information server prototype for gfis

Global Forest Information Service/May 2000/Jarmo Saarikko

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Information server prototype for Global Forest Information Service (GFIS)

JOINT FAO/ECE/ILO - COMMITTEE ON FOREST TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT AND TRAININGForestry Information Systems 2000 workshop, 16-20 May, Hyytiälä, Finland

Jarmo SaarikkoFinnish Forest Research Institute Metla, [email protected]

Risto PäivinenEuropean Forest Institute, [email protected]

Tim Richards*Margherita Sini**

[Space Applications Institute, Global Vegetation Monitoring Unit,European Joint Research Centre]

[email protected], [email protected]

*up to 20 April 2000, ** up to 15 June 2000


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Global information needs

Increasing need for relevant up-to-date information on decision making dealing with forests

Countries with limited or slow access to latest scientific information on forests

Need to disseminate scientific information in these countries

Chapter 41, Agenda 21Intergovernmental Forum on Forests


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Common vision for GFIS

Intergovernmental approachUser orientationFocus on countries with the greatest needs

• Specific target audiencesContent – wide rangeCatalogue approach

• no central collection of data


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Use of Internet

WWW has affected the ways we workInformation access and exchangeFrom the global level to the localThe full impact on the way we work and on

society is still unknown


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Advantages

Permanence of 24-hours per dayImmediacy of information discoveryContent diversityAccessibility from almost anywhereDe-centralised approaches allowing content

owners to maintain full rightsValue for money with low-cost solutions


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General search engines

No more able to cover the whole netThe next generation of search tools will contain

more specialised and targeted services, More and more services will be provided to

registered clientsUser interfaces can be modified according to

personal requirements


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Low search engine coverage

a Coverage with respect to the combined coverage of all engines; b Coverage with respect to the estimated size of the web.

Relative coverage. 1,050 queries used, 25–28 February 1999. These estimates are of relative coverage for real queries, which may differ from the number of pages actually indexed because of different indexing and retrieval techniques.

[ Lawrence & Giles 1999 |NATURE|VOL 400|8 JULY 1999|Fig 2|page 108|www.nature.com]


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Providers compete for users

One user usually cannot effectively use but a few different services

Most services on the internet have been free, their funding is often based on advertising

Research information in forestry is often non-competetive

However, if the target audience is the general public the information producer enters the same competitive field as described above


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GFIS structure

1. Information Server

2. Locator

3. Metadata

4. Web-sites of information providers

Harmonised dataHarmonised metadataOpen-ended systemCollection policy


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3.Metadata 3.Metadata 3.Metadata 3.Metadata

4.Website B

4. Website C

4. Website D

4.Website E

4. Website F

$

2. Locator

1.GFISInformationServer

User 1.

User n.

Harmonised uniform metadata

x) Harmonised uniform data

x

Free information $)Non-freeinformation

Links only

3.Metadata

x

Principle of the Global Forest Information Service


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Linking the regional and thematic nodes into GFIS

2.Locator

1.GFISThematicwebsite

User 1.

User n.

2.Locator

1.GFISRegionalwebsite

User 1.

User n.

2.Locator

1.GFISRegionalwebsite

User 1.

User n.

Locator

GFISMotherWebsite


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GFIS NodesGFIS Information Server

• Coordinates the house-keeping functions of the GFIS node network

• Allows the user community to define content GFIS Node

The first contact point for those accessing GFIS will be the existing web-site of a GFIS partner or node. From there, the user will be able to search all participating metadata catalogues for desired

information. GFIS-affiliated node

Forest-related web-site that does not provide catalogue searching but which will be linked to the GFIS Information Server.


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Information resources

Information ServerGFIS background and infoDiscussion forumsList serverUser registrationOrganisational registrationResource registration

Node metadataPeopleOrganisationsServicesProducts/ServicesEventsDocumentsDatasets


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FISE Repository

Web ServerWeb Server

Web Server Web Server

USER

Mother Web Site

Search and Submit

Link to Search

FORESTRY Org.

Network of nodes


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Initial phase of GFIS

Designing and carrying-out limited feasibility studies.

