I3N - Web Services

Tools

Page Contents

Risk and Vector Analysis Tools
Database Template
Country Web System
Data Indexing
National Strategies Template
How to obtain tools

I3N Risk Analysis of Invasion Tool and Vector Analysis Pathways Tool
These tools are available for download in Excel format as separate worksheets in the same file.

Download the User Manual (1.5 MB, in pdf)
Download the tools (5 MB, in Excel format)

Las herramientas de Prevención de Invasiones Biológicas de I3N están formadas por tres herramientas:

Herramientas de Análisis de Riesgo de Establecimiento e Invasión
Herramientas de Análisis de Rutas y Vectores (Estas herramientas están asociadas en un mismo libro de Excel.)
Presentación sobre la Prevención de Invasiones (en Powerpoint)

Bajar el Manual del Usuario (2 MB, formato pdf.)
Bajar las Herramientas (5 MB, formato Excel)
Presentación sobre las Herramientas de Prevención de Invasiones de I3N (2.5 MB, formato Powerpoint pps)

Haga clic aquí para más información.

I3N Database Template
The I3N Database on Invasive Alien Species template (available in Spanish, Portuguese, and English) allows network members to collect and share standardized information on invasive alien species taxonomy, introduction, biology, ecology, impacts, control methods, occurrence (including geographic data), contacts, projects, and references. It was developed through a partnership between the NBII, I3N-Brazil/Horus Institute, The Nature Conservancy Brazil, and I3N-Argentina/Universidad del Sur, with technical collaboration from Global Invasive Species Database (also mirrored in the United States by the USGS NBII) of the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group and Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project. The I3N Database template incorporates multiple capabilities in a single tool, allowing I3N members to collect, manage, export, and exchange standardized data. The tool’s free availability eliminates the need to create a new software program, hire computer programmers and design consultants to develop a national IAS database — a barrier that is often cited as a limiting factor in the development of national IAS information databases in the Americas.

The I3N Database template was designed to comply with the Dublin Core and Darwin Core Metadata Standards, uses the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) as a taxonomic authority, and incorporates a standardized vocabulary for habitat terminology developed by NatureServe. The taxonomy and habitat terms can be tailored to a particular country. Compliance with these basic standards ensures that data sets created using the I3N Database template are compatible and, therefore, exchangeable among network members and other international data providers. The template allows database owners to export their IAS records in the widely accepted Extensible Markup Language (XML). It is delivered with built-in functionality for generating XML-tagged species fact sheets, and for producing trilingual reports consisting of detailed or summary species lists, projects, and contacts from the database. Users can also modify the template to produce reports tailored to their specific needs. The XML tags are based on the Dublin Core Metadata Standard as adapted through consultations with IAS experts. The XML-tagged files can be published on a Web server.

I3N Country Web System
The I3N Country Web System includes a Web template, an intranet system designed for loading data into the I3N Database template and an administrative system through which authorizations for data providers are assigned and the information is analyzed before its publication on the Internet.

I3N Data Indexing
I3N member countries use the I3N database and web site templates to build their own country databases and data access sites. The I3N then indexes this data and provides a search tool that allows users to search all of the online I3N data sets simultaneously. The data providers retain complete control over their databases and can add, change, hide, and delete information at will.

National strategies template and additional tools
National strategies on invasive alien species are an important foundation for a country to effectively address biological invasions. The tools developed by I3N can support several components of a strategy, such as improving prevention systems and providing baseline data for decision-making. Countries using I3N tools can use them directly as they develop their national IAS strategies. The first national strategies template (Spanish | Portuguese) for South American countries, which was recently developed by GISP and TNC South America IAS Program, explicitly recommends using I3N tools and explains how.

Other tools and services at the disposal of I3N participants include this extensive Web site that contains a repository for data and other products of I3N participants, a data search tool, a printer-friendly overview of I3N (PDF), and the I3N listserv.

Useful GISP resources for I3N participants include Toolkits and Best Practice Information and the "South America invaded" book.

How to Obtain These Free Tools
The I3N IAS Database template, I3N country Website template, and Web-based input tool for remote users were created by I3N-Argentina and I3N-Brazil under contracts by the National Biological Information Infrastructure/U.S. Geological Survey. To obtain a copy of these tools, go to http://www.institutohorus.org.br/pr_basei3n_eng.htm (English) or http://www.institutohorus.org.br/pr_basei3n.htm (Portuguese), or contact Christine Fournier, cfournier@usgs.gov.