Expansion of our research agenda has included regional-scale investigations and the study of human interactions with lake ecosystems. NTL-LTER research goals. The NTL-LTER data and information system has been designed to facilitate interdisciplinary research. We implemented our information system using Oracle TM database software on a Sun Ultrasparc TM 2. The relational structure is well-suited for queries and facilitates linking data sets.
Relational databases can handle large, complex data sets.
Database structures can be easily expanded or changed. Normalizing data tables can eliminate data redundancy. Built-in security, recovery and export capabilities create a more secure environment for access, updates, and backup. Industrial-strength relational databases such as Oracle TM can be rather expensive to purchase unless your organization has special terms with the vendor. These products are very large and complex, with numerous configuration options, and there tends to be a significant learning curve to utilize database features fully.