Integrated Knowledge Resource Center Network (KRCNet) and Digital Repository on Earth System Sciences in India

Abstract:

Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is one of few scientific ministries in Government of India, established to provide services and undertake cutting edge research on atmosphere, meteorology, ocean and coastal states, seismology, polar science and marine living and non-living resources. Initiative taken to build an integrated Knowledge Resource Center Network (KRCNet) by upgrading and interlinking existing libraries into Knowledge Resource Centers (KRC). Initiative taken to establish Total Quality System (TQS) by securing ISO certification for the KRCNet (www.krcnet.moes.gov.in) for documenting MoES knowledge resources, its maintenance, easy retrieval and dissemination. It seeks to collect, collate, analyse, index, store and disseminate the intellectual resources, products and project outputs available in MoES headquarter and its institutes. Open source softwares are used to store information and automation of the activities. Up-to-date meta-data of the print & digital resources available in MoES headquarter and MoES institutes, including MoES services are accessible through KRCNet portal. The portal maintains meta-data of the print & digital resources available in MoES headquarter and MoES institutes. Digital Earth Consortium (DERCON) subscribed e-resources are accessible through the KRCNet portal. The Digital Repository consists of 17 item types and 6 master tables. A specialised Indian National Database on Antarctic Science (INDAS) is developed for storing information on the flagship Indian Antarctic Science program. INDAS is designed to store information on 132 item types and 9 master tables on Indian Antarctic expeditions.