The ARS Data Portal is a Microsoft Silverlight 4.0 web‐based server application (written in C# under MS Visual Studio 2010) utilizing Microsoft SQL Server 2005, ArcGIS SDE 9.3, and ArcGIS Server 10.0. The application was developed to: 1) consolidate data from different ARS research efforts together under one common interface to more easily store and access experimental data; and 2) unite the various research efforts under a shared theme in terms of data representation (e.g., GIS information, laboratory/field methods, and metadata) to better illustrate the research being performed. The following databases can currently be accessed through the ARS Data Portal using a single web interface:

1. STEWARDS (Sustaining The Earth’s Watersheds – Agricultural Research Database System) stores hydrologic, economic, management, and other data from ARS CEAP watersheds for later analysis and model runs.

2. GRACEnet (Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network) is a research program that has been initiated by the USDA-ARS. The primary objective of GRACEnet is to identify and further develop agricultural practices that will enhance carbon sequestration in soils, promote sustainability and provide a sound scientific basis for carbon credits and trading programs. The GRACEnet database is currently populated for 25 locations and GIS information has been added for 15 locations.

3. REAP (Renewable Energy Assessment Project) is a USDA-ARS research program that provides: 1) guidelines for management practices supporting sustainable harvest of residue, 2) algorithm(s) estimating the amount of crop residue that can be sustainably harvested, and 3) decision support tools and guidelines describing economic trade-offs between residue harvest and retention to sequester soil carbon. Delivery of this knowledge and these products to farmers and the biomass ethanol industry will promote harvest of stover and crop residues in a manner that preserves the capacity our soil to produce food, feed, fiber, and fuel. The REAP database is currently populated for 15 locations and GIS information has been added for 4 locations.

4. The Western Rangeland Information System (WRIS) is a collection of range research collected from research stations and university faculty in the western region of the United States. The database project is part of a larger partnership between USDA-RMA and the Agricultural Systems Research Unit. The primary objective of this partnership is to develop simple, site-specific forage prediction tools to assist ranchers in managing risk for range-livestock production systems.

The ARS Data Portal application can currently be accessed at http://nrrc.ars.usda.gov/arsdataportal/. For additional information on SMART, please contact: 1) Dr. Jim Ascough at 970-492-7371 (e-mail: jim.ascough@ars.usda.gov ); or 2) Bruce Vandenberg at 970-492-7325 (e-mail: bruce.vandenberg@ars.usda.gov) 


                                        ARS Data Portal