|
 An
objective of this National Facilitation Project is to
develop a template for local data sharing and internet
learning. To work towards this task, an online database
has been created and is being tested with the Water
Action Volunteers (WAV) Program in Wisconsin. It is
accessible at: http://clean-water.uwex.edu/wav/datagate.htm.
In the first year of this project the database underwent
a number of changes. These changes were based on input
about data entry techniques and querying capabilities
of the database from personnel who completed data entry
during an initial test phase. They increased both the
user-friendliness and data collection, storage and querying
capabilities of the database.
In the second year of this project (October 2001-September
2002), the database went 'live'. As of April 2003, there
are 20 registered data entry coordinators, 148 monitoring
sites, and nearly 1500 sample dates worth of data entered
into the system. Metadata were added to the WAV website
which indicate who collect the data included in the
database, the methods used to determine the data, the
length of time each participating program has collected
data, the units in which each parameter is measured,
the range of each parameter, and a description of each
parameter as it is listed in search results. These metadata
can be accessed at http://clean-water.uwex.edu/wav/datadescribe.htm.
The database has undergone continued development
during year 2 in order to meet data entry coordinator
and database searchers' recommendations. For a complete
list of updates to the system, contact Kris
Stepenuck.
During year 3 of this project, our goals are to research
existing databases for other volunteer monitoring programs
across the nation and to discuss a number of questions
related to database development with administrators
of these databases. We plan to share our research results
with our constituents in order to help promote efficient
and successful database development in programs across
the nation.
|
