1 Donors applications An Overview

2 Introduction Available donors applications –Canada –Switzerland –USA

3 CREATING NATIONAL NODES OF THE BIOSAFETY CLEARING-HOUSE CANADIAN PROPOSAL

4 CURRENT SITUATION many countries would like a national node of BCH have IT/IM capacity to securely host applications do not have resources or time to develop applications

5 POTENTIAL SOLUTION CNBCH developed with scalability, reuse and capacity development in mind applications developed for CNBCH as base incremental work to make it portable development of stand-alone, open-source and platform independent suite of applications proposal made to UNEP in May 2004 ***Proposal for nBCHProposal for nBCH

6 NATIONAL NODE FEATURES National subset of the BCH data –single window for a country’s records on the Central Portal Additional national context –information not possible through central portal Interoperable with Central Portal –compatibility of records –same overall look and feel –same general approach to functions Accommodate domestic requirements –ownership of records –multiple languages –specific graphics, links, disclaimers, etc.

7 COMPONENTS Metadata entry tool Relational database Search engine Web services Web site Web site management tool

8 TECHNICAL APPROACH Supports multiple languages. Default configuration is English. Platform independent, open-source. Developed using Java, XML, XSLT, SOAP.

9 CONTENT MANAGEMENT Static content created through a Web page. Common formats currently supported: –Decisions under 11.1 –Competent National Authority –Laws and Regulations –Regional and International Agreement –National Focal Point –Other Decisions –Bibliographic Information –Organizations (Relevant Web sites)

10 CONTENT MANAGEMENT Records published to Web site with Web service. Can be used with any entry tool (Canadian, Management Centre, US or Swiss). Web service supports add, update & delete functions. Documents digitally signed.

11 FEATURES Customizable look and feel: –resolution –images –cascading stylesheet Customizable header and sidebar. Footer information extracted from XML document.

12 REQUIREMENTS Good knowledge of OO programming, XML and databases (if you wish to customize) Fairly recent server (at least P3 with 256MB of RAM) IT infrastructure (firewall, anti-virus, backup system) JDK 1.4.2, AXIS 1.1, Tomcat 5.0 (Server) JDK (client)

13 INSTALLATION Procedure TBD for stand-alone Will be as simple as possible for the client (download executable) Currently have to install JDK on client, then deploy application Will need to install required software on server

14 DOCUMENTATION Modeling –Component and deployment diagrams –Conceptual and Relational Model, Data Dictionary, Integrity Rules Document –Use Cases, Use Case Realization, Activity Diagram, Class Diagrams User and Implementation documentation –User Guide, Software Design Document, Installation Manual, Deployment Plan XChainJ available online: – phttp://xchainj.com/XchainJ_2.x_Training/CourseNotes.zi p

15 WHAT is offered by Canada Provide upgrades packages for server application –Client application update will be deployed seamlessly to clients from server XChainJ license includes 10 queries, up to 5 hours support Provide support to Regional BCH Consultants Design and implementation questions (phone, , fax,…)

16 WHAT is not included Assumption that you have in-house expertise Configure servers, firewalls, back-ups, operating systems Will not do customization (contractor available at 50% of regular rate)

17 CREACIÓN DE NODOS NACIONALES DEL CIISB/BCH PROPUESTA CANADIENSE 2 Aplicación Simple

18 Propuesta Canadiense Sencilla Existe otra propuesta de Canada más sencilla Utiliza como aplicación de entrada de datos directamene el Centro de Gestión del Portal Central Se instala en un servidor local (nacional) una aplicación Java Mediante webservices esta aplicación toma del Portal Central los registros del país y los hace disponibles en el website nacional

19 Aplicación canadiense sencilla Características –Configurable fácilmente –Multilenguaje –Permite vincularse con otras aplicaciones o portales ya existentes Requerimientos -Servidor nacional, actualmente probado sobre Windows -Servidor de aplicaciones Apache / Tomcat -Software para webservices Axis

20 Aplicación canadiense sencilla Ventajas: –Simple de instalar y fácil de poner en operación –No requiere de una base de datos local ya que la información se toma del Portal Central –Un único punto de entrada de información –El entrenamiento sobre el uso del Portal Central ya abarca todo lo necesario –Bajo costo y requerimientos de recursos humanos

21 The Swiss Biosafety Clearing-House (CH-BCH)

22 Swiss policy concerning the CH-BCH Swiss political organization (Fed. State) –Decentralized functions and responsibilities between Cantons, Federal Agencies and Offices Specific needs for Switzerland User and group management Workflow / Access right Multilingual support Flexibility Interoperability => Object-relational database management system

