Three main components, environmental characteristics, time-series biological survey observations and spatial datasets related to wetlands were identified.
Taking into account the programme structure and inventory needs three main components, environmental characteristics, time-series biological survey observations and spatial datasets related to wetlands were identified. Standardised international data models for these three components, were studied respectively: A Manual for Asian Wetlands Inventory, Observational Data Standards of Taxonomic Database Working Group and Geograpic Information – Metadata ISO 19115. In addition, Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) was thoroughly studied to accommodate all socio-ecological parameters necessary for wetlands evaluation. A comprehensive database, PWI data model, was designed by modifying and integrating them together to serve the specific needs of the inventory. Standard data encoding forms were also designed for eight thematic areas of survey
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programme which include Birds, Mammals, Fish, Reptiles/ Amphibians, Planktons, Vegetation and Water Quality.
PWI data model is implemented in OGC compliant open source software framework. Database Postgres with spatial extension PostGIS is used to tightly couple the spatial and non spatial entities of the inventory. This is similar to the infrastructure being used by GBIF for its global biodiversity portal.
A web-based application will be built on the top of the currently designed PWI data model. The envisaged application will be compatible to connect with global biodiversity portals like GBIF and visualization of PWI data records over the Google Earth.
“Pakistan Wetlands Inventory Data” In: proceedings of Student Conference on Conservation Science, University of Cambridge, March 2007, Cambridge, UK.
www.sccs-cam.org/documents/SCCS%20Report%202007.pdf
