环境数据库的网络访问英国环境变动网络的数据库查询和介绍系统.doc

外文资料 Web Access to Environmental Databases: a Database Query and Presentation System for the UK Environmental Change Network. ABSTRACT This paper describes the development of an interface to an environmental monitoring database using the World Wide Web (WWW) as a front-end. The Environmental Change Network (ECN) is the UK’s long-term integrated environmental monitoring program. Many of ECN’s users require access to ECN’s data for reporting purposes. Since these users are unfamiliar with the use of the Oracle Relational Database Management System used by ECN and the structure of the data in the ECN database, they require guided access to the data. Additionally, these users generally do not require access to high-resolution data. They need access to summary data in order to view trends, display the data for reporting and as an aid to making policy decisions. To support these users, ECN has developed an interface to its summary data over the WWW (http://www.nmw.ac.uk/ecn/Database). The system allows users to query the ECN database by site, measurement and date range and displays the data in cross-tabulations or graphs. Data may also be downloaded to the users local machine via electronic mail. Keywords Environmental data, WWW, ADO/ASP, Database, Guided access. ? 1. INTRODUCTION Environmental change has emerged as an important issue on the global agenda. Consequently, there is a demand for access to objective, reliable and up-to-date environmental information. The routine collection of data from integrated environmental monitoring programmes can provide a wealth of data for scientific researchers. It is of prime importance that this data is made quickly available for research and policy decisions. The challenge facing managers of environmental databases is to provide network access methods to suit the different styles of requirement. These access methods should give sufficient guidance to users unfamiliar with the structure of the data whilst at the same time prov