An integrated data resource for modelling the soil ecosystem

This paper describes the NERC Soil Biodiversity Programme's integrated approach to data, information management and analysis, from field sampling through to modelling the soil ecosystem. It discusses the handling of meta-data from sampling in the field, construction of an integrated database to provide the framework whereby project data and meta-data can be linked and analysed together, and the development of the web-based data discovery and delivery system that fronts the database. The paper then describes how such data can be synthesised into mathematical models, concentrating initially on the Stable Isotope Modelling (SIM) framework before moving on to discuss models incorporating temporal and spatial dynamics. The paper concludes with a discussion of the future challenges facing soil modelling, and the potential of the technologies developed by the programme in helping to meet these challenges.