Macher presentation hb2012 database 120709

Development of a Database to Manage and Analyze Publications

on the Microbial Ecology of Indoor Environments

Hal LevinBuilding Ecology Research Group

Janet MacherCalifornia Department of Public Health

What environmental factors affect the indoor microbial ecology?

Where is the data

How is the information recorded

Can the information be extracted for analysis

and comparison

Who would contribute to a publicly available

database or an information-sharing repository

www.microbe.net

Database Design (Farr and Farr, 2004)

Specimen database

• Document the occurrence of an organism

• In a particular place

• At a given time

• Design from the top down

• Purpose

• Subjects

• Specific data bits

Mendeley — Microbiology of the Built Environment

Bibliographic database (545 papers, 48 members)

• Journal citations

• Abstracts

• Related research

• Searchable

• www.mendeley.com/groups/844031/microbiology-of-the-built-environment/

Indoor

microbiome

Occupants

Bui

ldin

g in

terio

r

Fur

nish

ings

Act

iviti

e s

Building envelope

VentilationOutdoors

Database Design

Tables

• Citation

• Building type

• Occupants

• Environmental samples

• Sample analyses

•Microorganisms

Database Design (Farr and Farr, 2004)

Fields

• Describe the subject

• Comprised of the smallest logical unit

• Evolve as new pieces of information are

identified

• Consistent format and content

Database Design (Farr and Farr, 2004)

Tables

• Only fields that pertain to the same subject

• Avoid fields most often blank

• Duplicate data only as necessary to

establish relationships

• Include “lookup” or “authority” tables

Extraction of Information

Occupant demographics

• Number

• Gender

• Age

• Time / activity patterns

• Include animals and plants

http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp

Extraction of Information(Mendeley database)

Buildings (N = 95)

• Type

• 50 (53%) Residences

• 18 (8%) Offices

• Schools, commercial, transportation

• Location (outdoor environment)

• Time of year

• Age

• Ventilation

• Nutrients

• Water

• Temperature

• pH

www.epa.gov/iaq/iaqhouse.html

Extraction of Information

Environmental samples

• Type

• 59 (62%) Air

• 27 (28%) Surface (wipe or house dust)

• Locations

• Number

• Frequency

www.epa.gov/iaq/base/

Extraction of Information

Sample analysis

• Type

• 64 (67%) Culture

• 25 (26%) PCR

• How much detail needed?

Extraction of Information

Microorganisms

• Identification

• General (group)

• Genus

• Species

• …

• Quantification

Descriptors of Buildings, Occupants, Environments

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation (BASE)

• 100, randomly selected office buildings

• Building and ventilation system characteristics

• Building occupant demographics, symptoms, and perceptions

• Environmental and comfort measurements

• IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM)

• Computer software for indoor air quality in commercial buildings

Program Considerations

Data format

• Text

• Digit

Transferability

• Import and export

Data entry

• Read and highlight information

• Enter into tables

• Consistent terms

• Home, house, apartment, condo = Residence

• Check / audit

Sorting and searching

Ideally, electronic publications of the future will provide data in formats that can be reformatted for multiple uses

Example — Dampness and Mold

Inspector-reported indicators

• Visible water damage or mold

• Musty odor

• Moisture meter measurement

• Rotting wood

• Peeling paint

• Leaks

Air samples

• Time of year

• Location

Fungi

• Types

• Concentrations

Acknowledgements

Sloan Foundation Indoor Environment Program: grant to UC Davis for microbenet project – www.microbe.net

Janet Macher for advice and preparation of the abstract and slides

Any of you who can send references to papers of interest, comments on our collection on Mendeley

Thank you in advance for your help

Hal Levin

[email protected]