Publications are key indicators of research progress and results, and tracking them is critical for various reporting and records requirements. The ARM website’s text-based tracking tool, in place since the mid-1990s, did a good job of storing publication data but was not able to connect publications with related subject areas on the website, which made comprehensive reporting difficult. To better cross-link related information and increase efficiency in content management, in late September the ARM website development team completed a comprehensive conversion of the ARM publication records into a relational database. Completion of this high-priority task allows publications to be better categorized and indexed with common ARM terms, such as research areas, sites, working groups, instrument classes, measurement types, and field campaigns. This conversion will also allow a closer link with the ARM research highlights database in the future.
As part of the database development effort, a new submittal form was created for the database that standardizes the bibliographic references. The form also includes keywords to aid in searches and to connect the publications database to other web pages. Existing content from the old publications tracking tool (~5000 entries) was transported into the new database, and administrative tools were added to facilitate manual editing by content administrators. Reporting and tracking will now be more comprehensive and standardized, and the new database is easier to navigate with web interfaces that have the ARM website “look and feel.”
As the primary vehicle for storing and distributing information, the ARM website provides a mechanism for users to search for not only recently published research results, but also news and general programmatic information. By linking the publications area of the website with other web pages, users will now be able to find related publications much easier. Additional features and tools are planned to take advantage of the new database, as well as cleaning up existing metadata to make better connections among keywords. Check out the new ARM Publications Database!