Developing the “collection policy”Developing budgets, including identifying

possible revenue streams and expensesIdentifying and resolving technical and legal

issues.Identifying candidate institutions for hosting

thematic or regional nodes


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Collection policy

Subject coverageTarget audienceTypes of eligible information resourcesMetadata standard usedQuality of eligible resourcesBoundaries to other services (what will not be

included etc.)Submission procedureMaintenance arrangements


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GFIS Technical recommendation

GFIS Metadata recommendation: Dublin CoreGFIS valid key word list: applied Cabi ThesaurusInteroperability protocol: Z39.50Central GFIS information server: GIST

• Member registration• Rsource registration• Search HGS• E-mail• Website links

Network of regional nodes (ACP project)


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GISTbasedinformation serverhttp://gist.jrc.it/


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What does GIST do?

GIST makes it easier to build an Information Server by providing the software components required for common tasks. In particular GIST provides facilities for:

submission of information by members of a user community modification and deletion of information presentation of information search and browse user registration and user interface configuration user authentication and authorisation automatic validation of user input server configuration and definition of policy rules

Source: http://gist.jrc.it/default/ Overview


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GIST features

All the utilities and Web (CGI) applications can be run from the command line.

Small core set of applications to deal with the objects created:

• submission, alteration, and deletion of objects• facilities to search, show, lock and unlock objects.

Input translated from various formats including GET, POST, MIME (POST encoding) and XML

Object modellingGeographic searching, etc.


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GIST Features

Source: http://gist.jrc.it/images/gist-arch.gif


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GIST installation

Platforms• AT compatible PC running a recent version of Linux

(GIST has been used on RedHat Linux versions 5.1 - 6.1)• Sun SPARC running SunOS 5.5.1 • Compaq Alpha running OSF1 (Digital Unix) 4.x

100MB free hard disk for the system, excluding data64MB RAM (128MB is better) and a network cardInstallation:

• install GIST software (Systems Administrator) • define and implement the data model (Database Admin.) • define and implement the user interface (HTML author)

Source: http://gist.jrc.it/default/ Overview


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GFIS prototype - start


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GFIS prototype - add an object


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FISE prototype


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HGS General characteristics

Geospatial search• Simplest case: bounding rectangle (Lat, Lon)

Temporal searching• Time range: start date, end date• Fuzzy: Before/After date

Text searching• Free text query


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HGS Implementation

Clients discover databases through the directory structure

Clients can search selected databases

• Via a Web proxy server. Route searches to HGS servers.

• Directly through JAVA URLclass.

Clients can support ExplainURI’s

Independent Agents can be written in JAVA.

Top

Climate Forestry

Collections - Top Level Directory or User defined “Hot list”

HGS database URIs

CEO ProgrammeJoint Research Centre - Space Applications Institute DGXII D4 - Space Unit

10.5.2000Global Forest Information Service/May 2000/Jarmo Saarikko

HGS Protocol - Search Standard Search URL ( level 1)

http://www.dbas.yyy/search.pl?latmin=23.5&latmax=32.5&lonmin=11.2&lonmax=23.2&tstart=01/01/97&tend=01/03/97&text=Volcanoes&Version=1.0&Agent=HGS1.0

Standard Reply (Text)

URI: http://ewse.ceo.org/Name: EWSEVersion: 1.0Engine HGS Experimental 1.00

Name: AVHRR data EuropeURI: http://www.esa.esrin/build.pl/205620Coverage: 24.0 30.0 15.0 22.3

Name: SAR ERS-1URI: http://ewse.ceo.org/build.pl/398626Coverage: 22.6 33.2 18.6 25.7............ CEO Programme

Joint Research Centre - Space Applications Institute DGXII D4 - Space Unit

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

ISPRS Joint Workshop7-9 October 1997

Slide 28


HGS Protocol - Discover

Level 0 supports a distributed directory.

Version 1.0Name: DLR ISIS CatalogueURI: http://isis.dlr.deDescription: The ISIS catalogue contains ......

Name: AVHRR database 1SearchURI:http://www.ceo.org/servers/hgs/dlr/erach1.pl

Name: AVHRR database 2SearchURI: http://www.ceo.org/servers/hgs/dlr.search2.pl

Version 1.0Name: Collection of HGS directoriesURI:http://www.ceo.org/hgs/

Name: ISIS DLR GermanyDescription: German EO catalogue holdingsDirectoryURI: http://www.dlr.de/hgs.txtExplainURI:http://www.dlr.de/explain.txt.......


