Developing a National Fisheries Data Exchange Standard

AFS
2015 Portland Developing a National Fisheries Data Exchange Standard
Jennifer M. Bayer, U.S. Geological Survey
Thomas Litts, Georgia DNR
Janice Gordon, U.S. Geological Survey
Katherine Pierson, U.S. Geological Survey
Why are we here, today?
•Data issues:
•Inconsistent taxonomic formatting
•Scientific names (mis‐parenting)
•History (splitters and aggregators)
•Geography
•Data/Collection methods don’t support desired analysis/use
Fisheries data standards – a new idea?
•1998 National Freshwater Fisheries Database Summit
•2002 National Fish and Wildlife Database Summit
•2006 National Fisheries Data Summit – NFHAP Focus
•Reports available at www.fisdata.org/reports
Summit Objectives ‐ Common
•Improve coordination and communication between database managers;
•Enhance collaboration and exchange of data among states, federal agencies and other organizations;
•Explore how federal agencies and states can work together to advance state fisheries information systems.
The Charge
Initiative to advance the development and adoption of common standards that facilitate
the compatibility of core fisheries data for the purposes of exchange data between collectors and others interested using these data.
Bottom Line:
Make it easier to exchange fisheries data
The Workgroup
Member
Affiliation
Thomas Litts*
GA DNR, AFS‐Fisheries Information Technology Section
Andrea Ostroff*
US Geological Survey – Core Science Analytics, Synthesis & Libraries
Jennifer Bayer*
USGS, Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership
Andrew Loftus*
Loftus Consulting, AFS‐Fisheries Information Technology Section
Julie Defilippi*
Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program
Mike Banach*
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission ‐ StreamNet
Brodie Cox
Washington Division of Fish & Wildlife
Janice Gordon*
US Geological Survey – Core Science Analytics, Synthesis & Libraries
Jeff Kopaska
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Rebecca Krogman*
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Rick Lorenzen
Minnesota DNR
Pete Ruhl*
US Geological Survey – BioData
Mike Siepker*
Missouri Department of Conservation
Jeff Smith*
USGS affiliated
Daniel Wieferich*
NFHP and Michigan State University
*Participated
in face to
face working
meeting
What’s the goal?
o Database standards
Common practices that ensure the consistency and effectiveness of the database environment
o Data model
Formal structured representation of real‐world entities focused on the definition of an object and its associated attributes
 Data exchange standard
Documented semantics / definitions of common data and elements
Past, Present, Future? of the Web
2014 Efforts
2006 Summit
Focus on the semantics of the data we exchange mechanisms and processes for assembling and transferring needed data
• web services for integration
• Identifying key data transfer standards 1998 Summit
Improve databases and database access
The Semantics
Semantics = Meaning
Primary standard goal/hurdle is agreement on meaning
Semantics/Standard ‐ Example
What does this mean?
Semantics/Standard ‐ Example
Semantics/Standard ‐ Example
The Process
Determine scope Define core concepts
Iterative Fisheries Community Review
Agreement of core concepts
Analyze existing data systems
Develop tiered concept map
Determine scope
Determine
scope
core freshwater fisheries data semantics of data exchange
Analyze existing systems
Workgroup – Start at the core
Most inclusive concepts
Selected Inclusive Core Concepts
•
•
•
•
•
Who‐ Data agent
What‐ Organism(s)
When‐ Event Date
Where‐ Location
Why/How
Remain flexible to enable data exchange among as many users as possible
So What is a Fisheries Data Exchange Standard?
•Terms / Elements| species, number collected, date… •Vocabulary | gear types, taxonomic names ….
•Syntax and Exchange mechanism (XML, Semantic Web..)
<wml2:temporalExtent>
<gml:TimePeriod gml:id="Ki.TsTime.1">
<gml:beginPosition>1990‐09‐01T00:00:00.000+01:00</gml:beginPosition>
<gml:endPosition>1990‐09‐30T00:00:00.000+01:00</gml:endPosition>
</gml:TimePeriod>
</wml2:temporalExtent>
2006 Summit Data Standards Categorized
Water quality data standards ‐ EPA Fisheries data standards and standard sampling protocols ‐ AFS Standard Sampling Methods – Start here?
Hydrologic data standards – WaterML 2.0 (Exchange Standard)
Habitat data standards and standard sampling methods – EPA
Taxonomic standards ‐ Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Geo‐referencing standards –GeographyML ((GML )Exchange Standard)
Units of measurements standards –Date / Time (ISO)
Darwin Core standards‐ Biodiversity Data (Extendible)
Database standards – Is there a Need for a Model Database?
Beg, borrow, and steal
Involve experts from existing standards
Use or extend existing standards when it makes sense (e.g. Darwin Core, GML, WML, ITIS)
 Not repeat others’ work
 Connect with other data from other communities of practice
 Contribute our work to a greater community
Where do we go from here? A cycle…
Determine scope Involve experts from existing standards
Define core concepts
Iterative Fisheries Community Review
Agreement of core concepts
Analyze existing data systems
Develop tiered concept map
Next steps
• Develop a webinar series to increase participation
• Identify and compile existing definitions
• Develop a home on the FITS website (provide a home for feedback)