Data Management Application
NOTE: The NB Aquatic Data Warehouse is implementing a new data management system and the older systems are no longer available. |
With funding from the Environmental Trust Fund and NB Wildlife Trust Fund, the NB Aquatic Data Warehouse has developed a bilingual web-based application for entering and viewing water quality and Environmental Stream Survey data. The system provides access to all data within your area of interest; data can be entered, viewed, and/or downloaded. No special software is required, simply an internet connection and internet browser.
The basic functions of the application are as follows:
- Input and viewing of environmental stream survey and water quality data
- Perform data validation checks as data is entered, such as validating codes and dates, input of required fields, and minimum/maximum value ranges
- Input of site information where the data is collected, including site descriptions, GPS coordinates, and digital photo references
- Display map of site coordinates along with lakes, streams, roads, and other data collection sites in the area
- Query and download of data to Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
Accessing the System
A link to the data management application can be found on the NBADW website or can be accessed using the following URL:
http://cri-linux.nbwaters.unb.
Users must first create a user account from the login page of the application. The user's area of interest (e.g. watershed) can also be defined to limit the data being displayed (otherwise 4000+ data collection sites will be displayed). A confirmation email will be sent once the set up is complete.
There are two types of user access – editor and view only users. Typically, smaller organizations will have one data entry user who will enter all data. The remainder of the users in the organization will be view only and cannot enter or edit data. Data entry users, however, can only modify data they enter; data that has been transferred from the application database to the NBADW repository can no longer be edited. Typically the repository is updated once a year. If errors are discovered after data is transferred to the NB Aquatic Data Warehouse, please contact NBADW staff to request changes.
Online Help
The system contains an extensive help system rather than providing a separate user manual.
System Components
Data Collection Sites - All data is linked to a data collection site. It is important to accurately identify its location by GPS coordinates. Take particular care when entering this information and validate the site’s location on the map which is displayed when valid coordinates are entered. The map will not display a marker if the system cannot interpret the entered coordinate information. The NBADW assigns a unique identifier to the site; agencies can also add their own site ID once the site is created.
Data Collection Event – Identifies who and when the data was collected and which methods were used.
Observations – Observations are not measured and are simply observations about the site, weather conditions, water quality indicators, or anything noteworthy.
Site Measurements – Includes site dimensions, riparian zone vegetation, substrate or stream type percentages.
Water Measurements – Includes physical measurements like temperature or velocity and chemical parameters that can be measured in the field, e.g. pH and dissolved oxygen.
Samples – Notes whether water samples were collected for lab analysis. The lab results are attached to the sample.
Planning - Is available with the Environmental Stream Survey component and captures proposed activities to address environmental issues related to the site.
