Data Management of Proxy Parameters with PANGAEA
721
servers of the various external institutes (remote
sites) running the sub-server and front-end software. A number of clients, which are the personal
computers of the scientists, can be connected
through the local network to the sub-server of their
related institute. To increase the access speed all
meta-information is mirrored on each local subserver. The mutual update of newly imported metainformation is made in the background through the
network between SQL-server and sub-servers.
When clients are connected directly to the SQLserver, the meta-information is mirrored on the client itself. Access to the full functionality and the
import of data is only possible through the frontend software. A web interface is provided to supply read-only access on all metadata and on analytical data with the status 'published' via the World
Wide Web (http://www.pangaea.de).
As a first step, the main institutes working in the
field of paleoceanography in Germany (GeologicalPalaeontological Institute, Kiel; GEOMAR, Kiel;
Department of Geosciences, Bremen) were connected with the central PANGAEA server at the
A WI. Further remote installations for other institutions in Germany and Europe are in progress.
Tests of the client/server connections of
PANGAEA through the Internet have shown that
the transfer rates would allow the system to run in
Europe with only one SQL-server.
The SQL-server is a DEC Alpha 8200 (four
processors,2 GB internal memory, 50 GB hard disk
capacity) running SYBASE Version 11 under
DECIUNIX as the database management software. The client software for access to the
server was written in 4th Dimension (4D, ACI);
the WWW-clientisaJAVA-applet.4Dhastheopportunity to design a graphical user interface and
allows optional compilation of the front-end software code for the two main operating systems
found in personal computers (Macintosh OS,
Windows).
The client software was modularized into a
database front-end together with tools developed
individually for processing specific data sets. The
modularization and open environment facilitates the
future adaptation of the system. The entry requirements for handling the software are low because
the functionality is uniform for all tables and tools.
Updates of the 4D front-end software only have
to be made on the sub-servers, so that the client
software on the PCs is not affected by the update
procedure.
The system requirements for running
PANGAEA at an institute are an Internet connection and a fast Macintosh or Windows computer
with at least 80 MB of RAM, which has to be used
for storing the mirrored meta-information. For
sub-server systems, additional licenses for the 4D
server software are needed, depending on the
number of clients.
PANGAEA Tools
The import of meta-data is organized through predefined form tables which are available for the
import of references, cruises, stations/sites and
curatorial information. Analytical data are imported
via simple tabulator delimited text tables with the
name or the PANGAEA-ID of a specific parameter in the header of the input matrix. Meta-information related to the data (method, owner, comments) have to be defined before the import and
are also updated during the import procedure.
The retrieval tool for finding and extracting data
from the system is uniformly designed for all levels and allows the use of complex combinable
search criteria relevant to the desired data. Data
can be exported as tables or plotted with one of the
graphics tools. Tables can be sorted and configured
individually. Multiple data sets can either consist of
different parameters, measured on one site or a
single parameter from different sites; analytical data
can be combined with any meta-data.
For the geographical presentation of data the
PANGAEA tool PanMap was developed, which
is either directly connected to the database frontend or can be used as a stand-alone application (Fig.
4). PanMap can be called directly by the user to
draw sampling sites in a geographical context after selecting the required data set with the retrieval
tool. Sites can be labeled with meta-data as well
as analytical data. After calling PanMap from
PANGAEA, the software is automatically started,
data are exported from the database, imported by
the mapping software and plotted in a default map.
Maps can be configured with different projections,
721
servers of the various external institutes (remote
sites) running the sub-server and front-end software. A number of clients, which are the personal
computers of the scientists, can be connected
through the local network to the sub-server of their
related institute. To increase the access speed all
meta-information is mirrored on each local subserver. The mutual update of newly imported metainformation is made in the background through the
network between SQL-server and sub-servers.
When clients are connected directly to the SQLserver, the meta-information is mirrored on the client itself. Access to the full functionality and the
import of data is only possible through the frontend software. A web interface is provided to supply read-only access on all metadata and on analytical data with the status 'published' via the World
Wide Web (http://www.pangaea.de).
As a first step, the main institutes working in the
field of paleoceanography in Germany (GeologicalPalaeontological Institute, Kiel; GEOMAR, Kiel;
Department of Geosciences, Bremen) were connected with the central PANGAEA server at the
A WI. Further remote installations for other institutions in Germany and Europe are in progress.
Tests of the client/server connections of
PANGAEA through the Internet have shown that
the transfer rates would allow the system to run in
Europe with only one SQL-server.
The SQL-server is a DEC Alpha 8200 (four
processors,2 GB internal memory, 50 GB hard disk
capacity) running SYBASE Version 11 under
DECIUNIX as the database management software. The client software for access to the
server was written in 4th Dimension (4D, ACI);
the WWW-clientisaJAVA-applet.4Dhastheopportunity to design a graphical user interface and
allows optional compilation of the front-end software code for the two main operating systems
found in personal computers (Macintosh OS,
Windows).
The client software was modularized into a
database front-end together with tools developed
individually for processing specific data sets. The
modularization and open environment facilitates the
future adaptation of the system. The entry requirements for handling the software are low because
the functionality is uniform for all tables and tools.
Updates of the 4D front-end software only have
to be made on the sub-servers, so that the client
software on the PCs is not affected by the update
procedure.
The system requirements for running
PANGAEA at an institute are an Internet connection and a fast Macintosh or Windows computer
with at least 80 MB of RAM, which has to be used
for storing the mirrored meta-information. For
sub-server systems, additional licenses for the 4D
server software are needed, depending on the
number of clients.
PANGAEA Tools
The import of meta-data is organized through predefined form tables which are available for the
import of references, cruises, stations/sites and
curatorial information. Analytical data are imported
via simple tabulator delimited text tables with the
name or the PANGAEA-ID of a specific parameter in the header of the input matrix. Meta-information related to the data (method, owner, comments) have to be defined before the import and
are also updated during the import procedure.
The retrieval tool for finding and extracting data
from the system is uniformly designed for all levels and allows the use of complex combinable
search criteria relevant to the desired data. Data
can be exported as tables or plotted with one of the
graphics tools. Tables can be sorted and configured
individually. Multiple data sets can either consist of
different parameters, measured on one site or a
single parameter from different sites; analytical data
can be combined with any meta-data.
For the geographical presentation of data the
PANGAEA tool PanMap was developed, which
is either directly connected to the database frontend or can be used as a stand-alone application (Fig.
4). PanMap can be called directly by the user to
draw sampling sites in a geographical context after selecting the required data set with the retrieval
tool. Sites can be labeled with meta-data as well
as analytical data. After calling PanMap from
PANGAEA, the software is automatically started,
data are exported from the database, imported by
the mapping software and plotted in a default map.
Maps can be configured with different projections,