TDWG Infrastructure Group - TIP

TDWG Task Group (Open)

Convener

Lee Belbin (lee (at-sign) tdwg.org)

Purpose

The project will improve the following aspects of TDWG operations:

• Web site for managing and documenting TDWG standards
• Open standards development process (based on models and experiences of other standards organisations such as IETF, Open GIS Consortium, W3C)
• Support and coordination activities for Subgroups
• Publicity for TDWG standards
• Development of reusable software components to support TDWG standards
• Implementation of a shared system for managing globally unique identifiers for biodiversity data elements
• Planning of long-term support requirements and securing appropriate long-term funding

Background

Donald Hobern and Stan Blum developed a successful proposal to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for funding a 30 month project for a Team to help TDWG to modernize its infrastructure for supporting standards development, and to ensure that all of its working groups have well-managed processes, including documentation and software components where applicable.  During this same period, the Team will identify the core activities for which TDWG will require ongoing support, and identify funding sources to support these activities.

Scope

The scope of the project is to provide recommendations to TDWG through the TDWG Executive Committee concerning the actions required for the modernisation of the structure and operation of TDWG in the process of developing biodiversity interoperability standards.

Core Members

Lee Belbin (lee (at-sign) tdwg.org)
Roger Hyam (roger (at-sign) tdwg.org)
Ricardo Pereira (ricardo (at-sign) tdwg.org)
Donald Hobern (d.hobern (at-sign) gbif.org)
Stan Blum (sblum (at-sign) calacademy.org)

Clients

TDWG and all client agencies dependent on TDWG standards, protocols and services.

Outcomes and Outputs

1	Renewed call for participation in Process Subgroup (to discuss new TDWG process)	11 Sep 05	11 Sep 05	SB
2	Call for participants in GUID development	13 Sep 05	13 Sep 05	DH, RP
3	Establishment of TDWG architecture interest group.	15 Sep 05	15 Sep 05	RH
4	Summary of requirements for documentation and associated software	5 Oct 05	5 Oct 05	RH
5	Summary of requirements for collaboration environment	7 Oct 05	7 Oct 05	RP
6	Review paper: current TDWG process	9 Oct 05	9 Oct 05	LB, SB
7	Project plan and milestones agreed between TDWG Executive and TDWG Infrastructure Project Team	10 Oct 05	10 Oct 05	LB, SB
8	Broader announcement of Project	11 Oct 05	11 Oct 05	LB, RP, RH
9	Draft charter for Process subgroup	12 Oct 05	28 Jan 06	SB
10	Review paper: best practices in standards development organisations	30 Nov 05	30 Nov 05	LB, SB
11	Review paper: collaboration infrastructure requirements and technologies	3 Dec 05	3 Dec 05	RP
12	Process subgroup meeting to draft new TDWG process	5 Dec 05	30 Jan 06	LB, SB
13	Final report on requirements for documentation and associated software	7 Dec 05	15 Dec 06	RH
14	Decision point on outsourcing the development and testing of the collaborative environment	10 Dec 05	10 Dec 05	RP
15	Prioritised list for 2006 for populating standards documents	15 Dec 05	23 Dec 05	RH
16	Drafts of initial normative documents specified in documentation software strategy	23 Dec 05		RH
17	Close of comments on review paper on the collaborative infrastructure requirements and technologies	31 Dec 05	31 Dec 05	RP
18	Final version: Collaboration infrastructure requirements and technologies report	25 Jan 06	25 Jan 06	RP
19	First workshop for GUID development	1 Feb 06	1 Feb 06	DH, RP
Added	TDWG Survey	4 Feb 06	4 Feb 06	LB
20	Purchase TDWG server & associated software	5 Feb 06	1 Mar 06	RP
21	First draft: new TDWG process	7 Feb 06	4 Feb 06	LB, SB
22	Draft architectural framework for TDWG released for comments and revision	25 Mar 06	April 11, 2006	RH
23	Final version: new TDWG process	1 Apr 06		LB, SB
24	Preliminary collaborative environment available for viewing and testing	15 Apr 06	12 Apr 06	RP
25	Synthesize recommendations from subgroups on GUIDs - review paper	1 May 06		DH, RP
26	Close of comments on preliminary collaborative environment	15 May 06	15 May 07	RP
27	Approval by TDWG of the new process	1 Jun 06		LB, SB
28	Architectural framework for TDWG released for voting	3 Jun 06		RH
29	Second workshop for GUID development	5 Jun 06	10 Jun 06	DH, RP
30	Launch of the collaborative development environment	15 Jul 06		RP
31	Adoption of architectural framework for TDWG	1 Aug 06		RH
32	Document summarising progress against 2006 documentation work plan.	1 Sep 06		RH
33	Implementation of first version of GUID infrastructure; First release of GUID systems	1 Oct 06		DH, RP
34	Review paper: TDWG long-term goals and budgetary requirements	5 Oct 06		LB
35	Meeting with TDWG Executive on funding brochure (draft)	15 Nov 06		LB
36	Prioritised list for 2007 for populating standards documents	1 Dec 06		RH
37	Funding brochure	15 Jan 07		LB
38	Document summarising progress against 2007 documentation work plan.	1 Sep 07		RH
39	Review paper: GUID systems review (TDWG 2006) based on first implementation	5 Sep 07		DH, RP
40	Document reviewing options for long-term support and infrastructure	1 Oct 07		LB
41	Adjustments and second release of GUID systems based on review	15 Nov 07		DH, RP
42	Long-term support/infrastructure adopted	1 Dec 07		LB

Strategy

• Contract
  
  • Project Manager
  • Technical Architect
  • Software Engineer
  • Other subcontractors as required
• Develop milestones against project goals
• Maintain a high-level of effective communication with the TDWG membership through the TDWG Secretariat
• Deliver milestones (reports and recommendations) to the TDWG Executive for approval through current TDWG decisionmaking processes

Resources

TIP Wiki: http://wiki.tdwg.org/twiki/bin/view/TIP/WebHome
TIP Documents: http://wiki.tdwg.org/twiki/bin/view/TIP/TipDocuments

 

 

Version History

May 27, 2006 - Charter uploaded.
July 1st, 2005 - Project started.