Information Technology in a Global Society

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Area of Interaction - Science and the Environment
 

Data search, collection, processing and analysis

Do some research on the use of IT for data search, collection, processing and analysis, then answer the questions below.

Research Links:

	Data collection devices pg 1 pg 2
	Monitoring Air Quality
	University of Oregon Solar Radiation Monitoring Laboratory
	Delimited Data and Tab Separated Format

The US Geological Survey (USGS) provides environmental data to the public on their website.  One service it offers is data about the water levels in rivers.  Monitoring stations are set up along the rivers to collect data about water levels.  This data is transmitted back via satellite link to a central location where a database is constantly maintained.

Real time data can be downloaded as a graph or a table of figures in a tab separated format.

1. Describe one advantage of obtaining the data as a table of figures in tab separated format instead of as a graph [2 marks]

2. Explain the purpose of two items of hardware that are required at the sampling stations along the rivers  [4 marks]

3. Explain the use of two other items of physical data that can be collected by the data logging stations along the rivers [4 marks]

4. In the past, data about rivers was collected manually.
   Discuss two advantages and one concern for the USGS using automated monitoring systems along rivers and then entering the information into a centrally located database.  Evaluate these issues. [10 marks]