MySQL server and ArcGIS

Olly and Liam got to grips with linking ArcGIS and MySQL server last week, essentially they have created a method to allow ArcGIS to talk directly to the HALOGEN data without the need to export data (e.g. as a csv or tab delimited text file). So far it looks like we can query directly on the database. Why is this great news you ask? Before I created an events theme in ArcGIS which was then converted to a shapefile, unfortunately with large volumes of data we exceeded the maximum size of shapefiles and therefore could not query the data any further without a crash. We still need to test and see if relational databases work though, watch this space...

Andrew.

Plotting aggregated points over Google Earth satellite images

Olly has created a web interface that plots our data on to Google Earth satellite images. Our data is aggregated to the centre of BNG 1km squares to preserve confidentiality and to standardise the resolution of our database as there are several different data sources to compare. I am concerned that end users may forget / not read the project documentation and think that a point marks the exact location of data when in reality it could be anywhere in a km square around the point.  Does anyone else share these concerns - or have a way of reminding an end user of this?

Andrew.

Project Plan Post 6 of 7: Projected Timeline, Workplan & Overall Project Methodology

Work Plan The high level workplan is outlined below. Listed against each workpackage are the initials of the principal team member(s) responsible for its delivery.

Months ð Workpackage ò		02 11	03 11	04 11	05 11	06 11	07 11	08 11	09 11	10 11
WP1 - Set-up and governance (DC)
Project set-up, induction and PID
Steering and project group meetings
JISC Programme level activity and reporting to funder
WP2 – Data sources (AB, OB, LG)
Extend coverage of PAS data
Additional data sources - establish detailed requirements and investigate feasibility for 2 new sources.
Extract, clean, transform and load new data sources
Update data glossary and system documentation
WP3 – Update HALOGEN data management plan (DC)
Review and update DMP
WP4 – Data Extraction Tool (AG, MW)
Establish and document requirements
Evaluate tools and select preferred supplier
Procure and produce implementation plan for preferred tool/supplier
WP5 – Web Enquiry Facility (OB)
Establish requirements
Investigate options and feasibility of delivery
Document and publish findings
WP6 – Develop & Disseminate HALOGEN Case Study (DC, OB, AB)
Prepare case study re:community syntheses input
Disseminate to stakeholders
WP7 - Project Evaluation (DC)
Develop interim and final project reports (see evaluation milestones below)
WP8 – Dissemination (DC, OB, AB)
Maintain project blog, halogen web site and run briefing sessions

Project Approach

When identifying and evaluating specific tools and technologies, open source solutions will be considered alongside those which are already licensed by the University, the aim being to reduce the ‘barrier to entry’ for other institutions wishing to adopt the approaches used by UoL.

The evaluation will involve some desk based research but will be heavily biased towards the building of 'prototypes' using different tools.