The INCREASE Integrated Database: a web-based access to data and results from research infrastructure networks

A comprehensive integrated database containing information and data from experiments on the potential effects of climate change on shrubland ecosystems in Europe was developed in the framework of the INCREASE project. The main specific objectives were: (1) to provide an integrated database of data and metadata on the potential effects of climate change on shrubland ecosystems in Europe; (2) to improve capacities in the protection, management and storage of data and results from the research infrastructure network; (3) to provide a web-based access to data and results for a larger research community at a European and global level. Data has been collected at six research infrastructures where large scale field experiments were conducted for a period of time ranging from 6 to 12 years and include experimental observations and scientific results on the effects of climatic treatments on vegetation and soil. These data represent a relevant source of knowledge for research studies on ecology, ecophysiology, and climate change impact studies. The release of the INCREASE database (DB) design involved the following steps: (1) Requirement analysis, where information and relationships between data from all sites were described and classified. (2) Conceptual design, to define the information content of the database expressed as entities and the relationships between entities. For this analysis the Entity-Relationship (E-R) diagram method was used and the conceptual schema was produced. (3) Logical design. Starting from the conceptual schema and taking into account the estimated applied data load, the E-R schema was restructured and translated in a logical model. (4) Physical design. The logical data model was transformed into a physical implementation based on the specific DBMS and operating system. The system architecture was structured according to three main levels: (1) a level of data storage, including the database server driven by a SQL (Structured Query Language) provider, with the advantage of not being tied to a specific DBMS and with the use of a relational model; (2) a level of application logic, integrated in a Web Server, for authentication, management of data entry based on user profile, calculation of data to be supplied, functions, administration, etc.; (3) a presentation layer for the actual operation and consultation and interaction, usable through a standard Web interface. Sets of templates (Excel 2003 and 2007 versions) used for data upload were designed and implemented. DB Server and Web Server were installed in a Virtualized infrastructure.