Graphical user interface to the Marine Protected Areas' inventory

Chris Clement
NOS/Special Projects


The Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) of the United States is an initiative started in response to Executive Order 13158. Part of the initiative is to develop a comprehensive Inventory of U.S. MPA’s, including federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial sites. A paper data questionnaire form was developed which was used to determine all of the data fields that would need to be included in the Inventory database and a relational table structure was developed to house the data. The database currently consists of 19 relational tables containing a total of 214 data fields and was developed using FileMaker Pro 5.

A graphical user interface was rapidly developed including an electronic version of the paper data entry form and on-line documentation of the questionnaire. The database application also includes an interface for importing multiple data records to save time and effort for those respondents who already have data in tabular format. The electronic data form is distributed via FileMaker Server or as a stand-alone runtime version, depending on respondent preference. The runtime version—created using FileMaker Developer edition and identical to the served version—does not require the user to own FileMaker and is distributed royalty free. The runtime version is available for download via the Web and then is transmitted back via FTP.

Application development and delivery time, including beta-testing, was approximately 3 months from the completion of the paper questionnaire. On-line Web and downloadable runtime query applications are currently being developed to make the data available to the public.

Science Center Exhibit/Demo Wednesday - 3:20 - 3:30 P.M. Other demo times will be posted at the exhibit.