HGS Protocol - Explain

• Level 3 allows for search attribute extensions beyond Space and time using defined set of options - ExplainURI:

Attribute ID Parent ID Object Name Guide URL (Optional)100 100 Cloud Cover101 100 0 - 10 %102 100 10-25%103 100 25-50%104 100 50-75 %105 100 75-100%

200 200 Sensor http://www.esrin.it/sensors/210 200 IR Spectrometer220 200 UV Spectrometer230 210 Band A240 210 Band B250 220 Filter 1260 220 Filter 2

CEO ProgrammeJoint Research Centre - Space Applications Institute DGXII D4 - Space Unit


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IUFRO Task Force

The mission of the Task Force is to develop a strategy and implementation for an Internet-based metadata system that provides co-ordinated world-wide access to forest information to assist meeting national and international efforts in achieving sustainable forests

Started in September 1998Volunteer based participants from international organisationsEU funded project for LAC countries with IUFRO SPCD

coordination and staff at FAO, Rome.

http://iufro.boku.ac.at/iufro/taskforce/hptfgfis.htm





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The Intergovernmental Panel on Forests, 1997"Emphasised the need to review and improve information systems. Attention should be given to world-wide access to information systems that would encourage effective implementation of national forest programmes, increased private-sector investment, efficient development and transfer of appropriate technologies, and improved co-operation".

IUFRO, 1998

Established a Task Force ‘Global Forest Information Service’, with aim to

'develop an Internet-based service that will provide co-ordinated access to

forest information’.

International Consultation on Research and Information Systems in Forestry (ICRIS) , 1998Acknowledged the urgent need to improve access to information at all levels.

Recommended to endorse the development of GFIS.

IFF Intergovernmental Forum on Forest, 3rd meeting Geneve, May 1999

ITFF Inter-Agency Task Force on Forests at IFF4 New York, Feb 2000

History & global mandate


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Follow-up phase of GFIS

Designing pilot programs• Demonstration at IUFRO XXI World Congress,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 2000Advising and assisting with regional node

activities including technical and financial needs.

Conducting activities necessary for promotion and use of the system.

Monitoring and reporting on the progress of the service


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ACP-project (EU)

Serving as liaison within region for acquiring linkages to relevant information and data sets

Developing and enforcing regional collection policy and metadata standards

Conducting workshops and conferences and other educationalPromoting GFIS to potential users within regionMaintaining institutional and technological arrangements with

GFIS managers and other regional nodes.Writing and distributing appropriate documentation for GFIS

regional users and information providers including, collection policy, user’s manual.

Coordination by IUFRO/SPDC, staff at FAO/Rome


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Related metadata-services

Global Environmental Information Locator Service• http://www.gelos.org/ (Working example of GIST technology)

Global Change Master Directory (GCMD by NASA)• http://gcmd.nasa.gov/

The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) • http://www.fgdc.gov/

Canadian NFIS Metadata Infrastructure Project• http://nfis-metadata.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/home.htm

Global Forest Watch (World Resources Institute)• http://www.globalforestwatch.org/english/index.html

http://www.gelos.org/

http://gcmd.nasa.gov/

http://www.fgdc.gov/clearinghouse/clearinghouse.html

http://www.globalforestwatch.org/english/index.html


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The Vision“GFIS 5 years from now”

User The user should be able to easily find the information be able to evaluate

the quality and relevance of it for his/her purpose. The image

GFIS will be the 'one stop shop' for forest information on the globeInformation providers

GFIS will help the provider make their information more accessible to a broader audience with minimal effort

Finances

A group of donors have funded the establishment phase of the service. Progressively, as service becomes known the service may fund itself through advertisements, for example

DecentralisationThere are a number of geographically or thematically oriented ‘nodes’

facilitating the GFIS activities in their special fieldSource: Päivinen et al. 1999


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GFIS web-site

http://www.iufro-gfis.net/


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Test sites

GFIS prototype• http://www.gfis.gvm.sai.jrc.it:1080/login/

FISE prototype• http://www.trees.gvm.sai.jrc.it/fise/Examples/Example3.asp

GIST• http://gist.jrc.it/

GEM• http://gem.jrc.it/

HGS• http://hgss.jrc.it/ (java application)

http://www.gfis.gvm.sai.jrc.it:1080/login/

http://www.trees.gvm.sai.jrc.it/fise/Examples/Example3.asp

http://gist.jrc.it/

http://gem.jrc.it/

http://hgss.jrc.it/


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An application of GIST Global Educational Multimedia http://gem.jrc.it/

http://gem.jrc.it/default/


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http://nfis-metadata.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/home.htm

information server prototype for gfis

Technology