Relational databases as a tool to manage environmental data at the

research plot scale

Tyler EricksonInstitute of Arctic and Alpine Research

University of Colorado

Deborah DonahueData Manager, Snow Hydrology Research Group

Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management

University of California

Q: Why Relational Databases?

A: To Manage Large Data Sets

Storage Choices

• Field notes– Good for data

collection

– Difficult to share

Storage Choices

• Field notes • The bookshelf

Storage Choices

• Field notes

• The bookshelf• The file cabinet

Storage Choices

• Field notes

• The bookshelf• The file cabinet• Etc.

Distributable Storage Choices

• Text data files– Most flexible; easy to

set up & distribute– Difficult for analysis

Distributable Storage Choices

• Text data files• Spreadsheets

– Good for analysis– Inflexible distribution

Distributable Storage Choices

• Text data files• Spreadsheets• Database

– Best for large high-dimensional datasets; flexible distribution

– Work intensive to set up & maintain

Distributable Storage Choices

• Text data files• Spreadsheets• Database• GIS

– Best for spatial data– Uses a relational

database

It’s 4pm and you are somewhere near Granby, Colorado…

Do you know where your data are?

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

Data in Need of a Database

• Data Characteristics– Large volume– Constant format– Need for sharing

Designing a Database

Data Modeling1. Identifying related entities

• Sample locations, spatial extent, sampling methods, recorded data, data quality, topography…

2. Determining relationships between entities

Relationships

CARDINALITY: Defines the numeric relationships between occurrences of the entities

• One-to-One– (one member to one home address)

• One-to-Many– (one region/state/province to many members)

• Many-to-Many– (many members to many papers)

Example: Keeping Track of the WSC

Example Table Data

(MMSA Example)

Database Information System

Database Information System

Database Information System

Database Information System

Database Information System

Other Examples

• EPA

http://www.epa.gov/storet/

Other Examples

• EPA

• USGS Surface Water

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/sw

Other Examples

• EPA

• USGS Surface Water

• Snotel

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/snotel.html

Summary

• Relational databases can be overkill for small data sets.

• Relational databases are a good choice for large data sets with a consistent format, that need to be distributed to many users.

Acknowledgments

• NASA-EOS

• Mammoth MountainEnergy Balance Monitoring Sitehttp://neige.bren.ucsb.edu/mmsa/