Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 10:53:55 -0700 (MST)

From: "James W. Brunt" <jbrunt@vivorosa.unm.edu>

To: is@lternet.edu, datatask@lternet.edu

Subject: proposal text

buenos dias -

I'm back. I attempted to edit the proposal text that the executive committee wrote from our draft - then I stopped. I think you should all take a look at it and comment first. To me, it's missing some energy. It reads like proposals that I've given mediocre reviews to because of vagueness.

There is room for about half a page of additional text. One addition will be the URL citation.

It's included below and is also available at

http://sevilleta.unm.edu/~jbrunt/protected/nis.txt

James

2.2 Infrastructure Development

2.2.1 Network Information System (NIS)

Gopher and Web information servers were installed in the Office in 1992/93 and at LTER sites by 1994/95. While simplified, network-wide access was achieved with these implementations, the capacity for "seamless" information and data queries remains to be established, perfected and enriched. The proposed LTER Network Information System (NIS) will facilitate cross-site data exchange in support of intersite research. While the goal is to meet the research needs of LTER scientists, the NIS will be open to the wider community of scientists. This system will be structured on the existing Office Support System which includes; 1) the LTERnet Information Server with links to site and international servers, 2) LTER Personnel Directory, 3) Core Dataset Catalog, 4) Cross-site Bibliography, 5) Satellite Imagery Archive, 6) Electronic Connectivity System, and 7) Query and Retrieval Systems. The proposed NIS will further develop each of these functionalities but will focus on advances for the Query and Retrieval system. Collaboration with SDSC will allow management and access to massive data sets that will greatly aid cross-site and regional research.

The NIS will be designed, constructed and established through partnership of the Office technical staff, San Diego SuperComputer staff and the LTER Data Management Committee. While this partnership has, in the past, delievered products well ahead of schedule and has rapidly incorporated new and emergent technologies, it has accomplished these ends through careful work plans. The plan for development and implementation of the NIS supported by the Office proposal was established at the August, 1995 Data Managers Meeting in Snowbird, Utah. That plan is:

1996:

• Solidify basic design and implementation strategy
• Establish participation by intersite and synthesis groups
• Adopt metadata standards for ecological data
• Begin development of the "distributed" Bibliography
• Expand and further develop existing WWW based system

1997:

• Develop information model for intersite research group
• Implement and test the intersite research group model and query system
• Continue development of the "distributed" Bibliography
• Expand and further develop existing WWW based system

1998:

• Implement synthesis group's data model and query system
• "Distributed" Bibliography made public
• Put "distributed" Data Catalog and metadata standards on-line
• Expand and further develop existing WWW based system

1999:

• Further development and testing of the synthesis groups query system
• Expansion of the "distributed" Data Catalog
• Major re-evaluation of the NIS design and function
• Incorporation of new data elements to the NIS

2000:

• Implement information and query systems for additional research groups
• Implement information and query systems for additional synthesis groups
• Make changes called for in the 1999 NIS review

2001:

• Continuation of new data components additions
• Link NIS to other national and international query systems

2002:

• Maintain system, add new system content