How did we get here?

1. In just a few short years, the I&M networks have become known as a key source and supplier of reliable, organized, and retrievable information about parks that was formerly unavailable, misplaced, or lost to managers and others who needed the information for sound decisions or sound science. How did we get here?

2. Natural resource data are valuable and irreplaceable Starting premises: • Data are essential for well-reasoned and defensible decisions affecting park resources • Data are perishable: they must be responsibly managed and cared for long-term • The value of data increases the more they are used, shared, and integrated with other information

3. Old habits are hard to break . • Studies have been done, but data not accessible. • stored at universities, different locations • old dBase or Lotus 123 or Excel files, but don’t know what the columns are • data sheets and folders full of papers • big, thick report sitting down on the library shelf. • Studies have been done, but current staff doesn’t know about them. • Data are in electronic format, but nobody has the time or skill to do analysis. • The scientists have the information, but the managers do not.

4. Without good data management planning and practices: Starting premises: • Information is lost • Data do not survive turnovers of personnel-- institutional knowledge is gone • We waste money • We reinvent the wheel • Information is not available for good decision-making • Information is not available to the public to help build constituencies

5. “Data Management Challenge”: How do we ensure that the information we gather is available now, and lasts generations beyond us?

6. Data Management lessons learned so far • Commit dollars and staff to data management • Planning and documentation are key • Keep it top-down and bottom-up • Build a community of data managers • Herd the cats • Listen to users • Plan for change

7. Commitment to Data Management at I&M Networks • At a minimum, 30% of network resources is allocated to data management and reporting. • Every I&M network hires a full-time, permanent Data Manager • Recognition that data management and associated reporting are critical components of a successful NR program; they are the bridge between science and management.

8. Planning and Documentation Are Key • Every network produces and maintains a formal Data Management Plan; standard operating procedures; metadata

9. Bottom-up plus top-down approach works best WASO Networks strong guidance weak 2008 > time

10. Build a “culture of data management” • 32+ I&M data managers: varied backgrounds, expertise, perspectives. Great collaboration. • Share code, methods, ideas, solutions • Listserves; annual meetings; grapevine

11. Herd the Cats • Keep divergence within bounds but allow flexibility • Vigilance needed to ensure data management programs remain focused and meet established standards

12. “Memo to self: ‘Feathers?’” Listen to your users, and plan for change • Two, five, ten years down the road – what will we be facing? • Listen to your users: what are their ideas, needs, gripes, worries, problems, successes?

13. IRMA – Integration of Resource Management Applications • Major restructuring of natural resource information management at the Natural Resource Program Center in Fort Collins. • Position us for growth in the next decade

14. Taxonomy Park Unit Code Vouchers Observations References Data Sets POC Tools Access Control Park Status Data Entry Data Downloads ANCS_ Reports Taxonomy Park Unit Code Vouchers Observations References Data Sets POC Tools Access Control Park Status Data Entry Data Downloads ANCS_ Reports Taxonomy Park Unit Code Vouchers Observations References Data Sets POC Tools Access Control Park Status Data Entry Data Downloads ANCS_ Reports IRMA: silos are deconstructed into reusable, multipurpose “services” Silos: stand-alone systems that duplicate data and don’t interact well user identity park code references data sets access control data entry data downloads reports observations taxonomy vouchers NPSpecies user identity park code references taxonomy access control observations user identity park code references data sets access control data entry data downloads data uploads reports Data Store user identity park code references data sets access control data entry data downloads data uploads reports NatureBib NatureBib/ Data Store APCAM RPRS ATBI Build once, use many times Taxonomy Park Unit Code Vouchers Observations References Data Sets POC Tools Access Control Park Status Data Entry Data Downloads ANCS_ Reports Taxonomy Park Unit Code Vouchers Observations References Data Sets POC Tools Access Control Park Status Data Entry Data Downloads ANCS_ Reports

15. Building the IRMA Infrastructure: now underway Resource Data Supporting Services Frameworks Processes Foundation

16. http://nrinfo

20. http://nrinfo

23. For more information: • I&M Data Management: • http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/datamgmt/ • http://www1.nrintra.nps.gov/im/datamgmt • Natural Resource Information Portal: • http://nrinfo