Database on guidelines and protocols for groundwater data acquisition

• contains over 400 document titles on inventoried guidelines and protocols (G&P)
• classifies the guidelines and protocols into a number of clearly defined categories
• allows the user to select and list guidelines and protocols of his interest through a transparent search system
• intends to inform the user about the purpose, content, type, nature and scope of the guideline or protocol, as well as about the author(s), publisher, target group(s), availability, internet links, selling conditions, usefulness and limitations
• presents all information on a specific document in a standard summary sheet directly on screen
• provides links to the guidelines and protocols available on internet and facilitates acquirement of guidelines and protocols available as hard copies only.

Other important aspects:

• the database can be browsed on-line without using extra software
• the database will be updated regularly
• visitors are stimulated to inform IGRAC about other documents important to IGRAC.

The inventoried guidelines and protocols have been classified in some eight well defined categories, each with a number of sub-categories. A tree-structure of categories and sub-categories is shown in the following table.

1. select a category of interest (not obligatory)
2. select a sub-category of interest (not obligatory)
3. if desired, make a detailed search within the selection obtained by using
   • additional characteristics
   • free text search on text fields of the record
4. browse the selected publications and click for the summary sheet.
5. print or save selected lists or summary sheets

The database presented has the following limitations:

• free text searches are case sensitive, so users may have to repeat a search using exclusively undercast by a second one using capitals at the beginning of the words
• many records have still empty fields. Records cannot be selected on the basis of such empty fields, which is - for the time being - a limitation for "detailed searches".

The report "Inventory of existing guidelines and protocols for groundwater assessment and monitoring" describes the state of the art with respect to guidelines and protocols, as inventoried till July 2003. Download the report.

IGRAC is aware of the fact that this inventory may be far from complete. The reader of the report is, therefore, encouraged to provide:

• information or titles of additional documents dealing with guidelines and protocols in the categories mentioned;
• give comments on the report;
• indicate needs for development of new guidelines and protocols (please specify your needs in sufficient details).