Managing Environmental Data

Gerald Burnette is a Senior Project Manager with Civil and EnvironmentalConsultants, Inc. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics (with a minorin Physics) from Maryville College in 1983. He has over 35 years experience indeveloping analytical and management applications related to land, ecosystem, andnatural resources issues. He specializes in developing complex database managementsystems, including desktop and web interfaces. In addition to performing these servicesfor numerous private clients, he has a long history of working for numerousstate, local, and federal government clients. Notable examples include the US ArmyCorps of Engineers, the US Department of Energy, and NASA.

• ContentsAcknowledgments ..................................................................................................... xiAbout the Author ..................................................................................................... xiiiChapter 1 About This Book .................................................................................. 1Chapter 2 Data Management Concepts ................................................................. 5PART 1 Environmental Data Management PrinciplesChapter 3 Techniques for Data Management and Their Effectiveness ............... 17Chapter 4 Relational Database Management System Basics .............................. 43Chapter 5 Buy, Borrow, or Build: A Decision Guide for Choosingbetween an Existing Solution and Creating Something New ................................. 97Chapter 6 Designing and Building a Database ................................................. 111Chapter 7 Creating the User Interface(s) .......................................................... 123Chapter 8 Applying What We’ve Learned ........................................................ 147PART 2 Environmental Data Management RealitiesChapter 9 Prolog ............................................................................................... 215Chapter 10 Origins .............................................................................................. 217Chapter 11 Birth .................................................................................................. 233Chapter 12 Growth .............................................................................................. 245Chapter 13 Maturity ............................................................................................ 267Chapter 14 Rejuvenation ..................................................................................... 283Appendix A Data Dictionary for the Database Developed in Chapter 8 ......... 303Appendix B SQL Commands for Creating the Database andInserting Data ................................................................................................... 313Appendix C Bibliography: References and Recommended Reading .............. 337Index ...................................................................................................................... 339