice users (average number of maps generated per day ranges from 6 to 41 for the Oregon Explorer basin-level portals) Advanced Mapping Tool for those familiar with GIS mapping (average number ranges from 5 to 107)Advanced Mapping Tool for those familiar with GIS mapping (average number ranges from 5 to 107)

Intrinsic Potential for Coho Salmon Production Mapping Tool Wizard

Data in the Mapping Tool

Statistical Reporting Tool 1.A statistic to report 2.Time period(s) 3.Location(s) For datasets where data can be ingested into the North Coast Explorer database, users can use a multi- step, interactive wizard to create custom tables and graphs of data by selecting:

Riparian Restoration Projects

Administration Tools Provide login protected web tools for Adding/removing content recordsAdding/removing content records Classifying content (i.e., topic, place, and content type)Classifying content (i.e., topic, place, and content type)

Data Accessibility Based on OSU’s Natural Resources Digital Library, the Oregon Explorer Based on OSU’s Natural Resources Digital Library, the Oregon Explorer Users can easily search for and explore metadata, data and information Users can easily search for and explore metadata, data and information Used Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting to acquire metadata held elsewhere Used Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting to acquire metadata held elsewhere

Limitations to Data Accessibility At present, many data are manually entered into the Explorer databases from other sources. At present, many data are manually entered into the Explorer databases from other sources. Evolving focus is on distributed networks. Evolving focus is on distributed networks. Open archives harvesting needs to be expanded to access other spatial and relational data. Open archives harvesting needs to be expanded to access other spatial and relational data. New Explorer projects will expand tools to allow harvesting of data where they are maintained. New Explorer projects will expand tools to allow harvesting of data where they are maintained.

Data Ownership / Stewardship OSU Libraries intends to provide a single point of access to data being maintained elsewhere in the public domain, but serves as the steward for OSU generated data and external “orphan” data.OSU Libraries intends to provide a single point of access to data being maintained elsewhere in the public domain, but serves as the steward for OSU generated data and external “orphan” data. Access to copyright protected materials and sensitive data must be addressed.Access to copyright protected materials and sensitive data must be addressed. Solving the accessibility problem via distributed networks will help address concerns about ownership and duplication.Solving the accessibility problem via distributed networks will help address concerns about ownership and duplication.

Keys to Success Provide useful information Give sense of significance Combine power with ease of use

For more information… Renee Davis-Born, Oregon Explorer basin portal project manager, renee.davis- Renee Davis-Born, Oregon Explorer basin portal project manager, renee.davis- Kuuipo Walsh, Oregon Explorer GIS Specialist, Kuuipo Walsh, Oregon Explorer GIS Specialist, North Coast Explorer URL

Keeping Track of Classifications Records in content tables associated with classification trees through a memberships table Reports And Publications Table Memberships Table Classification Categories Table