The Database Dictionary is a comprehensive document that details the objectives, goals, and procedures of the Hawaii Forest Bird Interagency Database Project (HFBIDP). Included in the Database Dictionary is a description of HFBIDP's acquisition, processing, analyzing and documentation procedures. In addition, this document presents a dictionary of the database design.

The Database Entry Form is a relational database that facilitates VCP data entry. The Entry Form consists of three tabs, in a front-end menu, linked to data tables (back-end). The first tab of the Entry Form menu is used for entering sampling location, conditions and observations. This tab looks like the standard VCP field book and can be used for both entry and proofing of electronic data. The second tab is used to record information about the survey, such as survey purpose, organizer and location (e.g., island, region and area). The third tab is used to produce summary information about entered data (i.e., survey location, start and end dates and sampling times, species list, and birds per station). The User's Guide presents instructions on how to use the Data Entry Form, Entry Form structure and examples.

Entry Form

User's Guide

Metadata describes and documents the contents, context, quality, and status of the data; therefore, it is a key component of the survey data and geographic infrastructure. Metadata not only helps locate data, but also tells how to interpret and use the data. Two types of metadata, properties and documentation, are presented. Properties metadata includes items such as the survey number, survey methodology, number of records, and transects and stations sampled. Documentation or descriptive metadata includes such items as the survey organizer and quality characteristics. Additionally, the metadata files serve as an edit log to document changes to specific data sets. Metadata files for each survey are presented by Island and Region.

HFBIDP has developed and implemented a system that features a common architecture and common code base for storage, manipulation, and presentation of point count data - the HFBIDP Database. The database contains a comprehensive inventory of all forest bird census data collected since the mid-1970s in a centralized, standardized, relational database. The database functions are: 1) data storage; 2) to facilitate data processing; and 3) assist with analyses.

Database