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Accessing Geoenvironmental Data: From On-line to Expert Systems
Acces a Travers les Reseaux et Utilisation des Bases de Donnees en
Sciences de la Terre et de l'Espace
RESUME
Le developpement du reseau mondial informatique a favorise la creation et l'acces
a de nombreux systemes d'information et de banques de donnees. Ces dernieres
donnent l'opportunite aux usagers d'identifier, d'accCder, d'utiliser et de
comparer entre eUes les donnees venant de con trees lointaines. Il n' est pas
toujours aise de trouver les meilleures sources d'informations concernant un
probleme particulier. Pour ce faire, des annuaires ont ete developpes pendant
quelque temps mais de nouvelles methodes d'acces sont actuellement a ['etude
pour localiser l'information pertinente sur un reseau, et en particulier sur Ie
World-Wide Web. Il est cependant important qu'aujourd'hui il puisse y avoir une
coherence et des approches standards quant au contenu de l'information pour
une exploitation performante de {'information.
1 INTRODUCTION
Locating needed data and information among and within the many large databases
which now exist online is a formidable task. Data directories have existed for a
long time to help find useful data in a particular domain. In particular, an
International Directory Network (IDN) [1] was established in the Earth and space
sciences for this purpose. This system uses keyword searching techniques to access
databases where the information is stored in relational database management
software. It also provides automated connections to other information systems
which have detailed information about the data as well as the data themselves.
Other methods such as Gopher, Wide Area Information Servers (WAIS), WorldWide Web (WWW), MOSAIC, etc., are available which allow free text searching of
textual databases. They offer additional capabilities for visualization and hypertext
linking which help to get the user to the data. These tools were made to be used
across the entire range of information available over the network, both
bibliographic and data-oriented, so it is sometimes difficult to narrow the search
down to a topic, such as specific interests in the Earth and space sciences.
A hybrid approach which uses both controlled keyword and free text searching is
sometimes necessary. The variety of tools available can be daunting to a user.
Which will serve the need best? How many types of systems should a user have to
learn to access and use to assure a comprehensive search? Ideally an untrained
user should be able to use any of the systems from the start in a simple and
common approach.
Searches often lead to information systems which have existed for a long time and
offer very specific information and capabilities for accessing data. Testing is being
done to make existing information systems easier to use in conjunction with each
other.
One technique, context passing, allows a file of information to be passed to
another information system as the user is being transferred to that system. This
information file can then be employed to aid the user in searching for useful
information.
Accessing Geoenvironmental Data: From On-line to Expert Systems
Acces a Travers les Reseaux et Utilisation des Bases de Donnees en
Sciences de la Terre et de l'Espace
RESUME
Le developpement du reseau mondial informatique a favorise la creation et l'acces
a de nombreux systemes d'information et de banques de donnees. Ces dernieres
donnent l'opportunite aux usagers d'identifier, d'accCder, d'utiliser et de
comparer entre eUes les donnees venant de con trees lointaines. Il n' est pas
toujours aise de trouver les meilleures sources d'informations concernant un
probleme particulier. Pour ce faire, des annuaires ont ete developpes pendant
quelque temps mais de nouvelles methodes d'acces sont actuellement a ['etude
pour localiser l'information pertinente sur un reseau, et en particulier sur Ie
World-Wide Web. Il est cependant important qu'aujourd'hui il puisse y avoir une
coherence et des approches standards quant au contenu de l'information pour
une exploitation performante de {'information.
1 INTRODUCTION
Locating needed data and information among and within the many large databases
which now exist online is a formidable task. Data directories have existed for a
long time to help find useful data in a particular domain. In particular, an
International Directory Network (IDN) [1] was established in the Earth and space
sciences for this purpose. This system uses keyword searching techniques to access
databases where the information is stored in relational database management
software. It also provides automated connections to other information systems
which have detailed information about the data as well as the data themselves.
Other methods such as Gopher, Wide Area Information Servers (WAIS), WorldWide Web (WWW), MOSAIC, etc., are available which allow free text searching of
textual databases. They offer additional capabilities for visualization and hypertext
linking which help to get the user to the data. These tools were made to be used
across the entire range of information available over the network, both
bibliographic and data-oriented, so it is sometimes difficult to narrow the search
down to a topic, such as specific interests in the Earth and space sciences.
A hybrid approach which uses both controlled keyword and free text searching is
sometimes necessary. The variety of tools available can be daunting to a user.
Which will serve the need best? How many types of systems should a user have to
learn to access and use to assure a comprehensive search? Ideally an untrained
user should be able to use any of the systems from the start in a simple and
common approach.
Searches often lead to information systems which have existed for a long time and
offer very specific information and capabilities for accessing data. Testing is being
done to make existing information systems easier to use in conjunction with each
other.
One technique, context passing, allows a file of information to be passed to
another information system as the user is being transferred to that system. This
information file can then be employed to aid the user in searching for useful
information.