National Biological Information Infrastructure
Encyclopedia
The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is a program coordinated by the United States Geological Survey
's Biological Informatics Office within the USGS Biological Resources Discipline
. Its purpose is to facilitate access to data and information on the biological resources of the United States
, utilizing government agencies, academic institutions, non-government organizations, and private industry.
The NBII coordinates the research output of the biological community into information systems that are easily accessed, by providing organization and a structure that is based on standards. The structure is essentially invisible to the end user of the information, but is vitally important to those wishing to participate by making data available through the system, or becoming partners in the development of new tools, models, and applications. The end-user aspect of the NBII is its Web portal which provides access to information, publications, and data from the various data sources "in a seamless, unified portal."
report titled "A Biological Survey for the Nation", which recommended that the United States Department of the Interior
oversee the development of a National Biotic Resource Information System to coordinate information about biodiversity and ecosystems. The report found that such information was "vital to a wide range of scientific, educational, and government uses," but that, unfortunately, most of the information existed in forms that were not easily used. It envisioned a system of distributed databases designed to make the existing information more accessible. The report also suggested that new ways to collect and distribute data and information should be developed. It did mention networking, but not the Internet. .
As a first step, in 1994, President Clinton
signed Executive Order 12906, "Coordinating Geographic Data Acquisition and Access: the National Spatial Data Infrastructure". National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) deals with the acquisition, processing, storage, and distribution of geospatial (geographically referenced) data. In conjunction with this, but without a presidential order, former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt
renamed the national biotic resource information system as the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII). In 1996 the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-130, the document which directs the management of federal information resources in the United States, was amended to include the NBII.
Funding and support for the NBII did not develop as quickly as the scientific community hoped, and in 1998, the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology
released a report "Teaming With Life: Investing in Science to Understand and Use America's Living Capital" which urged that current information technology be applied to the management of science information, and reiterated the findings of the 1993 report. In 2001 money was finally appropriated for the development of the system of NBII networked nodes, though far below the level recommended in the report.
In implementing this system, the USGS is designing each aspect of the system to focus on a narrowly defined scope (often geographic) or purpose. For example, the Southwest Information Node focuses on desert ecosystems.
Due to the extensive amount and array of resources and data available, users may need to both browse and search to locate specific information of interest. "A great deal of persistence may be required to find a particular database. Some valuable resources are found four or five layers into the site's hierarchy." An example is FRAMES, the "Fire Research And Management Exchange System" portal to U.S.-based Internet resources on forest and wildland fires. Other problems include resources that are listed well down on the page, so that they don’t appear on the screen, and there are the occasional dead links. "
On October 3rd, 2011, USGS announced on all NBII websites and applications that on January 15, 2012, the NBII website and any applications residing on the nbii.gov domain will be shut down.
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
's Biological Informatics Office within the USGS Biological Resources Discipline
Biological Resources Discipline
The Biological Resources Discipline is a program of the United States Geological Survey . Its stated task is to work with other stakeholders to provide the scientific understanding and technologies needed to support the sound management and conservation of the United States' biological...
. Its purpose is to facilitate access to data and information on the biological resources of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, utilizing government agencies, academic institutions, non-government organizations, and private industry.
The NBII coordinates the research output of the biological community into information systems that are easily accessed, by providing organization and a structure that is based on standards. The structure is essentially invisible to the end user of the information, but is vitally important to those wishing to participate by making data available through the system, or becoming partners in the development of new tools, models, and applications. The end-user aspect of the NBII is its Web portal which provides access to information, publications, and data from the various data sources "in a seamless, unified portal."
History
The NBII is an outgrowth of a 1993 National Research CouncilUnited States National Research Council
The National Research Council of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academies, carrying out most of the studies done in their names.The National Academies include:* National Academy of Sciences...
report titled "A Biological Survey for the Nation", which recommended that the United States Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
oversee the development of a National Biotic Resource Information System to coordinate information about biodiversity and ecosystems. The report found that such information was "vital to a wide range of scientific, educational, and government uses," but that, unfortunately, most of the information existed in forms that were not easily used. It envisioned a system of distributed databases designed to make the existing information more accessible. The report also suggested that new ways to collect and distribute data and information should be developed. It did mention networking, but not the Internet. .
