Report prepared for the Experts Meeting Towards the Implementation of a Global Invasive Species
Information Network (GISIN), 6-8 April, 2004. Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Page 28
8/30/2004
Collaboration
Forty-nine percent of those who responded
to Survey 3 are currently collaborating with
another database (Figure 17).
Technological Database Development
Limitations
Software and technology hardware quality
and availability were ranked as the most
limiting factors to database development,
followed by internet connection speed and
internet connection availability (Table 4).
Other technology limitations included a lack
of knowledge regarding appropriate
technology, the technology itself, and
limitations of users. Two respondents
indicated that none of these were limitations
for their database development and
collaboration.
Technological Limitations
(1=most limiting, 4=least limiting)
Limitation
Mode
Average
Software quality
and availability
1
1.86
Technological hardware
quality and availability
2
1.96
Internet
connection speed
4
2.93
Internet
connection availability
4
3.29
Table 4: A ranking of technological limitations to IAS
database development.
Non-Technological Database Development
Limitations
The highest ranked non-technical limitation
was funding, followed by programming
expertise, database design expertise, IAS
expertise, and data ownership/copyright
(Table 5). Additional non-technical
limitations given by respondents were the
high security related to IAS and quarantine
interceptions (i.e., because dissemination of
information could result in trade barriers),
and the lack of the following: time, widely-
accepted formats, reinvention of existing
solutions, acceptance in organizations/
governments, institutional capacity,
expertise, and national political
commitment. One respondent commented
that this ranking was not very meaningful,
because the limitations listed were
dependent on each other and that with
additional funding all other limitations would
evaporate.
Non-technological Limitations
(1=most limiting, 5=least limiting)
Limitation
Mode
Average
Funding
1
1.7
Programming
Expertise
2
2.52
Database Design
Expertise
2
2.88
IAS Expertise
4
3.61
Data Ownership
and Copyright
5
4.33
Table 5: A ranking of non-technological limitations to
database development.
Database Development Hardware
Fifty-one respondents use a personal
computer (Figure 18). Respondents also
use global positioning systems (GPS) and
Data-loggers. Responses in the Other
category included Linux or other server,
public computer, Palm Pilot, or digital
camera.
No
51%
Yes
49%
Figure 17: Percentage IAS database
collaboration among GISIN members.
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