Mm. Cruickshank et al., A PEATLAND DATABASE FOR NORTHERN-IRELAND - METHODOLOGY AND POTENTIAL RESOURCE, Biology and environment, 93B(1), 1993, pp. 13-24
Maps at 1:20,000 scale, showing peatland types in Northern Ireland, wh
ich were derived by aerial photograph interpretation, have been conver
ted into a database of areas of peatland types per 1km square, using t
he Ordnance Survey grid. The proprietary Scientific Information and Re
trieval database management system was used for primary data storage,
PC ARC/INFO to store other data files and UNIRAS for mapping out. Thes
e choices were based on data and computing resources available at the
time and anticipated needs in making the database a resource for ongoi
ng environmental research. The paper demonstrates that, using the data
base, a variety of peatland types (variables), individually or in comb
ination, can be analysed statistically and in maps; rare types can be
located quickly and spatial patterns of common types described. Explan
ations of such patterns start to emerge by analysis of the database an
d can be pursued by Geographical Information Systems. The database can
provide a context for changes to the peatland; an example is the prog
ress of machine extraction. Use of a 1km square database is well suite
d to regional scale analysis, and to complement the local detail of th
e original peatland survey maps.