VI. Chronos 5-Year Plan and Budget (summary)
Goal and components of the
5-year plan
The goal of the initial 5-year development program is a fully functional Chronos system that will allow searching and advanced manipulation of data obtained from a wide array of distributed databases spanning the entire spectum of chronostratigraphy. The Chronos program consists of several simultaneous multi-institution projects working in concert (see attached timetable).
(1) Central Hub functions
(2) Development of methodology and toolboxes for interactive multiple databases.
(3) Compilation and integration of new databases.
(4) Time-slice projects that will serve as ※test-beds§ for Chronos interfaces, new database procedures, types of toolboxes and public access.
(5) Public access (research and outreach) to key stratigraphic information.
The Central Hub, in addition to coordinating the thematic nodes and associated distributed databases and developing visualization and analysis tools (see details in Parts III and IV), has a major role in developing the central interface, including the following:
Central Hub information
technology functions and concept
Hosts the development and distribution of the Database Service Provider (interface to the individual databases)
Provides a means to interface to local databases
Publishes services (database interface) to central hub in a standard open method
Provides a means to dynamically create a client interface
Hosts White/Yellow/Green pages for details on the services and groups involved
Service Index Repository (UDDI interface) hosted at Central Hub provides an index of services (database interfaces)
Distribute the WSDL files that describe the interface(s) to the services registered
Support the efforts of the Thematic nodes
Hosts the development and distribution of the test clients
Reference client for general use
Provides a template for others to create clients
Provides a template for future rich client development
Central Hub Standards
All open source / free software 每 Tomcat, Java (JDK), Apache, etc.
All open standards and protocols 每 SOAP, XML (Xforms, XSLT, etc.), UDDI, WSDL
No locking of data on certain platforms or operating systems
Time line for Central Hub (Information technology functions)
Year 2003:
- Staffing and equipment integration
- Creation of initial Database Service Publisher Software Development Kit (SDK) with Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) interface to allow for publishing of data services on the net
- Draft initial XML scheme for Database Service Publisher Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) publisher and initial Extensible Stylesheet Language transformation (XSLT) document
- Draft of the Web Services Description Language (WSDL) spec for initial Database Service Provider SDK. This allows for a means for the automatic user interface creation on the client.
- Simple test client for Database Service Publisher SOAP publisher
- Assess the integration servlets the Database Service Publisher will need in order to interface to the databases and pass the information along via the SOAP servlet
Year 2004:
- Add Universal Description Discovery and Integration (UDDI) ability to the initial Database Service Provider SDK. UDDI will allow the databases to register their services with the central hub for any to search and access a service.
- Bring Universal Description Discovery and Integration (UDDI) repository on-line to allow the initial databases to begin publishing their services to the repository
- Creation of initial draft reference client with XForms integration
- Creation of addition Database Service Publisher database interface servlets to access a greater range of database configurations
- Draft WSDL, XForms and UDDI specs published allowing other groups to begin creating clients. In addition the source code for the initial client would be opened for all to use as a baseline.
Year 2005:
- Final WSDL, XFORMS and UDDI specs published allowing based on feedback from users of the year 2 draft
- White/Yellow/Green Pages are created and published to allow for more detailed information about the groups, organizations, databases and published services
- Continue interface servlet development as needed for Database Service Publisher
- Aggressive deployment of Database Service Publisher to the various Databases
Year 2006:
- Full deployment mode
- Rich client development (more advanced client interface mechanisms)
Year 2007:
- Full network systems support
- Publish final API specs for Database Service Publisher, Central Node systems, schemes and both the reference and rich clients
B.
Development of methodology and toolboxes for interactive multiple databases
There are currently several on-line databases that are primarily biostratigraphic-oriented or contain a vast amount of biostratigraphic information. The first major task of Chronos will be to coordinate several of these into an initial Biostratigraphy thematic node. The next steps will be to simultaneously expand into multiple thematic nodes (see section C)and construct a useful toolbox for exploring the integrated data.
2003-2005 = 7 Biostrat databases (trial thematic node)
(EGI, Paleobiology, Neptune, USGS, ODP, ODSN, Palynodata)
2004-2006 = Multiple thematic nodes as hub
2005-2007 = Visualization & analytical tools
C. Compilation and integration of new databases
Several major types of chronostratigraphy lack on-line databases. It is anticipated that the easiest ※new§ thematic hubs to construct will be key radiometric ages (estimated to be less than 1000 entries, but with an elaborate array of supporting information for each entry) and magnetostratigraphy (in conjunction with the PMAG database initiative at Scripps Institution of Oceanography). Cycle stratigraphy and geochemical stratigraphy will require workshops to plan the methodology for coding this type of information and the participating institutions. Additional types of chronostratigraphic information include ice core records, Quaternary high-resolution stratigraphy, eustatic sea-level oscillation interpretations, chemical mass accumulation rates, plate motions, volcanic episodes, and other processes. The program of expanding into all types of chronostratigraphic information will occupy Chronos beyond the initial 5-year plan.
