Approach:
Maintaining certain standards can increase the efficiency of data use and -exchange. Therefore, precise and workflow-based conventions for data-management, in terms of
naming, description, qualification, storage, and
availability have been defined within the project (Data Management Workflow).
These conventions, which are partly based on international certificated standards, were incorporated in the development of the GLOWA Volta Geoportal.

Geoportal
Inside the GLOWA-Volta Data Infrastructure, the Geoportal represents the web-based interface to the Databases: data are here defined as ‘resources’ and encompass not only structured (tabular) data, but also documents, graphs, maps and software-modules.

Databases
The following Databases are, on a central server, integrated in the system:

• Relational Metadatabase as standardized catalogue on data and resources (DCMES)

• Data- / Index-based Database for measuring data, statistical data, modelling data, geodata and documents

• Geodatabases (ESRI) for subproject-specifical geodata offering further analyses and sights on interrelations inside of a thematical delimited geodata-inventory through relational modeling

Web-based Interfaces offered by the Geoportal:
• Entry of metadata in the central metadatabase (on- and offline)

• Detailed search for metadatasets

• Visualization of geo-referenced data by means of interactive maps via Web Map Service

• Down- and upload of data and resources within the database-system (property rights on data are saved through a stepwise user-concept)

The GLOWA-Volta Metadatabase integrates the descriptions of project-intern resources located on the central GLOWA-Volta Server, as well as distributed resources within a certain scientific or administrative user-community, like partner institutions.
The Metadatabase and its interface, integrated in the Geoportal, represent thus a central information-crosspoint within an institute-overlapping data infrastructure.

The Web Map Service inside the Geoportal allows not only visualization of geodata, but also provides thematic maps on project-specific topics.
Furthermore, external Mapservices can be integrated in the Geoportal.
Hence, the Web Map Service-component of the Geoportal can be seen as a node in sense of a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI).

Except from the proprietary Geodatabase (ESRI), all components of the Geoportal are based on free and open-source software.

The overall results of the GLOWA Volta Geoportal and Data Management are:

• Cataloguing and management of large heterogeneous datasets

• Publish, access and share the data and metadata over the www

• Coordinated access to the data within a local network

• Generality of the system and applicability to other organisations

• Use of common standards for broad interoperability

 

Person in charge: Antonio Rogmann