The design for a computerized information cataloging system for regional water resources application

Abstract

This study outlines the design for a computer based catalog of water resources information and data for use within a regional area. A storage and retrieval system called the Generalized Cataloging System (GCS) is described which utilizes concepts from state-of-the-art computer software to produce a methodology for retrieving generically described sets of references from the catalog. An operational environment for a centrally-located, comprehensive catalog of water related activities for the State of Texas was hypothesized to facilitate the development of the computer system. Factors considered in the description of the environment were function, scope, functional interest, and a user-system interface. The computer system consists of three major components for generating the data base, defining the query language, and interpreting queries. Each component operates independently of the others and relies on files of data to interface with other components. ...