A variety of sources provide more information on SEDRIS. These include the SEDRIS web site, subscribing to SEDRIS mail lists, video tapes from SEDRIS tutorials and conferences, attending the SEDRIS Technology Conferences, taking commercial SEDRIS courses, and participating in SEDRIS Associate Meetings.
SEDRIS WEB SITE AND E-MAIL LISTS
The web site (www.sedris.org) contains detailed information regarding SEDRIS technologies, and various products are available for either on-line viewing or to download for local use. Examples include the Data Representation Model (DRM), data dictionary, Environmental Data Coding Specification (EDCS), core software, Application Programmer’s Interface (API), SEDRIS Transmittal Format (STF), Spatial Reference Model (SRM), tools and utilities, sample STF transmittal, coordinate conversions API, documents, SEDRIS papers, presentation slides, and other related products. Video tapes of past SEDRIS tutorials are also available, and can be requested via the web site.
The site also allows subscription to several public reflectors, which are open forums for discussion of SEDRIS-related topics. In addition, subscribing to the announcements list provides automated notification of the latest SEDRIS events and software releases.
HOW TO BECOME A SEDRIS ASSOCIATE
Participation in the development of SEDRIS technologies is open to any organization or individual with interest in environmental topics, and the willingness to promote, share and contribute toward making SEDRIS effective for data providers and users.
Associates
An end-user, software developer, or environmental modeler, whether an organization or an individual, can become a SEDRIS Associate. Some organizations have their own native format or mechanism for representation of environmental data. In these cases, the organization (or its sponsor) is often interested in developing a conversion program between the native format and SEDRIS.
Other associates provide specialty domain knowledge, technology, data, or tools that can benefit SEDRIS, other associates, or the community at large. Other associates provide value-added tools or utilities that can tackle specific problems or issues in handling environmental data sets.
Benefits of being an Associate
SEDRIS associates have direct access to advance information on upcoming SEDRIS version additions, changes, or modifications. Associates also benefit from interim releases of core technologies that can be used in early prototyping, advance product integration, or inclusion in project-specific milestones prior to the next formal release. In addition, associates often get access to other associates' software that is of mutual value.
Access to prototypes, tools, utilities, converters, and other applications is another key benefit that many associates find invaluable. Interaction with others actively working on SEDRIS, including core team members, is another important resource available only to associates.
Possibly the most important benefit of being an associate is having the opportunity to influence and shape the core SEDRIS technologies. Each associate brings a wealth of knowledge and information about a domain, application, technology, or a business approach that directly and indirectly impacts and influences not only the core SEDRIS technologies, but also the technologies of other associates.
How to become an Associate
Associate status is granted by the SEDRIS Management Team based on evaluation of the responses to the following questions.
- What is the interest in becoming an associate?
- What value is SEDRIS expected to provide the associate?
- What benefit(s) will the associate offer SEDRIS?
- What funding resources are expected to cover the associate's work?
- Who are the primary points of contact and expected performers?
- How long after start is the associate expecting to remain an active participant?
The answer to these questions, in the form of a short white paper or proposal, along with any other pertinent information should be sent to: se-mgmt@sedris.org.
Associate Responsibilities
Associates are expected to:
- Learn to "speak" SEDRIS (the data representation model).
- Monitor and participate in SEDRIS e-mail discussions.
- Participate in SEDRIS Associate Meetings (as needed).
- Contribute to the state of the art in SEDRIS.
- Provide feedback on SEDRIS technologies.
- Educate other SEDRIS team members on their domain-specific issues and topics.
- Develop "mapping documents" between their native format (if any) and SEDRIS.
- Develop conversion software between their native format (if any) and SEDRIS.
- Validate their conversion software (if any) by conducting comparison experiments.
- Develop tools, utilities, or applications (as applicable).
- Cooperate and collaborate with other associates on projects of mutual benefit.
- Promote SEDRIS and its use.