SCERP Project Number: P-10
Principal Investigator: Ray H. Beckett
University of Utah
The overall goal of the "Database Coordination Initiative Project", was to develop a database program to provide the public and private sector with access to information on SCERP's environmental research and training activities, including other environmental research activities in the border areas of the U.S. and Mexico.
The following objectives were established to achieve the primary goal of this project: (a) to design a system to compile and update information on environmental databases in the border region; (b) to develop a list of SCERP environmental research and training projects, including research studies, published environmental reports and papers, etc., produced by SCERP principal investigators, other environmental research organizations, and EPA in regard to the environmental issues in the border region of the U.S. and Mexico; (c) to survey private and public institutions and organizations, academic and non-academic, and identify established and planned databases in the areas of environmental health, education and training; and (d) to determine the environmental database and related research needs in the border communities in the U.S. and Mexico border region.
The following activities were implemented to achieve the project objectives:
(a) Develop and organize environmental directories for the Distributive
Information Delivery System (DIDS/SCERP Gopher). (b) Install the DIDS/SCERP
Gopher System with appropriate files and directories. (c) Develop a survey
instrument and contact principal investigators to determine environmental
research databases for all SCERP/EPA funded projects. (d) Develop a user
guide for the SCERP Gopher System for distribution to the Center's member
institutions, including EPA/ORD, Region VI and IX, other government agencies
as appropriate, and SEDESOL in Mexico. (e) Co- sponsor a GIS/Environmental
Database Conference to be planned and administrated by San Diego State
University. (f) Develop a base map using ARC/INFO software to depict the
location of the communities in the border region, the member institutions
of the Center. (g) Develop a graphic structure of the SCERP Gopher Database.
(h) Set up access codes for the SCERP Gopher server. (i) Select the study
population and administer the survey instrument to SCERP member institutions
and other appropriate environmental organizations in the U.S. and Mexico.
(j) Register the SCERP Gopher system under the category of "Academic Organizations"
with the University of Minnesota. (k) Establish SCERP Gopher network links
with the member institutions of the Center and other appropriate sites.
(l) Evaluate the survey data and develop a report of the findings.
(2) Project Accomplishments:
The following data summarizes the accomplishments of this project:
(a) After a review and assessment of several electronic bulletin systems, the "Internet-Gopher System" (IGS) was selected for implementation as the most appropriate information delivery system for the project. This selection was based on the fact that the IGS will allow the member institutions of SCERP, et. al., to quickly access information in regard to environmental research projects in the border region, including databases of other research and development activities in the border areas of the U.S. and Mexico.
(b) Gopher protocols were assessed to determine how the Gopher Server works and to establish the requirements for its implementation. It was determined that in order to implement the Gopher System with an indexing component, an area wide information service or WAIS would be needed. The newest release of Gopher and WAIS was obtained. To compile and install the Gopher and WAIS system, the source code for site and computer dependencies was modified. The computer programs for these systems were compiled and debugged, and security patches were then installed. The implementation of the Gopher/WAIS database required the design of prototype Gopher databases using WAIS, binary image retrieval, and Gopher ftp.abilities (File Transfer Protocol).
(c) A Distributed Information Delivery System was also developed with appropriate files and directories. Information collected from the SCERP principal investigators was entered into the database. A user's guide for the SCERP Gopher System will be developed for distribution to SCERP member institutions, the Environmental Protection Agency (Office of Research and Development, EPA Regions 6 and 9, other state and Federal government agencies as appropriate, including SEDESOL in Mexico.
(d) A narrative discussion of the Gopher System and how it works was developed, including a graphic structure of the SCERP Gopher Database. Appendix A includes a discussion on the Gopher System, and Appendix B presents a graphic structure of key elements of the SCERP Gopher System. It lists the title and time period covered for each environmental research project listed in the database, including environmental program thrust area (Air Quality; Water Quality; Hazardous Materials; Environmental Health, Education, Training and Policy).
(e) A "Host" set up or communications access codes to use the SCERP Gopher server was also initiated. The Host communicator is uugg.geog.utah.edu. SCERP E-mail addresses for directing inquiries in regard to the SCERP Gopher System were also established for the following individuals involved with this project: Systems Administrator, John Storm (admin@geog.utah.edu); and SCERP Database Manager, John Lowry (jlowr@geog.utah.edu).
(f) A database questionnaire (see Appendix C) was developed for administration to SCERP principal investigators of the following institutions--Arizona State University, New Mexico State University, San Diego State University, University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Utah, and several institutions in Mexico. The survey instrument was designed to elicit information in regard to the following: (1) The identification of environmental thrust areas being addressed; (2) the name of the principal investigator of each project; (3) mailing address, phone number, FAX number, and E-mail address; (4) a brief description of the project, its objectives, research methodology, etc.; (5) anticipated results; (6) project or research site location; (7) other collaborative researchers and/or institutions; (8) a listing of the database(s) in use or being developed; and (9) a short description of the database.
