Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

Research Compendium 1993 - 1994

Research Project

DEVELOPMENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN RURAL RESEARCH-IN-PROGRESS DATABASE (ARRIP)

Objectives

• To update and expand the Australian Rural Research-in-Progress (ARRIP) database to include all publicly-funded rural research in Australia.
• To promote the database to encourage its use, either on-line via AUSTRALIS or by CD-ROM, by research and extension workers, research managers, administrators, research organisations, agribusiness, the media and producers.
• To encourage the electronic transfer of data into the database and the production of publications and requested information from the database.

Background

ARRIP is a comprehensive and valuable information source of rural research-in-progress throughout Australia, and is easily accessed on-line via CSIRO's AUSTRALIS information system.

Research

• Regular contact was made with contributors, and all departments and large contributors were encouraged to provide project data electronically.
• Australian AGDEX codes were replaced with more comprehensive international codes (AGRIS).
• Data input forms were redesigned to incorporate a unique project identifier.
• The manipulation of ARRIP data into specialist publications was encouraged.
• Alternate types of media for outputs from the database were developed.

Outcome

Four state government departments of agriculture are now providing data input to ARRIP via electronic transfer. Terminology and guide terms have been improved to make the search fields easier to understand and more compatible with those of overseas agricultural databases.

Implications

The substantial increase in search requests and the provision of information packages and specialist material demonstrates the value of ARRIP in providing rapid access to up-to-date information on rural research; promoting better coordinated rural research; reducing research duplication; and providing rapid access to agricultural information on an international basis.

RIRDC Project No: DPI-20A

RESEARCHER: Dr D H White

ORGANISATION: Bureau of Resource Sciences

PHONE: 06 272 3933

Last updated: 10 October 1996
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Index of RIRDC Projects URL
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/compendium/93-94/index-b.html