UNIT 32: MANAGING DIGITAL LIBRARIES

Example Application

St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), which is responsible for water quality, water quantity, natural resource protection, and flood control within an approximately 12,600 square mile region in northeast and central Florida, has formally implemented a Geographic Information System to facilitate its data collection, analysis, and presentation projects. In support of the GIS, a set of standard base data layers has been identified and is to be managed within a digital library called the GIS Library Database. All GIS users in the agency are to be given easy, efficient, and reliable access to validated, standardized, and documented geospatial data layers within this database. GIS data sets specific to departmental users are to be organized within the same structure as the GIS Library Database, but will be managed within their respective departments.

The scientists in the Department of Water Resources want to build a library in which all finished data layers are to be managed. The initial data layers are Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, Water Quality Sampling Sites, and Project Areas of Interest. The existing enterprise GIS Library Database structure and GIS data management strategies provide the following guidelines for inserting data layers into the Water Resources GIS Library Database.

1. Data layers must be technically correct.
2. Data layer content and spatial properties must have been validated.
3. Data layer standard documentation must be present.
4. Available tiling schemes are based on regular and irregular polygons.
• USGS Quadrangle Boundaries (regular)
• Political Unit Boundaries (irregular)
5. Available system locations for GIS library data layers are currently distributed among the users, but centralization is planned.
6. Sharing data with staff and external requestors is encouraged.

Project Managers, GIS Analysts, and GIS Technicians are responsible for developing the data according to standard operating procedures. The Water Resources GIS database custodian will be responsible for verifying that each data layer has been fully validated, standardized, and documented before posting it in the department's library database. The District GIS database administrator designs, tests, and assists in propagating the library structure in the departments. The administrator is also responsible for assisting users to access and utilize the data in an informed manner.

Learning Outcomes

The following list describes the expected skills which students should master for each level of training, i.e. Awareness/Competency/Mastery.

Awareness:

The learning goals of this section are to achieve a general understanding of digital library design and implementation, the benefits to users and a working knowledge of digital library management vocabulary.

Competency:

The learning goals of this section are to develop the ability to create a tile structure, add a data layer, and then access it as a user.

Mastery:

The learning goals of this section are to be able to design, implement, and maintain a digital, geospatial library.

Preparatory Units

Recommended:

1. Unit 7 - Using and interpreting metadata
2. Unit 30 - Validate databases
3. Unit 31 - Manage database files
4. Unit 34 - Pre/Post overlay tasks / Types of overlay operations
5. Unit 35 - Point/Line in polygon operations
6. Unit 41 - Using boolean search techniques
7. Unit 47 - Prepare materials for on-screen visualization

Complementary:

1. Unit 20 - Use text editors
2. Unit 26 - Edit point data
3. Unit 27 - Edit linear data
4. Unit 28 - Edit polygon data
   

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Awareness

Learning Objectives:

1. Student can define basic terms relating to digital library management.
2. Student can explain the types of operations that relate to digital library management.
3. Student can explain digital library management schemes which are unique to particular data models, i.e. vector and raster.
4. If software will be used, student can describe the commands in the software which relate to managing digital libraries.
5. Student can explain how data users benefit by the availability of managed digital libraries.
6. Student can describe a real application of digital library management and its implementation.

Vocabulary

• area of interest
• client/server
• data access
• data layer
• data set
• data theme
• raster data
• system architecture
• tiling system
• topology
• vector data

Topics

1. Unit Concepts
   
   Data management capabilities and methods may vary widely among software systems.

• Name of the digital library management software
• Type(s) of data managed by the software
• Procedures employed by the software
• Commands or menu choices and their respective parameters
• Pre-processing steps which facilitate library management procedures

Competency

Learning Objectives:

1. Student will be able to organize vector data in a library structure.
• Create a new map library.
• Create a new layer in the map library.
• Add data to the new layer.
2. Student will be able to organize raster data in a library structure.
• Create a new image catalog.
• Add data to the catalog.

Generic List of Tasks

• For vector data:
• Choose tile structure
• Choose computer system location for data
• Create a new map library
• Create a new layer in the map library
• Add the data into map library
• Test for successful completion
• For raster data:
• Choose computer system location for data
• Create image catalog
• Add image information to catalog
• Test for successful completion

Insertion Tasks

1. Read the instructions provided with the management software.
2. View descriptions of the layer to be inserted. Check to be certain that it has passed all verification tests.
3. Look at the layer using on-screen visualization capabilities. Compare the layer location with the tile structure location.
4. Prepare a list of the tiles in which the data will reside.
5. Test for adequate disk space in the intended system location and in the data processing location.
6. Insert the data.
7. Test for successful completion.

Example Implementation

Mastery

Learning Objectives:

1. Student will be able to identify appropriate and inappropriate situations for including GIS data in digital libraries.
2. Student will be able to specify hardware and software parameters necessary to support digital libraries.
3. Student will be able to provide training, consulting and troubleshooting services to others in relation to digital library management.

Generic List of Tasks

1. Assess and organize a given superset of GIS data layers for management within digital libraries.
2. Design hardware and software environment for managing the digital library.
3. Design standard operating procedures and training documentation which describe specific steps necessary to implement and maintain the digital library.

Follow-up Units

Suggested:

1. Unit 52- Implementing and Managing GIS
2. Unit 53 - Communicating about and distributing GIS products
3. Unit xx - Geography for Technical GIS
4. Unit xx - Computer Skills for Technical GIS

Resources

A list of GIS Resources.