Data Management

Collecting data on natural resources is the first step toward understanding ecosystems within national parks. These “raw” data are used to analyze, synthesize, and model aspects of ecosystem form and function.  In turn, the results and interpretations are used to make decisions concerning park resources.  Thus, data collected and maintained by the UCBN becomes information through analysis, synthesis, and modeling. As part of the National Park service effort to “improve park management through greater reliance on scientific knowledge,” a primary purpose of the I&M Program is to develop, organize, and make available natural resource data and contribute to the Service’s institutional knowledge.

The UCBN Data Management Plan and associated Guidance Documents describe the UCBN’s overall data management strategy and provide guidance on specific data management activities. Of particular usefulness for leaders of UCBN inventory and monitoring projects are the UCBN Metadata Guidelines (Appendix E, UCBN Data Management Plan), which include a metadata questionnaire to assist project leaders in providing the information required to develop metadata accompanying project data files.

 

The National Park Service is transforming the way natural resource information is managed and delivered to parks, partners, and the public. IRMA (Integration of Resource Management Applications) represents a one-stop internet resource for documents and datasets. The IRMA system (IRMA.nps.gov) allows users to search, view, and download information from multiple sources and systems, including all records from the NPSpecies, NatureBib, and NPS Data Store systems. Details about IRMA, including resource briefs and development schedules, is available at science.nature.nps.gov/im/datamgmt/IRMA.cfm.

 

Species Lists from the NPS NPSpecies database

(These species lists are based on the Park-level "Local Classification" applied in the NPSpecies database. Species lists based on the "Standard Classification" can be found on the Inventory page)

NPSpecies Species Lists by Park
Park	Update Date (NPSpecies)
BIHO Species List	March 28, 2008
CIRO Species List	August 28, 2008
CRMO Species List	August 29, 2008
HAFO Species List	August 29, 2008
JODA Species List	August 29, 2008
LARO Species List	August 29, 2008
NEPE Species List	August 29, 2008
WHMI Species List	March 28, 2008

UCBN Monitoring Protocol datasets (Microsoft Access .mdb files)

[Available from the IRMA system]

UCBN Monitoring Dataset	Date
Aspen Monitoring Database (2007-2010 records)	2010
Camas Monitoring Database (2005-2010 records)	2010
Osprey Monitoring Database (2009-2010 records)	2010
Sagebrush Monitoring Database (2008-2010 records)	2010

Note: The above datasets are only accessible from a computer logged into the NPS network.