2003-2005 = Radiometric, Magneto-stratigraphy
2004-2006 = Cycle-stratigraphy, Geochem-stratigraphy
2005-2007 = Additional (eustatic, ice cores, ＃)
Time-slice projects will serve as ※test-beds§ for Chronos interfaces, new database procedures, types of toolboxes and public access. The following are designed to incorporate terrestrial, shallow-marine and deep-marine data spanning paleontology, geochemistry, magnetic stratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, cyclostratigraphy, eustatic variations, and other types of stratigraphic changes. The time-slices will also serve as the initial focus for data compilation and procedural testing by new nodes (radiometrics, magstrat, chemostrat, cyclostrat, etc.).
Latest Permian-earliest Triassic 每 5 myr slice spanning the major ecosystem catastrophe, Siberian trap eruptive event, and post-extinction recovery. The main emphases are to code information in different disciplines covering a short interval and test how to set up databases to cover different stratigraphic methods. Types of information include marine stratigraphy, terrestrial stratigraphy, magnetics, radiometrics (including Siberia), possible cycles (Italy), sediment lithologies (Meishan condensation, Italy eustatic records), geochemistry (C-13, S-34 major shifts, etc.). The simultaneous scientific question is to establish the order, relative spacing of events and absolute spacing (rates of evolution, etc.) via graphic correlation and other methods. This is the Beta-test of how to code and access different types of stratigraphic data.
mid-Miocene (3 full stages of Burdigalian through Serravallian) 每 10 myr slice incorporating major climatic changes and eustatic sea-level swings. This is a test where there exist an immense amount of stratigraphic coverage, including industrial emphasis, yet a poorly developed biostratigraphy for many regions. Major sea-level shifts result in industrial emphasis, and possible contribution (linkage) of their datasets. This will be the Beta-test of the ability to access and manipulate a large number of datasets. A secondary feature is involvement of the petroleum industry, which has discovered several major reservoirs associated with these eustatic episodes.
mid-Cretaceous 每 20 myr slice incorporating oceanic anoxic events that are associated with major Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) and global warming. The emphasis is on establishing rates in an interval where radiometric control is limited. Cycle stratigraphy will be an important component (add Italian team?).
Cambrian 每 the Cambrian explosion is the most challenging, because of the lack of a well-established stratigraphy, hence the ability of the Chronos system to make a major impact on our understanding. Other possible ※4th time-slice§ intervals are the Mio-Plio boundary and events during the late Devonian.
E. Public access (research and outreach)
to key stratigraphic information
From the end of the initial year of Chronos development, the geological research community and general public will be able to access portions of the database information and other stratigraphic details. It is important that Chronos maintain high-visibility and useful sites as soon as possible, and progressively enhance the level of detail and data visualization/manipulation. The public outreach program will include education modules that illustrate stratigraphic and geological time, plus utilize the progressive search and visualization capabilities of Chronos as these become available.
2003 = Geological time scale explanation (in association with the International Commission on Stratigraphy and site to be developed at the American Museum of Natural History)
2004 = Biostrat node (initial 7 databases) with simple search; Geological time scale linked to pictures of key fauna-flora and paleogeography.
2005 = Complex biostrat search with analysis tools; ※Mining§ into geological time scale.
2006 = Temporal, geographic & thematic search into all databases with visualization tools; Instructional modules using Chronos system.
2007 = Visualization and analysis of all databases in one＊s own workspace; Nice time-slice instructional modules.
F. Budget Estimate (see
attached Excel table for details by project and institution)
G. Initial Chronos key institutions (preliminary
suggestions)
Central Hub (tasks and portals are possibly shared among more than one institutions)
Iowa State University (Cinzia Cervato)
Biostratigraphy
Node
EGI at University of Utah (Paul Sikora, Tony Gary) 每 Database integration and tool development
Harvard University and Smithsonian (Charles Marshall, Brian Huber) 每 Node & Paelobiology database
USGS (Bruce Wardlaw) 每 Paleodata database
Iowa State University (Cinzia Cervato) 每 Neptune database
American Assoc. Strat. Palynology (Martin Farley) 每 Palynodata database
Ocean Drilling Program 每 Janus database
Universities of Bremen and Kiel 每 Ocean Drilling Stratigraphic Network (ODSN) databases
Other
Stratigraphic Nodes
MIT or Berkeley (initial workshop) 每 Radiometric thematic node
Purdue University (Jim Ogg) and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Cathy Constable) 每 Magnetostratigraphy node
Johns Hopkins (Linda Hinnov, initial workshop) 每 Cycle stratigraphy node
University College London (John McArthur, initial workshop) 每 Geochemiscal stratigraphy node
Other institutions for eustatic, ice core or other thematic node workshops are yet to be suggested
Time-Slice
Projects
Boise State University (Permian Research Institute) and Nanjing University (China) for initial workshop 每 Permian-Triassic database assembly and trial
Rutgers University (?) for initial workshop 每 Mid-Miocene database assembly and trial
University of Utah (Paul Sikora) for initial workshop 每 Mid-Cretaceous database assembly and trial
Oxford University (?) 每 Cambrian database assembly and trial
Acknowledgements
The Conference Center at the University of Amherst arranged meeting facilities, audio-visual and Internet systems, hotel accommodations, coffee breaks, and luncheon and dinner banquets. Funding for conference travel, web site logistics, and facilities at University of Amherst was provided by a workshop grant from the National Science Foundation. Purdue University provided secretarial and business office support and website hosting at no cost.