Submit data to the CUAHSI water data center

These are GLEON-centric instructions to enter buoy data into the CUAHSI system based on one test case.  They will likely need to be altered as experience is gained and CUAHSI software  modified. Examples csv files are attached at the bottom of this page.

1.  Create a Google  account. 

CUAHSI ties this to your database to a Google account. For example, the Lake Sunapee buoy data uses GLEON.Sunapee@gmail.com . CUAHSI will want you to log into their system with it. Currently, a separate Google account is required for each database.

2.  Have CUAHSI set up a database

1. Go to: http://hydroserver.cuahsi.org.  At the bottom of the page it will ask you to enter your Google credentials.
2. Next page may ask, “Project Default Service Account would like to…”   Click Accept.
3. Next page is Request for WDC HydroServer  Hosting Services.  Fill in the fields with red asterisks. The “Google Account” field should be the one you created in Step 1. The “Email Address” field should be whatever email address you prefer CUAHSI contact you with (not necessarily the gmail account)
4. Someone from CUAHSI should inform you via email that your database has been created. It is not automated – you may have to wait a working day or so.

3. Register your data service.  (Unclear what this is exactly)

a. Once CUAHSI has contacted you in Step 3, go to http://hiscentral.cuahsi.org where  you must enter a few fields. Here are some living examples: http://hiscentral.cuahsi.org/pub_services.aspx  Below are what we used for Lake Sunapee.

                Data Service Title: Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire, USA Instrumented Buoy

                Observation Network Name: GLEON_Sunapee

                URL to WDSL: (CUAHSI should provide this to you in their email.)

4. Fill out the data and metadata templates. There are six that are required: five of metadata (Sites, Variables, Sources, Methods, QualityControlLevels) and one or more for data (DataValues). There may be more than one for DataValues because CUAHSI currently accepts at most 50,000 records per upload. Datasets with more than 50k data points will require multiple uploads of the data portion. Unused fields should be left blank but the field header must be left intact with an empty column below it.

The spreadsheet at the link will be helpful in describing fields:  ODMGuide-Excel.

SITES

Bold are required fields.  CV=Controlled Vocabulary

SOURCES

Bold are required fields.  CV=Controlled Vocabulary

VARIABLES

All fields are required. CV=Controlled Vocabulary

METHODS

Bold are required fields. 

Methods is how similar but distinct measurements are currently handled. For example, a thermistor chain on a buoy will generate a separate method for each sensor/depth combination but require only one variable, water temperature:

Another example:  reporting battery voltages from both a data logger and data radio will require two different methods, but can/should use the same variable if all of the fields in the Variables table are identical.

As a counter-example, wind speed might be reported as instantaneous, average, and maximum (i.e. gust). In this case, their distinction would be expressed in the Variables table because the TimeSupport, TimeUnitsName, and/or DataType fields in the Variables table will differ.

If possible, however, try to minimize the number of variables by expressing measurement differences in the Methods table if the fields in the Variables table are consistent.

QUALITYCONTROLLEVELS

This metadata table is required and needs to be uploaded along with the other metadata tables, but it is already created and can be downloaded

DATAVALUES

This table will likely be the result of a provider-generated effort (software script) to convert from their own data format to the one required by CUAHSI. Each record of data is a single time-sensor data point.

Bold are required fields.  CV=Controlled Vocabulary

In the Lake Sunapee data,  the buoy manager generated data files that include 30 distinct measurements at each time increment. Each of these 30 measurements became a separate row to fit the format of the DataValues table.

5. Complete the data registration pages

1. Return to http://hiscentral.cuahsi.org/default.aspx and log in with your Google account
2. On the top menu, select “My Data Services” and the buoy should be listed.
3. Click on “Details”. This should open the page, “Data Service Details” which has a number of fields for some of the buoy metadata, such as contact info, citation, abstract, etc. Although this information may be included in the metadata that was uploaded, it will have to be manually entered on this page.  Click on “Edit Details” to do so.

Contact Mark Gahler (gahler@wisc.edu)  with issues pertaining to these instructions