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Eionet

European Environment Information and Observation Network

Networking improving Europe's environment

DD version 2.3

Data dictionary version 2.3 has been released. This version provides Excel templates as an output from datasets in the data dictionary, completes the new design layout and adds some versioning improvements as well as caching of PDF files.

Data dictionary was also moved to a new higher capacity server with an upgraded database engine towards the end of August to improve performance. The speed problems that plagued DD earlier this summer now seem to be over.

Data dictionary used for 2004 Eurowaternet data collection.

The Data Dictionary has become the centrally located store of information and definitions and data sets, and is now the only source for definitions relating to the water data sets for the Eurowaternet data collection. All information previously provided in the Eurowaternet update guidance notes and data templates are now included in the data dictionary.

Groundwater, Rivers, Lakes, Water Quantity and Transitional, Coastal and Marine Waters data sets were released to schedule in the data dictionary on August 25. A big Thank you to all those in making this happen.

Datasets in the data dictionary

Work on the contents has also progressed. Specifications for the NEC and CLRTAP dataflows have been entered into the data dictionary and are awaiting review and input from the ETC. Work on the EoI and Corine landcover dataflows is progressing. The datasets should be at candidate status in September.

The data dictionary now contains data specifications for the following dataflows, although not all are in released status:

• CLRTAP (Eionet priority data flow AE-1)
• NEC directive (Eionet priority data flow AE-1b)
• EoI data (Eionet priority data flow AQ-1)
• Ozone monthly data (Eionet priority data flow AQ-2ai)
• Ozone annual data (Eionet priority data flow AQ 2b)
• Nationally designated areas (Eionet priority data flow CDDA-1)
• River quality (Eionet priority data flow EWN-1)
• Lake quality (Eionet priority data flow EWN-2)
• Groundwater quality (Eionet priority data flow EWN-3)
• Water quantity (Eionet dataflow)
• Marine (Eionet priority data flow TCM-1)
• Corine landcover (Eionet priority data flow TE-1)
• Soil contamination (Eionet priority data flow TE-2)
• EPER

“The added value of doing this work is that it makes data collection transparent for lots of people, not just the few. By putting it in the DD you show what is happening and allow more people to interact and review what is happening” Sheila Cryan.

What is next - will there be a version 2.4?

A further release of the data dictionary is anticipated in September. This release will focus on:

• Improvements to versioning;
• Complete integration with GDEM and ROD;
• Optimisation and re-coding of how 3D tables are output for PDF, and Excel templates;
• Fixed value look-up tables - this feature would enable code-lists to be common to several datasets and be re-usable.

Change of DD project team

With the launch of the DD as an operational system and its use for the 2004 Eurowaternet data collection it is now time for the current project team to move on.

Hermann Peifer will take over as manager for the data dictionary and is the primary contact point for the DD at EEA. This is good news for the operational phase, as the group that coordinates Eionet dataflows will now own the application. Some resources are available for development until October, so Jaanus will continue to be involved in the project for a while longer. Tim, Mette and Ulla will move on to other projects at the beginning of September and wish the new owners of this great tool all the best!