DeskPRO Database Streamlines Data Status

 
Published: 31 March 2005

On a given day, the ARM Climate Research Facility Data Management Facility (DMF) handles anywhere from 2.4 to 2.9 gigabytes of raw atmospheric data collected by instruments from sites around the globe. Once at the DMF, the data is processed into meaningful data sets that scientists can use to conduct their research. The DMF will soon implement a new reporting system called DeskPRO that will allow users to notify DMF staff of problems with the data or inquire about the status of specific data. Once installed, DeskPRO will allow DMF staff to track these issues in a database, rather than the current inefficient method of sifting through emails.

Because data collected by the DMF enables the research conducted by ARM scientists and collaborators, timely information about its quality and availability is critical. DeskPRO is an advanced customer relationship management “ticket” system with a wide range of tracking features, and imposes no limits on the number of users or entries. The application supports custom fields in each ticket for each user. Those custom fields can be searched, reported on, graphed, and referenced in emails. DeskPRO has been used with great success since 2002 at the ARM Climate Research Facility Southern Great Plains site to track operational issues; it will now help the DMF track data issues more efficiently, saving time and money in the process.