RFP 256 - DMAS Examination Consultant

VENUS/NEPTUNE has awarded the DMAS Examination Consultant contract to Barrodale Computing Services Ltd. of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Purpose

The VENUS/NEPTUNE (V/N) observatory systems include a Data Management and Archiving System (DMAS). Design, development, and testing of this system require a thorough understanding of the needs and also of the context in which it will operate. The initial phase of VENUS deployment may be served by a simple system that is already available. In the bigger picture, the V/N DMAS will not operate in isolation; compatibility with other ocean and earth science databases will be a priority.

Scope of Work and Deliverables

Objectives

Provide the V/N Project Teams with the following information that relates to the scientific disciplines expected to use V/N:

data types
current data management practices
data products and analysis/access tools
other workable data management systems

Identify issues related to the V/N Data Management protocols that will need further address.

Statement of Work

Phase I

This phase addresses "what currently exists" as data management for the instruments we know we will use in the near future. Then it looks at how data are managed.

Develop a catalogue of the observation types that will be collected in the initial V/N stages.

Working with V/N staff, identify about 10 data types from community instruments for further examination. Examine issues in data handling to highlight general practices and major problems.

Phase II

This phase looks beyond V/N direct issues to provide information from other initiatives. Report should be an overview.

Identify other organizations and initiatives involving data from ocean observing systems, such as IOOS, and document their data management initiatives, status and plans.

Identify five examples of scientific data management systems from other fields, document their overall strategies, practices, successes and failures. This work is an overview to determine if there is a convergence in approaches or clear alternatives.

Develop a list of other large data management projects in the lower BC mainland and indicate where linkages could be build to benefit DMAS design and development.

Phase III

The final phase provides the basic framework under which DMAS design and development decisions can be considered. The objectives of this stage should be revisited with V/N staff at the end of Phase II.

Using the material gathered in Phases I and II, identify important issues for the V/N DMAS development.

Using the material gathered in Phases I and II, develop some strategic options for the development of the V/N DMAS.

Deliverable

VENUS/NEPTUNE DMAS Examination Final Report (October 18, 2004) now available for downloading ( MB, PDF).