decentralized qa/qc for naturebib

Natural Resource Program Center

Decentralized QA/QCfor NatureBib

How good is good enough?

Kathy DratchNRPC, NatureBib Data Manager

2008 GIS / Data Management Conference


What is NatureBib?• One of the 12 natural resource inventories

of the Natural Resource Challenge program

• Goal: to provide scientific information to improve the management of natural resources in the parks

• Intended to be a bibliography, not necessarily a catalog

• Currently has about 300,000 records


Natural Resource Challenge Inventory Criteria

Must produce “core” or baseline informationInitial bulk load of records January 2001

Specified protocols and QA standardsProtocols and standards have evolved

Data must be compatible and allow for synthesis and analysis at broader levelsMaster web-based database; now on second version of user interface


What is cited in NatureBib?1. Journal articles and published reports2. Conference papers and proceedings3. Theses, books and book chapters4. Maps5. Unpublished reports (grey literature)6. Correspondence (letters and memos)7. Videotapes8. Collections (rocks, photographs, files)9. Datasets


The things that make NatureBib unique

can also create QA/QC challenges• Gathers information under a park code• Journal articles and conference papers as

well as books and reports• Includes grey literature• Record creation allowed with minimal

metadata• Holdings not required


Data Collection

• Everything in file cabinets, closets and offices

• Holdings of a resource library in a park

• Search results from a commercial online database or regional library catalog


Is this draft report still in the 2nd

drawer?• Draft report on the status of the Little Kern

golden trout.• WR-SEKI / Sequoia and Kings Canyon

National Parks, Resource Management Office, Wildlife Biologist's Office, walk in closet, gray file cabinet on the left, 2nd drawer, in a folder labeled "N1621 - Golden Trout Cooperative Plans 1970-1974"


Variety is the spice (or headache)

• 1900. Author unknown. Black-and-white photos extra prints (collection). Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Ajo, AZ.

• Aardahl, J. B. 1985. Memorandum to File 6610. Deer habitat survey and water development recommendations for the Saline Range, Inyo Mountains, CA.

• Author unknown. n.d. Geology, mammals, skulls (specimens).


Would this information help parks manage natural resources?

• Andrews, R. W. and H. A. Kirwin. 1955. This was seafaring : a sea chest of salty memories. Bonanza Books, New York.

• Author unknown. 1985. AV production and the parks: A handbook for park personnel. Harpers Ferry Center.

• Western Wisconsin Utilities. 1985. Transmission Planning Study Technical Information Document. Western Wisconsin Utilities, St. Paul, MN.


Data Entry• ProCite (commercial software tool for

publishing and managing bibliographies)

• NatureBib desktop application (MS Access)- Backend files uploaded to master Oracle database

• Online (direct data entry)


Quality Assurance• Process oriented

• Data QA done at the park or network level

• Variety of training and experience in data entry

• Guidance from the national office


Quality Control• Product oriented

• QC efforts vary

• Objectivity, utility, and integrity of records will need to be examined at both the national and park level before wider dissemination of the records.


Objectivity: Substance• Accurate? A survey of the aunt fauna

Hymenoptera: Formicidae.• Complete? Beaumont, G. n.d. Glacier.

Journal title unknown. • Usable? 1982. Author unknown. Animals

trespass. (200 slides)• Reliable? Rock, J. 1980. Beverages:

Canned Beer and Soda Notes.


Utility

• Find materials that meet a certain criteria

• Identify an item • Select the record that meets the need

• Obtain access to the item


Subject accessInterim bison management

operating procedures : decision notice

• Subject heading: American bison – control – environmental aspects – Yellowstone National Park

• Keywords: animal studies, bison (Bison bison), brucellosis, mammals, management

• NatureBib uses keywords and park codes (YELL)


Integrity and Security• Is the metadata sensitive?

• Is the information in the notes or abstract sensitive?

• Who owns the record for editing?


NatureBib for NPS users• NatureBib now requires a username and

password

• Roles of reader or editor

• Active Directory authentication is planned

• DO #11B does not apply to NPS distribution


QC Tools


Certification for public release• What information does the public want?• Do we have a mission to inform the public?• What role should the parks and networks

play?• What role should the national office play?• What resources are available?• Cost/benefit analysis?


Issues• How does a record meet user needs?• Are some records a priority?• Which fields of the record should be

included?• What constitutes a good enough record? • What can be made public and who

decides?• What might the QA/QC process look like?


Workbench concept• NatureBib will probably have a

reincarnation as the Literature Service (part of the IRMA SOA project)

• Workbench concepts being developed for the Species Service could also be used for NatureBib

• Would allow for a series of checks leading to certification for ‘public’ or ‘NPS only’ release


A work area to sort our stuff and the tools to fix it


What could the workbench provide?

• Lifecycle status • Comments on individual records• ‘Work-in-progress’ option• Display of duplicates for merging• Batch updates or edits• Sliding quality/utility scale


FiltersAll NatureBib records

Sensitive records

Scientific information about the natural resources in the parks

Incomplete records

Grey literature

Non-bibliographic information


Big picture tasks ahead• Determine future scope and mission• Define role in providing NPS information• Research how we can better serve user

needs• Agree on minimum standards• Plan for a process with both centralized

and decentralized roles and responsibilities


Centralized versus Decentralized QC

National office

• Suggest standards• Suggest record types

and fields to be released

• Provide tools • Set priorities • Monitor results

Park or network

• Confirm metadata details

• Confirm holdings locations

• Upload documents• Assign record

sensitivity• Certify records for

public release


NatureBib: a unique collection• Author unknown. 1880’s.

Sewer Basins, Moon Island Boston Sewerage.

• Two photographs• Abstract: View of basins

and processing plant depicts six male visitors daintily holding their noses.

• Massachusetts Metropolitan Area Planning Council. 1973. Boston Harbor Islands Comprehensive Plan: Moon Island support documentation.

• Notes: Loose-leaf stapled document; includes site maps and table of recreation benefit data. This document provides support information regarding the history, natural resources, recreation and management alternatives for Moon Island as part of the Boston Harbor Islands Comprehensive Plan

decentralized qa/qc for naturebib

Documents