23 Swiss policy concerning the CH-BCH 4 options –Register data in the central portal using the Management centre –Register data locally using database templates and send data to the central portal –Make data available through a local website and allows the central portal to crawl to retrieve metadata –Store data on national databases, and actively make those data available through the central portal using BCH interoperability protocols

24 Swiss policy concerning the CH-BCH Choice of option 4: Interoperability –Major reasons: Swiss political organization (Federal State): Need of a decentralized user and group management system Data are physically stored in Switzerland Security of the records Mandatory Swiss specific information can be included in new elements independent from the central BCH portal –Swiss biosafety information –Public awareness

25 The CH-BCH development history Swiss environmental data catalogue: envirocat –150 groups involved –Environment relevant data, projects, documents, Internet links and resources – Swiss Clearing-House Mechanism (CH-CHM) –Information platform related to biodiversity (CBD) – –=> Developed using IRMI: –Information and Resource Management Interface

26 System architecture IRMI: –Based and developed using open source products only Basic software for the application –Linux operating system –PostgreSQL Database program –ZOPE Content Management System (Python) Installation and hosting of the system Redhat and SUSE Linux Distributions Hosting at one central server (Apache) Open source components (free or very low cost)

27 System architecture: Client/server system PostgreSQL database ZOPE middleware Internet browser Client Database adapter Layout level SQL Module Internet Database -> Data Bowser -> Communication Middleware -> Application Client / Server Mozilla, Firefox, Netscape, Opera, Internet-Explorer

28 Description of the Swiss Biosafety Clearing- House application Description of the CH-BCH system –General concept –Utilization of elements –Elements attributes –Live demonstration –Conclusion / discussion

29 Description of the CH-BCH application General concept –Multi-user system Decentralized user and group management –Data input controlled by: Elements with specific attributes Relationship between different element types Interaction of different roles and status –Multilingual system Supports as many languages as required without changing the database –Interoperability Use of common formats and exchange protocols Simple data management by multiple users having different roles Multilingual system Fully interoperable with the central BCH website

30 General concept: Object-relational database – Decision Law LMO Competent Authority Organization Related LMO Competent authority Contact Name Legal basis Person Organisation

32 Role and User Authorization RoleDescriptionAuthorizationWriting access Anonymous Unknown user, anybodyView published elementsNo Member Member of a group, ID with username and password Like anonymous, Can read specific published elements of a group No Author Member of an entity entering data in the database Like member Can create, modify or submit new elements Yes Editor Member of an entity controlling data quality Like author Publish or reject elements Yes Administrator Person responsible for the central administration Like editor Management of users, groups and folders Yes Super Administrator Responsible for administrative operations during installation of the system Create top levels groupsNo

33 Status and Workflow StatusDescriptionProcess (Role) -> New status Open Content of element open for changes, work in progress Submit (Author) -> Submitted Publish (Editor) -> Published Delete (Author) -> Deleted Submitted Element editing completed. Waiting for the release by the Editor Publish (Editor) -> Published Reject (Editor) -> Rejected Retract (Author) -> Open Rejected Rejected by the Editor (quality control) Like open Published The element is published and cannot be modified Expire (Authot, Editor) -> Expired Delete (Author) -> Deleted Retract (Author, Editor) -> Open Expired Old version not valid anymoreRetract (Author, Editor) -> Open

34 Worflow Access control by role and element status Role of users Anonymous Member Author Editor Administrator Role of users Anonymous Member Author Editor Administrator Element status Open Submitted Rejected Published Expired Element status Open Submitted Rejected Published Expired Quality control

35 Decentralized management of the data Federal Office of Public Health Food Federal Veterinary Office Animal vaccines Swissmedic Gene therapies, medicaments, vaccines Federal Office of Agriculture Feed, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landsacape Field releases BCH Focal point Author Administrator Central Database SCBD Central BCH portal

36 Language Multilingual system –As many languages as required –No change in the database –One master language (CH-BCH: English) –Translations through internal functions which query an internal translation database –Translation database = Datasets in database tables

37 Conclusions Multi users system Information between many different partners Quality control –Information quality controlled by role and element status Multilingual system –As many languages as required Flexible system –Possibility of creating new elements for specific information Interoperability –Elements similar to the central BCH (common format) –Fully interoperable database with the central BCH Open source components –System based on open source components only Fully operational and interoperable since Jan 04

38 SWISS BIOSAFETY CLEARING HOUSE Test it!

39 The CH-BCH as standard «exchange of information tool» for interested countries

40 The CH-BCH as standard «exchange of information tool» for interested countries 2 options: –Option 1: Full transfer of the system –Option 2: Supported transfer

41 Option 1: Full transfer of the system Entire system is provided The receiving country installs and runs the full application Swiss role: –In place installation help –One time training of people on the system –Further help available by

