Project Number: 3625-12130-005-07
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 26, 2007
End Date: Dec 31, 2010

Objective:
1) Provide support to the existing CEAP database effort in acquiring and vetting watershed data to gain an understanding of the extent and complexity of the conservation-research data that exists at a variety of research locations. Possible locations may include CEAP watersheds (Cropland & Grazing Lands), REAP, and GRACEnet locations. 2) Provide website design and development support with the primary effort in acquiring research data, GIS data, and research metadata from watershed data producers; and, populating web pages with acquired content. 3) Provide additional support the ArcGIS Server-based CEAP data delivery system through system development and system configuration skills. 4) Examine additional data visualization techniques and delivery opportunities with a focus on Google Earth using web-based data management techniques and programming skills. 5) Provide support to the development of web-casts and other informative sessions to assist data producers in moving their data into the database system.

Approach:
This project facilitates on-going development and enhanced functionality for web-based research information management systems, such as, the STEWARDS (Sustaining the Earth¿s Watersheds, Agricultural Research Data System) database. The STEWARDS database has been developed to enable users to search, visualize, and download agricultural research data from CEAP watersheds. Personnel assigned to this project will work with NSTL information management staff and CEAP, REAP, and GRACEnet scientists at the ARS research watersheds to populate databases with agricultural research data in a timely manner, provide programmatic support to the development of web-based data delivery systems, and develop educational tools for research personnel. In addition, programming and data visualization techniques will be developed for retrieval, display, and downloading of data by Agency and non-Agency scientists to help quantify the short- and long-term benefits of conservation practices throughout the nation.