As a first step, in 1994, President Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
signed Executive Order 12906, "Coordinating Geographic Data Acquisition and Access: the National Spatial Data Infrastructure". National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) deals with the acquisition, processing, storage, and distribution of geospatial (geographically referenced) data. In conjunction with this, but without a presidential order, former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt
Bruce Babbitt
Bruce Edward Babbitt , a Democrat, served as United States Secretary of the Interior and as the 16th governor of Arizona, from 1978 to 1987.-Biography:...
renamed the national biotic resource information system as the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII). In 1996 the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-130, the document which directs the management of federal information resources in the United States, was amended to include the NBII.
Funding and support for the NBII did not develop as quickly as the scientific community hoped, and in 1998, the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology
PCAST
The United States President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology is a council, chartered in each administration with a broad mandate to advise the President on science and technology. The current PCAST was established by on September 30, 2001, by President George W...
released a report "Teaming With Life: Investing in Science to Understand and Use America's Living Capital" which urged that current information technology be applied to the management of science information, and reiterated the findings of the 1993 report. In 2001 money was finally appropriated for the development of the system of NBII networked nodes, though far below the level recommended in the report.
In implementing this system, the USGS is designing each aspect of the system to focus on a narrowly defined scope (often geographic) or purpose. For example, the Southwest Information Node focuses on desert ecosystems.
International Initiatives
The NBII is involved with a range of international initiatives including:- "Global Biodiversity Information FacilityGlobal Biodiversity Information FacilityThe Global Biodiversity Information Facility is an international organisation that focuses on making scientific data on biodiversity available via the Internet using web services. The data are provided by many institutions from around the world; GBIF's information architecture makes these data...
" (GBIF) - "Inter-American Biodiversity Information NetworkInter-American Biodiversity Information NetworkThe Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network is a network dedicated to the adoption and promotion of ecoinformatics standards and protocols in all the countries of the Americas, thus facilitating the sound use of biological information for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity...
" (IABIN) - "Invasive Species Information Network for the Americas" (I3N)
- "Pollinators Thematic Network: A Network for Pollinator Information and Expertise in the Western Hemisphere" (PTN), primarily an IABIN initiative.
- "Global Invasive Species Information NetworkGlobal Invasive Species Information NetworkThe Global Invasive Species Information Network is a web-based network of data providers including government, non-government, non-profit, educational, and other organizations that agree to work together to provide increased access to data and information on invasive species around the world...
" - "FishBase for the Americas: Improving Access to Western Hemisphere Fisheries" is a partnership of FishBaseFishBaseFishBase is a comprehensive database of information about fish species . It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web...
, the Inter-American Biodiversity Information NetworkInter-American Biodiversity Information NetworkThe Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network is a network dedicated to the adoption and promotion of ecoinformatics standards and protocols in all the countries of the Americas, thus facilitating the sound use of biological information for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity...
(IABIN) and the NBII Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (FAR) Node.
Reviews
Early on researchers found the NBII coordination less than expected. The NBII navigation buttons on the Invasive Species databases had confusing topic labels especially when compared with the National Agricultural Library labels. The switching back and forth between the portal and the databases was "a tedious exercise indeed." Nonetheless, the Federation of Government Information Processing Councils awarded the NBII a 2002 Award for Outstanding Intergovernmental Technology Solutions.Due to the extensive amount and array of resources and data available, users may need to both browse and search to locate specific information of interest. "A great deal of persistence may be required to find a particular database. Some valuable resources are found four or five layers into the site's hierarchy." An example is FRAMES, the "Fire Research And Management Exchange System" portal to U.S.-based Internet resources on forest and wildland fires. Other problems include resources that are listed well down on the page, so that they don’t appear on the screen, and there are the occasional dead links. "
Termination
In the President's Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, the NBII was identified as one of over 200 programs slated for termination or reduction. The FY 2011 Continuing Resolution for USGS, finalized in May 2011, accelerated the beginning of the termination activities to FY 2011 with their completion in FY 2012.On October 3rd, 2011, USGS announced on all NBII websites and applications that on January 15, 2012, the NBII website and any applications residing on the nbii.gov domain will be shut down.