System of Information of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (SIPAM)
A Workshop was held 1–3 April, 1993, in conjunction with the Seminar on the establishment of SIPAM network to review the conceptional design of a modular system for aquaculture data and information for the Mediterranean Region.
The outline of a proposed system design was presented by the FAO representative, S. Coppola (System Designer), outlining a modular system integration biological, technological, economical and institutional data elements submitted to a host system aggregated at regional level to form a relational database. The system allows accessing other related institutional and commercial database to complement the resident data on the whole system.
The conceptual design envisages that SIPAM will be developed with the direct data and information contribution of national institutions engaged in aquaculture research and production, which will be supplemented by the transfer of know-how from FAO to be made available to aquaculture workers in the region and familiarizing them with the state of research, applications and trade in this field.
Objectives: The primary objective of SIPAM is to provide the MEDRAP, and through it the countries directly participating in the project as well as those associated with it, with an instrument and methodology for rapid and targeted access to data and information of different types and from different sectors and sources. This technology will allow all users to establish their own “made-to-measure” research procedures tailored each time to suit their specific requirements.
The system, although not specifically designed for it, will also permit the exchange of data and information between the network nodes (Countries/End-user Centres) and the host system centre (FAO-MEDRAP Project) and disseminate the conclusions reached at various MEDRAP Workshops held in different subject areas through and unique network.
Outputs: The product developed under the activity “SIPAM” is a tool conceived to allow the storage and management, into pre-defined sub-systems, of data and information of a different nature received from national, regional and global sources. SIPAM end users are classified by group according tom their position and fields of interest. The primary end user is the staff of the fisheries and aquaculture services in the various national offices in the regions, who will be using SIPAM mainly for reporting and planning purposes, but also to answer queries received from the private sector. This group is also the most important one for supplying the aquaculture-related data to be entered into the system. Among a second group of end users are aquaculturists, economists, fishery specialists, traders and inventors in the fisheries industry, trade and educational institutions, in both the public and private sectors. Each SIPAM national coordinator will interact with his own national end user groups both in providing relevant data and information to them and acquiring data to contribute to both national and regional databases.
The countries will be free to install and manage their own Databases or information Systems. It would be, nevertheless, highly desirable that as far as possible, the national systems be compatible with the regional system in following the same field structures and identical authority lists and thesauri for indexing the information stored in the system. The project may eventually be asked to assist interested countries in developing data entry procedures, or automatic data capture interfaces, in down loading from and uploading national data to (manually or automatically) the regional system.
Activities: In order to rationalise SIPAM development and implementation, to enhance its possibility of success, and to increase its use and interest by all parties concerned, the system will be composed of four substantial and two accessory sub-systems:
The regional sub-system is a corporate system which summarizes the information supplied by countries.
The FAO sub-system will contain all the officially published software and databases obtainable from FAO HQs and relevant to the scope and coverage of SIPAM.
The extended sub-system will contain an abstract prepared by SIPAM of information collected through the linkage to the worldwide commercial and non-commercial networks. Regarding acquisition of data from vendors, SIPAM will enter into contractual agreements for accessing data and redistributing them to regional network modes or directly to users.
The system maintenance sub-system will deign SIPAM according to the different hardware/software platforms where it is installed.
The analytical/modelling sub-system will be a complementary module containing “ad hoc” tools purposely developed for SIPAM, or acquired by the project, to assist investment planning, project evaluation, modelling, etc., studies. It has been reported that there are already some concrete possibilities for receiving assistance from various institutions and companies who would be prepared to supply such systems. Specifically, FAO and MEDRAP have already received an offer from an Italian consultancy firm STM Servizi Tecnici in Maricoltura" to supply an analytical Module called APS (Aquaculture Project Simulator) for the evaluation of aquaculture projects. However, while it was emphasized that the Project should consider these initiatives, SIPAM should ascertain conditions governing such a contribution, and put it on record by a memorandum of understanding.
The processing tool Sub-system will enable the user to process and critically analyse the information retrieved through SIPAM. In fact, one of the characteristics of the system is that it will not be dependent upon pre-determined models. This sub-system will therefore contain all the commercial software which the user might need for carrying out analytical studies (world processor, spreadsheet, DBMS, project management tool, graphics, statistical package, etc.).
In addition, whenever possible, SIPAM will provide direct assess to national database. However, this latter option will be available only in those countries where a national information system exists and the national coordinating staff is able to develop the appropriate communication protocols. This option is, at any rate, reserved for the country's own use and data management.
The end users will be requested to contribute, not only as the recipient of data and information services, but also contribute to the development of the overall system by proposing, through the national coordinator, new applications as well as modifications to the existing ones to make the system respond better to user needs.
A proposed Strategy for the Development of the System
The proposed SIPAM system will basically be an “End User” computing system which will be mainly micro-computer based in the collaborating member countries. By its mandate, the network centre will be service-oriented and meet the end-user needs, including' training. In implementing the service approach will require the following steps:
- defining the service needs of the end users
- designing services to meet those needs and further network goals
- delivering the services.
The implementation phases and tasks will be as follows:
Plan of the Implementation
- Survey end-user computing needs
- Define hardware and software requirements
- Define staff and facility needs
- Establish control and security requirements
- Create the plan.
Establish and Operate a Pilot Centre
- Select pilot projects and users
- Develop documentation for services
- Make services available to pilot group
- Capture costs and benefits
- Assess pilot successes and identify problems
- Revise implementation plan
- Announce achievements to the participants.
Establish an on-going Centre
- Expand user base to all the MEDRAP members
- Expand hardware and software resources
- Expand services offered
- Monitor costs and benefits
- Apply coordinating mechanisms to use and Development
- Assist in increasing number of Information centres in participating countries.
INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR AQUACULTURE PLANNING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
SIPAM
SIPAM - Conceptual design
Some of the elements within the planning phase have already been implemented in that the user needs are partially known, justification in building the system is developed, system development staff needs identified, and the initial hardware and software needs determined. A security system to protect confidential data and control systems in accessing the database needs will need to be studied and appropriate measures included in the system design.
Data Resources Management
The SIPAM network will essentially rely on the data input from the network nodes in member countries. The database managers must therefore understand the nature of the information that would be required by the end users and ensure that the raw data are readily available to constitute the base.
The data management has two dimensions :
- The data dimension identify the data that is relevant to service the end user, the source of the data, the method of data capture, and the relationship that data items have with each other.
- The technical dimension: stores data on computer-readable media in a readily accessable from for the user needs.
The first dimension is well understood but requires verification through consultations with the users. The second dimension has already been developed for a sister system in Latin America which will be used as model for SIPAM. During the prototype phase the suitability of the system will be verified by the users.
The impact of the prototype on system development could be significant. It promotes user acceptance by giving the user hands-on experience with the system as it is being developed. The inclusion of an on line help command, for each function also increases user acceptance. The relational data base software that will be used and the data dictionary will provide data independence and will support the extraction and manipulation of the data in various context as the end user may require. This, again, will increase user acceptance. As the prototype phase allows the systems analyst to work with the end users to create the model of the database that would best meet the requirements, it becomes an essential step in the development of the final system.
Implementation stategies
The Workshop, having considered the systematic approach to the development of SIPAM, suggested the following implementation plans :
- The Prototype be developed jointly with MEDRAP/FAO and some six selected countries of the region. These countries are Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Portugal, Tunisia and Turkey. Albania has also requested to be included in the initial group selected to participate in the prototype phase.
- In order to better identify requirements, the end users have requested to inform the Database Manager by submitting a report consisting of :
- description and objectives of the system as they see it
- type and sources of data they would like to see in the DB
- description of prospective end user profiles
- data entry formats ( if any ) presently used
- data extraction envisaged
- desired retrieval and output formats
- general suggestions related to SIPAM.
- During both the development and operational phases of the system, to avoid overburdening the contributing national system nodes, care will be taken to ensure :
- that the input to the system will consist of national data of regional interest which is readily available in the participating countries and not of a confidential nature
- that the data/information feeding the system are released officially.
- Data and information to be contributed to the system will be provided according to standardized input format, coded and indexed according to the thesauri and authority lists to be developed for the purpose. As far as possible existing standard classifications and index terms will be used to identify the attributes of the data entered in the base.
- In order to achieve full compatibility between the host system and the network nodes, the software developed for SIPAM will be made available to all the collaborating MEDRAP member countries of the region, including the system documentation, authority lists and the thesauri.
- The data elements that will be stored in the Prototype database will be feeding the following system modules :
- production statistics
- import and export statistics
- aquaculture legislation information ( laws and bylaws, associated environmental laws, etc. )
- Institutional/staff information ( inst.and Expt. Registers )
- Aquaculture research information and on-going and pending projects information.
It is assumed that the above data elements would be readily available in almost all the countries of the region.
The Workshop proposed the following plan for immediate implementation
for MEDRAP Implementation
Complete the technical specifications required for the acquisition of the hardware and initiate procurement action.
Acquire a modem and PTT lines to connect the system to other databases and to the electronic mail system with FAO.
Acquire 1 copy of PROCOMM PLUS form DOS and 10 copies for Public Domain; 10 licences for MENUWORK, software to be used for developing architectural structure.
Upon receipt of the hardware and software, start the programmer familiarizing himself with the system, and assist the programmer with the development of the applications, menu and help functions.
Customize the PROCOMM PLUS software on the acquired hardware and peripherals.
Arrange that the Database Manager visit the countries of the region to verify the end user needs, obtain the available data and information in the countries and extract other relevant information required for the system.
In the light of the information acquired during the regional consultations with the end users, the Database Manager will assist the System Designer to finalize the draft system design to be approved from SIPAM; prepared details of the modules (or modify the existing modules already developed in FAO or for the sister system SIPAL) and initiate a development of the applications by the programmers.
Receive legal advice from the FAO Legal Office on the modalities of collecting and disseminating information protected by copyright, etc.
For Country Implementation
Prepare, in machine readable form, a report on the state of aquaculture in the country
Compile a list of the existing national laws and regulation governing the aquaculture sub-sector (provide the reference in English for ease of use);
Compile national information on:
- aquaculture projects (current, approved not yet operational, in pipeline and completed)
- aquaculture research institutions
- training institutions
- production statistics
- import and export statistics
The above information will assist the Database Manager to help perfect the SIPAM system design and determine the content of the modules.
For FAO implementation
Complete the technical specifications for the system and assist the SIPAM system programmer in the development of the applications.
In close cooperation with the Database Manager, initiate the preparation of the system documentation authority lists thesauri and end user guides.
Backstop and guide the system development and organise the system prototypes phase.
MEDRAP
SIPAM NETWORK SEMINAR
Tunis, April 1993
Agenda of Working Group 2
BUILDING UP OF THE PROTOTYPE
From April 1st, 15:00
to April 3rd, 18:00
PARTICIPANTS
6 Member Countries
- Tunisia
- Egypt
- Croatia
- Turkey
- Cyprus
- Portuga
2 Associated Countries
- France
- Greece
PROGRAMME
- System design
- Procedural approach
- Duties and responsibilities
- System development time table (planning)
