Alaska Vegetation Database on Documentation for the AKVEG Project

Getting Started

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Getting Started #

The Alaska Vegetation (AKVEG) Database is built in PostgreSQL and hosted on a cloud server that can be queried in numerous ways. These instructions will enable you to connect to and query the AKVEG Database query using R, Python, or ArcGIS Pro.

To query the database, you will need server credentials. To request server credentials, fill out a Database Access Form. The database is public and access is free; the purpose of the server credentials is to prevent excessive loads on the server and for us to know how many people are connecting.

Navigating the Database

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Navigating the Database #

The tables in the AKVEG Database can be broadly classified into data tables, referenced tables, and metadata tables.

Data tables contain information on vegetation, environmental, and soils characteristics, as well as information about the plots at which these data were collected (e.g., plot coordinates, dimensions).

Referenced tables are referenced by the data tables to constrain the set of allowable values in a field. For example, the cover type id field in the vegetation_cover table references the cover_type table. The cover_type table specifies the types of methods that can be used to collect cover data.

Contribute Data

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Become a contributor #

There are several ways in which you can contribute to the AKVEG Database.

Providing data #

Given that we are a small, grant-funded operation, we are usually unable to accept large datasets without funding to support our time. Some of our existing grants, however, do include money for us to format existing datasets for inclusion in the AKVEG Database. Even without additional financial support, we may be able to accommodate your dataset. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this option with us.

Credits & Acknowledgments

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Credits #

Authors #

Timm Nawrocki - Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage
Amanda Droghini - Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage
Matt Macander - ABR, Inc. Environmental Consulting & Research Services
Aaron Wells - AECOM
Lindsey Flagstad - Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage

Support #

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and Alaska Department of Natural Resources provided funding in support of the development of the AKVEG Database.