(g) During May and June 1993, the survey instrument was mailed to 20 principal investigators of SCERP funded projects. Thirteen responses were received. Schedule 1 (see Appendix D) sets forth the types of databases in use by the principal investigators. They include: (a) Geographic Information Systems (GIS), 3 respondents; (b) Environmental Health, 2 respondents; (c) Hazardous Wastes/Soils, 2 respondents; (c) Environmental Education, 2 respondents; and Other, 1 respondent.
Schedule 2, Appendix D, depicts the geographic distribution of the study sites of the survey respondents. They include the following study sites: California, 2; Arizona, 3; New Mexico, 3; Texas, 3; and Mexico City, 1.
Schedule 3, Appendix D, denotes the institutions that are engaged in collaborative environmental research: Arizona State University; San Diego State University; University of Texas at El Paso; Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez; University of Utah; New Mexico State University; and two non SCERP institutions. Four respondents reported that they were not engaged in collaborative research.
Schedule 3a identifies the institutions engaged in collaborative research. And Schedule 3b identifies the areas of collaborative research in which the respondent institutions are engaged in. The areas are: Air Quality; Water Quality; Hazardous Wastes and Soils; and Environmental Health and Policy.
The geographical service areas for each of the responding SCERP institutions are presented in Appendix E. Also listed are the projects implemented by SCERP and the study sites for each of the projects.
(h) The activity to establish a network link with other Gopher sites within SCERP was initiated in October 1993. The first SCERP Gopher link was registered with the University of Utah's main Gopher System, "Academic Organizations". The SCERP Gopher link was also registered with the University of Minnesota's Top Level Gopher System as "USA: General: SCERP". This request was submitted to the University of Minnesota for review.
(i) The SCERP Gopher System includes approximately 500 data entries of published articles, books and research studies covering the environmental program thrust areas noted above. A representative sample of the data included in this database is as follows: "Environmental Risk; Mexico"; "Waters a Little Less Clear"; "Mexico Shuts Oil Refinery to Help Save Capitol's Air"; "Mexico to Get Help Fighting Pollution: Japan to Aid Mexico In Fighting Air Pollution"; "Illegal Disposal of Hazardous wastes in Mexico"; "Transboundary Air Quality: Problems and Prospects from El Paso to Brownsville"; "U.S.Mexico Experience in Managing Transboundary Air Resources: Problems, Prospects, and Recommendations for the Future"; "Hazardous Waste Generation Hard to Quantify"; "Deaths, Injuries, and Evacuations from Acute Hazardous Materials Releases"; "Characteristics of Hazardous Material Spills from Reporting Systems in California"; and "Guide to Managing Industrial Hazardous Waste".
The directory structure of the SCERP Gopher Database system, as previously noted, is shown in Appendix B. The environmental information included in the database is noted in the graphic layout of the structure. The solid lined boxes indicate the progress that has been made to date, and the boxes identified with dash lines denotes database sections for future development.
The SCERP Gopher System is presently linked to the computer data access world through a Gopher Server located in the College of Social and Behavioral Science at the University of Utah. A user who wishes to access the SCERP Gopher simply communicates with the University of Utah Gopher Server that acts as the top level server of the University. Once the university's gopher is accessed, a user moves through "Gopher Space" to the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and then to the Department of Geography Gopher Server where the SCERP Gopher database is maintained.
Once the SCERP Gopher has been accessed the user will find six directories that make up the SCERP Gopher Database. Each main directory contains a sub-directory and file component. For example, under the directory, "SCERP Projects," there is a sub-directory called Fiscal Year 1992- 93. This directory includes information of each SCERP environmental program thrust area, viz., Air quality, Water Quality, Hazardous Waste, Environmental Health, Education, Training and Policy. Within each of these directories are text files containing the summary information collected through the survey instrument noted above.
(j) A review of the SCERP Gopher Access Log over a three day period, December 4 to 6, 1993, indicated that 14 data access inquiries were made into the SCERP database. A sampling of the inquiries included: SCERP project research staff; Colorado state University; University of California at Davis; Laguna Educational Policy Center; University of California at Berkeley; and Loyola University. A similar assessment to determine the number of users accessing the database was conducted during the 12 day period of December 7 to 18, 1993. The database inquiries for this period was 193 or an average of 16 inquiries per day. The institutions and organizations logging into the database included: Ohio State University; Freenet of Carlton California; Cascade College; University of California at Santa Barbara; University of Arizona; Utah Education Association; Utah State University; Aerospace Corporation; University of Washington; State of Texas; MIT; University of California; University of Utah School of Medicine; Lehigh University; Brigham Young University; University of Florida; Delphi University; University of Kansas; University of Utah College of Business; American University; and California Polytechnic Institute.
(k) As a concluding statement, as additional responses to the database survey are received, they will be entered into the database and made available to the users or those accessing the SCERP Gopher Database.
The FY92 SCERP-supported phase of this project: P-10
The FY93 SCERP-supported phase of this project:: ET93-2
The FY94 SCERP-supported phase of this project: AQ94-7.1
The FY95 SCERP-supported phase of this project: IS95-4
Last updated 7/1/99