to handle fax and handwritten documents as well
Storage and retrieval of data
as typed documents.
Data storage and retrieval are vital to any data
Another possible method of data transmission
collection effort. Over the years, a tremendous
that has exploded in usage recently is electronic
wealth of data has been collected in numerous for-
mail, or e-mail. Most e-mail systems allow the
mats by many individuals. The preponderance of
sender to attach a file to a transmitted message.
data can be overwhelming if stored on paper or
The sender and receiver must either use compat-
maintained in multiple formats (e.g., multiple
ible e-mail systems or the sender must be certain
years of hourly release data from a reservoir
that the e-mail system allows the file format in-
project). Rapid increases in computer power per-
tegrity to be preserved as it passes through the
mits enhanced levels of detail in collected data.
gateway router. Nonetheless, e-mail allows for
While it might be cost-prohibitive to transfer large
simple data transmission, and if a standard form
amounts of existing data on paper into a usable
were used, easy data reduction could be attained.
digital format (at least for now), the need for a
Data can also be transmitted through the World
corporate database usable by all individuals is es-
Wide Web. A password-protected web site can be
sential to the future retrieval of information cur-
developed that will allow ice observations to be
rently being collected and stored.
input directly into a database. The observations
Although there are many commercially avail-
are then available to any who query the site. This
able databases available to choose from, the
system is currently used in Nebraska by ice ob-
HECDSS database system developed by HEC
servers (address http://cavent.nrc.state.ne.us/
(1990) is widely used within the USACE because
cgi-win/icejam.exe). It is expected that this type
it was specifically developed for water resource
of data transmission will increase due to its rela-
studies. It is especially well-suited to storage and
tively low cost and high transmission speed.
retrieval of time-series data sets, but at this time
DSS is used primarily within the Water Control
and Hydraulics and Hydrology arenas. This is
Displaying and evaluating data
Systems for displaying and evaluating data
largely due to the development of DSS as a water
have changed tremendously, and will continue to
resources database, but could also be attributed
change, as computer systems become more and
to the user-unfriendly interface of DSS. There is
more powerful. Computer industry standards for
probably little need for everyone to be a DSS-user,
graphics display are commonplace and should
but some type of interface, either GUI or GIS, could
remain so. Development of software capable of
be developed that could import and export data
data evaluation or editing is likely to be much
from DSS, as well as allow querying for casual users.
more fluid. More and more programs are turning
A GIS interface is currently under development
to graphical user interfaces (GUIs). GUIs provide
by the Remote Sensing Lab at CRREL for the
a user-friendly front-end for otherwise complex
Omaha District and Missouri River Division. Cur-
models or databases. Any future software devel-
rently, the system is set up to allow querying of
opment by the USACE should take advantage of
DCP data (stored in DSS) through an Arcinfo/
GUI's, as the number of computer users well-
Arcview interface. It is also set up to allow dis-
versed in DOS and UNIX commands continues to
play of selected satellite images and NWS
decline. Future software developed should allow
NEXRAD radar images. The graphical display
on-screen data manipulation with the data input
shows the Missouri River basin and magnified
device (e.g., mouse) as well. While the DOS oper-
views of areas selected on the display. The ability
ating system on IBM-compatible platforms has
to highlight all stations above flood stage will be
dominated the market (numbers-wise) over the
added. The user is allowed to query the selected
past 10 or 15 years, the continuing emergence of
gage site and have the area displayed. Develop-
the Windows system has driven DOS further and
ers report that, once the basic interface is running
further from the ordinary user. More programs will
correctly, it will be relatively easy to adapt to other
be developed that are Windows-compatible only,
Districts or Divisions. A little modification is prob-
leaving DOS-only users with fewer choices for up-
ably required to export in a user-specified format,
to-date software. Users of Apple and UNIX plat-
but this should be possible. Importing data may
forms also have fewer commercial software pack-
be more difficult into the DSS database through
ages available, although each of these platforms
this interface, but it would not be wise to allow
offers certain advantages over the IBM-compat-
users to import data or otherwise edit data with-
ible platform.
out specific privileges.
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