RAMP To Make Database Publicly Available
Sep 24 2010The Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program (RAMP), a science based, multi-stakeholder aquatic monitoring group in Fort McMurray Alberta, is pleased to announce that the RAMP database will be available to the public by the end of the year. This announcement comes after several months of hard work by the RAMP Steering Committee to review, evaluate, and select the appropriate interface to make this happen.
The RAMP database is a web-based environmental data management system used to store and access over 2 million records related to RAMP’s on-going monitoring of climate and hydrology, water quality, benthic invertebrate communities, sediment quality, fish populations, and lakes sensitive to acidity since 1997. It is a key tool used by RAMP to identify and evaluate any changes to the aquatic environment in the Athabasca oil sands region.
To date, direct access to the database has been limited to RAMP members with non-members able to obtain information through a data sharing agreement. In the past, RAMP has also provided raw data to academia and other interested parties for their own review and analysis, but this new initiative will simplify the process and make the data accessible to everyone.
Fred Kuzmic, RAMP Spokesperson stated:
“This is a significant step in RAMP’s efforts to make our information more accessible and transparent to the public. It is our hope that the decision to allow unrestricted public access to this rich dataset of information collected since 1997 will strengthen sharing of data and research results with other organizations. It will allow anyone with an internet browser the ability to view and use the same data as the RAMP Component Managers.
This initiative, combined with the independent technical review of RAMP currently underway, and our commitment to work in a cooperative and unreserved manner with any upcoming external reviews of RAMP and potential aquatic studies in the oil sands region, demonstrates our desire to openly share our information. ”
For more information, please visit our website: www.ramp-alberta.org or contact communications@ramp-alberta.org.
About RAMP:
The Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program (RAMP) is an aquatic environmental monitoring program initiated in 1997. The intent of RAMP is to determine, evaluate and communicate the state of the aquatic environment and any changes that may result from resource development within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.