Spatial Search Architecture for the Fire Effects Information System

Project details
In 2009, the NCLFA partnered with the Rocky Mountain Research Station to develop a prototype information system architecture for the Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). A new user interface will provide search options such as geographic and subject-matter keywords and an option to find literature and synthesis documents about a species in an area by selecting that area on an interactive map.The architecture will include a searchable system with spatially explicit entries for all FEIS literature reviews and other synthesis documents. FEIS summarizes and synthesizes research about fire’s effects on living organisms in the United States.

The prototype search architecture will contain:

•    Spatial descriptions for each existing FEIS review;
•    System components for searching by spatial variables and for entering spatial information for new reviews;
•    A workflow to extract keywords from FEIS species reviews;
•    System components for searching by keyword variables and entering keywords for new reviews;
•    A database architecture to support spatial and keyword-based retrieval of FEIS reviews;
•    The demonstration of the prototype in a web application.
This will allow scientists, managers, students, and the general public to more easily find information on wildland fire’s effects on plants, animals, and other living organisms.

Principal Investigator: Lee Macholz
Project staff: Valentijn Hoff, LiMei Piao