Development of the NVS Databank database spans many years with data storage formats evolving from the ASCII files used early on through to the normalised relational database in use today. The most recent review and update of the NVS data model was completed during 2007-2008 and introduced a more flexible approach for storing plot-based vegetation data than had been employed previously. New data model features included a nested plot design; the ability to accommodate new data collection methods over time, improved management of datum’s and attribute metadata; a generalised approach for handling similar data types; new person/party management, role assignment, and security capabilities; and accommodation of new dataset types. The design goal was to address these shortcomings and align the NVS model to similar vegetation models such as VegBank to facilitate data sharing.
The model can be partitioned into the following areas:
| Project | Project groups a collection of plot observationsthat relate to sampling events undertaken over a specific period. A project can have many sampling methods and many plot observations. | |
| Plot | Plot stores fixed information and attributes for a plot or site, e.g. slope, aspect. Plots may be nested and can each have many observations overtime. | |
| Plot Observation | Plot observation records observation events on a plot. A plot may have many observation events over time. Plot observation records attributes that may change between observation events. | |
| Observation Methods | One or more different sampling methods may have been used during a specific plot-observation event, e.g. tree diameter or sapling counts. | |
| Individual Observation | Measurement observations made of an individual item, e.g. a tagged tree. | |
| Taxon Observation | Measurement observation of a taxon on a plot, e.g. counts of all individuals of a specific taxon on the plot. |