Avinash Chuntharpursat, SAEON’s Information Management Scientist, mobilised his peers internationally to compile Ecological Circuits, a landmark eco-informatics publication on data and information management systems relevant to ecological, environmental and Earth observation disciplines.
The document, which was published as a special supplement in in the October issue of technical GIS journal Position IT, has been so well received by the IT community both locally and internationally, that a second issue has been published.
Ecological Circuits is aimed at providing articles on information management systems used to manage ecological, environmental and associated data and metadata. Globally, there are several such systems which are illustrated in this publication. Eco-informatics also includes the handling of information and the analysis and use of relevant data. The articles were written by the developers and power users of the systems and give a local and international perspective on information management.
Judging from the feedback received, it appears that a special niche has been filled by the publication. Articles were received from across the world with such an overwhelming response that the first issue couldn’t hold all the articles.
To cater for the overflow of articles from the first issue, a second issue of Ecological Circuits has been put together. As with the first, the second issue goes out as a supplement to PositionIT and will be posted along with this journal. SAEON would appreciate sponsorship in the form of advertising for future editions.
Chris Yelland, the managing editor of EE Publishers said: "I am delighted with the great feedback SAEON is getting on Ecological Circuits. Congratulations! We at EE Publishers are honoured to partner with you on this publication."
For further information on submitting articles, obtaining a hard copy of the first issue and advertising, contact Avinash Chuntharpursat.
Feedback received
The publication has elicited favourable feedback such as the following:
"This is to say thank you for the special issue. The contributions and the whole package look very impressive and I’m sure I’m going to learn a lot by reading them."
Willem Coetzer, SAIAB"We at CERN were very excited to receive the posted 'Ecological Circuits'. We are glad that we were able to contribute a little to this issue and will continue to make great efforts to improve ecological information management. Thanks again for your excellent work for our community to exchange ideas."
Guo Xuebing, Synthesis Centre of Chinese Ecosystem Research Network"I've just received my hardcopy of 'Ecological Circuits'. I'd like to congratulate you on a job well done and I look forward to seeing this publication, and this area of informatics, grow from strength to strength in South Africa."
Ian Engelbrecht, Gauteng GovernmentContact Avinash Chuntharpursat, SAEON, Tel 012 392-9367,
avinash@saeon.ac.za