- Reclamation
- R&D
- Research Projects
- Geo-Library Reference Database Area Office Library Materials Accessible through an ArcIMS Interface
Geo-Library Reference Database Area Office Library Materials Accessible through an ArcIMS Interface
Project ID: 7751
Principal Investigator: Jeremy Dandron
Research Topic: Water Resource Data Analysis
Funded Fiscal Years:
2006,
2007 and
2008
Keywords: None
Research Question
* How can a geospatial referenced library database benefit Reclamation researchers and employee information needs to be more productive?
By combining the technological architectures of intranet Web mapping with a geolocated area office library (geolibrary), researchers will be able to acquire reference material about a specific subject by selecting its location from a Web map application. The project goal is to develop a prototype geolibrary Web map for research, analysis and development needs, while delivering reference material requested by the user, reducing the request time from hours to minutes. With the accessibility of a geolibrary, the regeneration of prior existing reference material about a specific location will be minimized. New reference material pertaining to a known location can be developed in a timelier manner. Manual research will be minimized due the storing of reference material in a digitized format and downloaded by the user from a geolocated library map.
Need and Benefit
Reclamation has several software tools available internally to develop a geolocated library but has yet to combine the tools to develop such a solution. The two software tools available to Reclamation are ArcIMS and area offices library databases under such architectures as Structured Query Language (SQL) Server and Oracle (Database Management Systems). ArcIMS is a solution for delivering dynamic maps and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data and services via the intranet. It provides a highly scalable framework for GIS Web publishing that meets the needs of Reclamation. Using ArcIMS, local, regional, Denver, and Washington Reclamation offices can discover and share geospatial information.
Assigning a map coordinate to each library reference with the library database will allow Reclamation users to geolocate reference material from a GIS map and query library references by polygons, points, and attributes. When the two architectures are combined, a Reclamation user will be able to pull up a map and request research material by clicking a map point. For example, an archeaologist will be able to click on a site and acquire what reference material has been written on the site subject such as reports, research, memos and pictures.
Combining the two architectures has yet to take place and is insufficient to adequately serve Reclamation's needs. Currently, Reclamation employees are conducting research by manually pulling the information from references materials provided to them in hard copy. With geolocated reference materials attached to easily accessible maps, all requested materials such as feasibility studies, technical reports, and reference maps can be accessed in a matter of minutes instead of hours.
This will be accomplished by combining the technological architectures of ArcIMS and a geolocated area office library (geolibrary). Researchers will be able to acquire reference material about a specific subject by selecting its location from a Web map application. With the accessibility of a geolibrary, the regeneration of prior existing reference material about a specific location will be minimized. New reference material pertaining to a known location can be developed in a timelier manner. Manual research will be minimized due the storing of reference material in a digitized format and downloaded by the user from a geolocated library map.
Contributing Partners
Contact the Principal Investigator for information about partners.
Research Products
Please contact research@usbr.gov about research products related to this project.
