An update of the ICASA data standards has been completed, and a
description of the updated standards, together with example ASCII files,
has been posted( http://www.icasa.net/standards/index.html ). The standards are based on the earlier IBSNAT and current DSSATstandards, with emphasis on eliminating some inconsistencies and ambiguities and on making them useable not only in ASCII format but also in relational database and XML formats. It is expected that they will replace the current DSSAT standards for both experimental documentation and specifying conditions for running simulation models.

As yet, tools are not available for inputting data into ASCII files or relational databases conforming to the standards. Until such tools become available, users can use a standard text editor to modify a set of existing ASCII files to accommodate new experiments or simulation conditions. A set of example files is posted on the website, but shortly these will be complemented with further sets dealing with real experiments on the ICASA Data Exchange site. It is intended to post in this form the datasets aggregated by the former Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems Project (Dependent of course on the owners consent).

Similarly, simulation models that can read the new standard files are not yet widely available. The Cropsim model can read both the old DSSAT files and the new ICASA files. However, work is underway to develop a version of the Cropping System Model that is included in DSSAT V4 (which includes a module from Cropsim) that will run on both the old DSSAT files and the new ICASA files. Users may prefer to await the completion of this work. In time, it is hoped that all models listed on the ICASA web site will be able to run using the new ICASA standards, and that a wide number of tools will be ICASA compatible..

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