Earth science, environmental and planning information was collected for a 200 km 2 area centred around Swansea and Llanelli, South Wales. The aim was to use this data to produce development advice maps for use in the planning process. To ensure efficiency of data storage and retrieval, a relational database was used, combined with a geographic information system (GIS), the GIS helping with data collection and data entry. This required the design of a logical model for data storage and manipulation, together with customized database forms for input and reporting. Information was captured in a variety of forms, ranging from reports and maps to text and existing databases, and often required different input techniques. The resulting comprehensive database was therefore stored in a structured way which has enabled effective interrogation and querying of the data to produce the information around which the final maps can be drawn. These, and the data, have already proved to be of importance and interest within the study area.

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To support the missions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Special Technologies Program, Argonne National Laboratory is defining the requirements for an automated software system that will search electronic databases on technology. This report examines the work done and results to date. Argonne studied existing commercial. and government sources of technology databases in five general areas: on-line services, patent database sources, government sources, aerospace technology sources, and general technology sources. First, it conducted a preliminary investigation of these sources to obtain information on the content, cost, frequency of updates, and other aspects of their databases. The Laboratory then performed detailed examinations of at least one source in each area. On this basis, Argonne recommended which databases should be incorporated in DOE's Technology Information Management System.