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PRESENT STATUS :

There has been a substantial growth in the computer facilities at WII over the years (Fig. 1).  The number of computer  terminals have grown from 4 in 1986 to 160 in 2003.  Number of users have grown from 15 in 1986 to 230 in 2003.  Similarly, from 1 computer personnel in 1986 the Institute now has 11.  The details of computer hardware and software in use is given in Annexure I  and  II respectively.

Fig.1 Growth of Computer Facility in WII.


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COMPUTER APPLICATIONS :

There is a wide array of areas in which computer applications are being made at WII (Fig. 2).  These range from GIS to electronic publishing; database development to inventory management; library automation to local area networking; training to internet use.  Computer ethos has seeped in the working of faculty, staff, researchers and students. The trend in growth of services provided by the Computer/GIS Centre is given in Fig.3. The details of computer applications at WII are given below:  

S. No.	Year --» Facility/Applications	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
	Basic Computing Facility
	National Wildlife Database
	Customized Software Dev.
.	DTP Facility, GIS & RS Basic
	Basic Library Automation
	Advanced Computing Facility
	Local Area Networking
	Bench Marking
	Basic Training
	Advanced Library Automation
	Advanced Training
	MCA Trainee Placement
	E-Mail Facility
	Advance GIS & RS
	Website Development
	Internet

Fig. 3 Trend in Growth of Services

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GIS  & DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING :

The institute has state-of-the-art GIS and Remote Sensing facilities.  Its application is being made in research and consultancy projects and also in EIA studies.  Hands-on training is provided through specially organized courses.  The Institute received substantial GIS software donation from the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), USA.  A Memorandum of Understanding  (MoU) exists with the ESRI, India to take up collaborative projects involving GIS – Remote Sensing Applications.

COMPUTER TRAINING

Training in computer applications in wildlife conservation is an integral part of the course curriculum of the 9 months Postgraduate Diploma Course in Wildlife Management.  Short duration training courses are organized for faculty, staff, researchers and students for which course curriculum and reading material is specially designed.  Opportunities for enhancement of professional skills of computer personnel are provided by sponsoring them for overseas training and visits and also by nominating them for in-country training courses.

INTERNET :

The Institute has a 64 Kbps dedicated microwave link with VSNL for operating the internet services.  160 computer nodes have been linked to the internet server.  Individual e-mail passwords have been provided to all faculty and staff.  The e-mail, FTP and Internet services have facilitated rapid communication and dissemination of scientific information across the globe.  The Institute has its own web-site which provides updated information on institute’s activities and serves as its window to the global community.

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ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING :

The Institute has recently entered into electronic publishing.  The Environment Information System (ENVIS) Centre at WII on “Wildlife & Protected Areas”, publishes bi-annual  bulletin which is also hosted on the web-site along with the Institute’s Newsletter.  The electronic editions ensure much wider dissemination of these documents.

DESK TOP PUBLISHING :

Extensive use of Desk Top Printing (DTP) facilities (computer hardware, software, scanner and colour printer) is made in the production of course material, research reports, monographs, newsletters, annual report and other documents.

LIBRARY AUTOMATION :

The Institute’s library has state-of-the-art computer facilities.  All library operations are automated and a variety of value added services are provided to the users.  The library has its own server which is also connected to the main server.

 DATABASE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT :

The Institute maintains a number of databases viz. (i) National Wildlife Database (NWD) on species, habitats and protected areas  (ii)  Zoo database; (iii)  Officer trainee database; (iv)  Research project database and (v) Bibliographic database.  The  NWD has recently been ported from FoxPro environment  to state-of-the-art RDBMS package – ORACLE.  All computer personnel have also been trained in ORACLE use.  The databases can be accessed by various users through the Institute’s Local Area Network.  

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 LOCAL AREA NETWORKING :

In order to ensure optimal use of hardware and software resources, the Institute has set up an extensive Local Area Network (LAN) based on Novell Netware 4.11.  There are 160 nodes.  The day to day management is looked after by the LAN Manager who is supported by two hardware engineers provided by the AMC firm.

DATA ANALYSES :

The data analyses for various research and consultancy projects is carried out using an array of software.  The computer staff provides technical assistance and support in statistical analyses.                      

CUSTOMIZED SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT :

Many a times need arises for taking up customized software development for carrying out statistical analyses of vegetation and animal data including census.  Similarly, Simple Macro Language (SML) and Arc Macro Language (AML) programmes have to be written for implementing software routines in GIS domain.  The computer staff provides support in the development of customized software.

INVENTORIES AND MANAGEMENT :

The Institute has taken up the computerization of the administrative functions and financial transactions including the inventorization of stores.  The computerization process has optimized these operations.  

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BENCHMARKING :

Every year the Institute makes computer hardware/software purchase for which rigorous benchmarking procedures are followed.  Benchmarking standards and protocols have been developed in-house, which are also used by other sister organizations based in Dehradun.  The adoption of these procedures have resulted in getting better specifications as well as cost savings.

FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN COMPUTER FACILITIES :

In order to develop the state-of-the-art computer facilities the Institute has made considerable financial investment (Fig. 4).  From a meagre investment of Rs 7.93 lakhs  in 1986-89 it has grown to Rs 76.70 lakhs in 1995-98.  Besides this, a sum of over US$ 100,000 has been spent by international collaborative  projects.  A considerable investment is required to maintain and upgrade the facilities e.g. the annual maintenance contract and consumables supply require Rs. 14.00 lakhs every year; internet facility up-link charges are Rs. 6.00 lakhs per year; up-gradation of hardware/software require Rs. 10.00 lakhs annually.   Besides this, a substantial amount is 

spent on salaries of computer personnel on contract, organization of training courses, HRD - all of which is currently met from various national and international projects at the Institute.  In order to provide a bigger space to meet the growing needs and also better working environment, it is proposed to shift the computer/GIS centre to new academic block, which will be commissioned in the year 2000.  Planning, design and development of the new computer/GIS centre including the training centre will require considerable investment especially as fibre optics cables will be laid to cater to the need of fast and heavy data flow.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE :

The organization structure for managing the computer facilities at WII is depicted in Fig. 5.  Under the Chairmanship of the Additional Director the 15 member computer committee functions.  The committee meets every month and deliberates upon various matters connected with the policy and activities of the Computer/GIS centre. The Faculty Incharge Computer/GIS centre is responsible for the management of the Computer/GIS centre for which technical assistance is provided by the System Manager.  In all 6 permanent and 9 contract staff work in the Computer/GIS centre.  

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 HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT :

Human Resource Development (HRD) in the field of computer applications has been identified in the WII ‘Institution Building Plan’ as one of the core delivery and enabling system to carry out the core/line activities.  The need for providing advanced training to the computer personnel on a continuing basis cannot be over-emphasized.  A number of requests also come from various technical institutions and universities to provide placement to graduate students for undertaking dissertation projects.  A list of such placements is given in Annexure III.  It is visualized that such opportunities should be provided in a planned manner so that they are mutually beneficial.  Similarly, opportunities for computer personnel to enhance their professional skills have to be provided.  Two computer personnel have obtained doctorate degrees in the last two years and a few others are pursuing it.  Adequate opportunities for career advancement and professional skill development should be provided to computer personnel. The profile of the computer personnel working in the Institute is given in Annexure IV.

THE PATH AHEAD :

The momentum of growth in computer facility development needs to be sustained.  Rapid advancements in Information Technology (IT) invariably make investments obsolete.  This can be addressed by adopting systematic and pro-active planning and phasing of investments.  To maintain and develop the state-of-the-art Computer/GIS/IT facilities at WII it is reckoned that an investment of atleast Rs. 50.00 lakhs per annum would be required from year 2000 onwards.  The need for developing training courses on “Biodiversity Information Management” is also visualized.  The World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), United Kingdom has recently approached the Institute to develop these courses under a collaborative arrangement. This arrangement should be formalized and made operational in a reasonable time frame as it will go a long way in strengthening field conservation efforts in managing the rich and varied biodiversity of our country. 

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INFRASTRUCTURE :

Computers :  

• Pentium - 38 Nos.

• Intel Celeron - 33 Nos.

• Pentium LAN Servers - 2 Nos. (Running Novell Netware 4.01)

• Pentium Internet/Email Servers - 2 Nos. (Running WIN NT 4.0 Servers)

• Pentium CD-NET Server (7 CDs - Used for Journals on CD)

• SUN Workstations - 4 Nos.(Running UNIXWare)

• Notebooks - 18 Nos. (Having PCMCIA/Fax Modem Card for Internet/Intranet Connections)

• Palm Tops - 2 Nos.

• Apple  MAC - 1 No.

• PC 486 - 48 Nos.

All the above systems are connected to the Internet/Email through the Institute's LAN.

Printers :

• DMP 80 Columns - 43 Nos.

• DMP 132 Columns - 28 Nos.

• Deskjet - 35 Nos.

• Plotters - 3 Nos. (Used for GIS)

• Laser - 18 Nos.

• Laser Color - 1 No.

Misc :

• BNC Trans-receiver - 2 Nos.

• HUB - 4 Nos.

• Repeater -1 No.

• Trans-receiver -1 Nos.

• Digitizers - 3 Nos.

• Barcode Reader/Scanner - 3 Nos.

• Barcode Printer - 1 No.

• Scanners - 7 Nos.

• Cartridge Tape Drive - 1 No.

• IOMEGA Jaz Drive - 1 No.

• Digital Slide Scanner - 1 No.

• Digital Palette - 1 No.

• Modems - 7 Nos (out of which 4 are used for local Dialup connections for Email/Internet from home).

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PLACEMENT OF  MCA STUDENTS :

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PROFILES OF COMPUTER PERSONNEL

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