42 Option 1: Full transfer of the system Conditions/requirements –Technical: Stable Internet connection Server with security facility –Know-How: Linux operating system Server software (Apache) Security technology ZOPE knowledge (basic, better with Python language) HTML knowledge

43 Option 1: Full transfer of the system Advantages –Country is independent –Data and databases are locally stored Disadvantages –High technical facilities and knowledges needed –High initial input (material, training) –Long term viability

44 Option 2: Supported transfer Entire system is available System installed (hosted) in Switzerland –Technical and training support is provided –Help available by Management of data by receiving country

45 Option 2: Supported transfer Conditions/requirements –Technical: Reliable and stable Internet connection –Know-How: No special IT knowledge needed Short training course for users

46 Option 2: Accompanied transfer Advantages –No needs for high-tech hardware or IT knowledges –Only stable Internet connection required –Short training of users sufficient Disadvantages –Data are physically stored in Switzerland –This condition could be viewed as a starting solution –At anytime, databases can be transferred back to the country of origin

47 National Database Templates for the Biosafety Clearing-House Application (NDT-nBCH) Overview of the US nBCH Applications

48 Discussion Topics Introduction Development Goals and History About the Templates Hardware and Software requirements Steps in Developing a National BCH Discussion of Help Available

49 Introduction Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) –Developed a Simple National Biosafety Clearing-House Application (nBCH) Enter and retain Protocol information locally Internet access not required to use the template National Biological Information Infrastructure –Developed National Database and Website Templates Leveraged experience from US Site development Leveraged work accomplished by the Secretariat

50 Development Goals Increase functionality of the CBD Simple Database product based on the US experience Maintain compatibility with original CBD to ensure proper data transfer process Work with CBD and UNEP for review of compliance Create Exhaustive User Documentation Add Website templates for a assistance in developing a national website Add Multilingual support to both database and website templates

51 Development History Analyzed the flow of information during the U. S. Biosafety Regulation Process Applied new data model to the CBD’s BCH Simple National Database tool Reorganized and reconstructed data entry forms to follow flow of data entry process

52 The Templates: Target Users Target Users of the templates are Organizations that –Are in the technology startup process –Have with limited technical resources –Use Microsoft platform for desktop and/or web server –Range within the full spectrum of Internet connectivity options No Internet Slow, unreliable, or costly Internet Fast and reliable Internet

53 The Templates: Goals Goal of the templates? –Fast: Provides a Quick Start basis for initial development –Easy: Can be used in the initial data gathering phase prior to reporting data –Scalable: it should be able to be moved to a server platform if needed NOT the goal of the templates? –This is not a Production ready system –Will need assistance by an organizations system administration and network security to go into Production

54 The Templates: Features Will run locally (no Internet) or will connect to BCH –(internet access required) No changes have been made to the CBD data transfer software Streamlined for less repetitive data entry Extensive Help documentation –Help within the Fields and forms –Documentation on Installation and set-up –Includes a Full-Users Guide Optional Web Templates: –Templates are fully customizable –Templates contain searching of database template content –Contain additional web content such as FAQs, Roles of the CNAs, and Overview of the National BCH

55 The Templates “On top” Design Original CBD tables and data element formats retained New functionality added “on top of” original design

56 The Templates: Design Comparisons

57 Hardware & Software Simple installation of Database –Minimum configuration Personal computer Windows XP, Win2000, ME, or Win98 Web browser software (for using help files and user documentatoin) Method of writing data to electronic media, or printing for facsimile transmission, or access to Full Installation of Database –Minimum configuration (above) –Basic Internet connection (Dial up) or –Sustained Internet connection (Network) –Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) client for connectivity with BCH (Installation instructions include in documentation)

58 Hardware & Software Installation of Website templates of Database –Full Installation of database requirements, plus –Web Server running Microsoft IIS –HTML Editor to modify templates

59 Steps in Developing a National BCH Phases of Technology Implementation –Phase I Data gathering Use Database template: Install of database templates Send data directly to Secretariat or register data directly in the Management Center (based on capabilities) –Phase II Work with Information Technology (IT) Department Analyze system requirements for type of Interoperability (Push or Pull ) Become Fully Interoperable –Phase III Work with CNAs, NFP and and IT departments Refine Web Content Create National website presence of BCH for public information I II III Phase

60 Help Available? Bug Fixes and new versions –Latest downloads available from US Site –Multi-lingual version in beta testing now, production by August Support – is advertised on all documentation Phone Support –Phone support to UNEP Regional experts by US development team –UNEP Regional Advisors responsible for country level phone support.

61 Help Available? Regional Workshop Support –Participate in all UNEP Regional Workshops aimed at training technical experts in the use of the templates Country Level Support –Funding to attend a limited number of Country- Level Workshops to provide hands on technical support