Using HIS - Managing Data

The CUAHSI HIS Server has been designed to enhance the capability for actively managing data within an environmental observatory or experimental watershed. The data workflow process, centered on the observations data model (ODM) relational database is schematically illustrated below.

Raw data is first captured through it being loaded into ODM. This achieves a key requirement to first preserve the raw data. The standard format of ODM has enabled the development of tools designed to provide additional data processing, quality control and analysis capability, thereby providing justification and benefit to a user for putting the data in the system. The data management system is designed to provide the following functionality:

• First capture and preserve the raw data.
• Facilitate data processing, including quality control checking, perhaps adjusting or deleting spurious or incorrect values, and deriving higher level information from raw or lower level data.
• Preserve metadata so that there is a traceable heritage from raw measurements to useable information.
• Store sufficient metadata so that data can be unambiguously interpreted and used.
• Maintain semantically consistent controlled vocabulary metadata to enhance consistency between data stored in different HIS Servers.

ODM Data Management Tools and Resources

• Observations Data Model (ODM) schema and documentation
• ODM Tools— an application that allows data managers and ODM users to query, export, visualize, summarize, and edit data that is stored in an ODM database.
• ODM Streaming Data Loader— a tool for for streaming continuously measured sensor data into an ODM database. The Streaming Data Loader takes as input datalogger files and loads them into ODM in near real time as they are updated by a telemetry system.
• ODM Data Loader— an application for loading data from simple text or spreadsheet files into an ODM database.
• Updating the Master Controlled Vocabulary System— promotes consistency between different instances of the ODM through a moderated system for requesting changes to the master ODM controlled vocabularies. Once changes are accepted, ODM tools provides functionality to reconcile local controlled vocabularies in local ODM instances with master controlled vocabularies.

Updating the Master Controlled Vocabulary System

The master controlled vocabulary system has been developed to promote consistency between different instances of the ODM using a moderated approach for changing the Master Controlled Vocabulary Database. The Master Controlled Vocabulary Registry displays the master controlled vocabulary entries and allows users to request additions or changes to these.

Changes that you request will be forwarded to the master controlled vocabulary moderators who will attend to requests as promptly as possible. When you submit a request, you should receive an email verifying that you request has been received. When your request is approved, you should also receive an email confirmation. If you have a request that cannot be accommodated on this website, please contact the ODM controlled vocabulary moderators:

David Tarboton Utah State University david.tarboton<AT>usu.edu

Michael Piasecki Drexel University mp29<AT>drexel.edu

Users may then update their local ODM controlled vocabulary tables from this master set using the Update Controlled Vocabulary tool in ODM Tools. ODM Tools makes use of the Master Controlled Vocabulary Web Services to return the current terms from the Master Controlled Vocabulary Database to update your local ODM controlled vocabulary tables.

Master Controlled Vocabulary Resources

• Master CV Registry
• Master CV Database
• Master CV Web Services
• ODM Tools