Biodata System Guide

   

Sharing Biodata via the Web

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Note: Is "Sharing biodata via the web" a suitable title for the area of making data available, and providing for data contribution via the web? The levels below do not yet fully reflect Web-based Community Monitoring.

Checklist

Level One: No web access to data.

Level Two: Static documents (eg PDF) available online.

Level Three: Raw data available online.

Level Four: Data available in standards-compliant format with explicit licence.

Level Five: Data available via web services.

Reference Resources

Please add ideas about effective practices for the use of field data capture devices to this page.

A summary of a work session on web-based community monitoring at the 2010 National Workshop is available to view.

“Community groups have access to many forms of data and information that are qualities of the community itself and are therefore not available from any source other than from the community. Traditional ecological knowledge, local spirituality, aesthetic and amenity values are relevant examples” (Thomas Meredith, initiator of PPGIS, 1998).

Public Partici​patory GIS offers a means for 'citizen scientists' to not only supply information but to participate in the consultation process.

Geographic information technologies are used in participatory settings and to support information gathering (see software page). Metadata can track the contributors and validity.

The value of PPGIS:

  • community inclusion and engagement integrated
  • conservation and development
  • sustainable natural resource management
  • discussion of customary property rights

Software

Geographic Information Systems

Open Source

Quantum GIS multi platform (Windows/Linux/Mac) for desktop editing, creating maps and printing MapWindow GIS Windows based desktop GIS OSGEO Open Source Geospatial Foundation: supports the development of several free & Open Source GIS related applications, including mapserver, PostGIS, GRASS, OpenLayers, etc

Commercial

Clark Labs IDRISI http://www.clarklabs.org/ ESRI http://www.esri.com/

Databases

Open Source

PostgreSQl as the geospatial database and PostGIS See Getting Started With PostGIS: An almost Idiot's Guide

Web Services

Open Source

Geoserver is integrated with Open Layersfor the web application UMN Mapserver works with OpenLayers and other clients as a web service based web mapping server, part of the OSGEO stack of interoperable applications

Digital Archives

Open Source

"Kete" the digital archive

The TERRAIN groups use both the National Libraries "Aotearoa People's Network" and Katipo Kete (the developers of the kete and koha open source software) to host digital libraries. Advantages: metadata, copyright and versioning for most file formats (documents, images and audio). See examples where kete material links to maps and other websites : Kete Pukekura, Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society, Friends of Te Henui, See this demo of the kete

Survey Methods

SurveyMonkey - free, or plans available

Geonetwork - metadata catalog

GeoNetwork opensource (http://geonetwork-opensource.org) is a standards based geospatial catalog application that helps people and organizations to organize and publish their geospatial data through the web. It is currently used in numerous Spatial Data Infrastructure initiatives across the world. This is part of the OGC stack and represents the catalog and metadata part.

Common features of CEM projects:

NIWA have a number of planned community based environmental data acquisition and monitoring projects. These have a wide range of common features which leads to the idea that we could provide a generic system to support such projects.

Places

Each project gathers data about some type of place: Forests, Beaches, Estuaries, Lakes, Rivers etc.

Measurements

At each place repeated measurements are made at various locations and times. Measurements can range from the simple: e.g. taking a water temperature, to the complex multi variable: e.g identifying the range of plants found in a quadrat. Measurements are therefore collections of parameters that each have data types (range, units, accuracy), descriptions and procedures. Measurements may include artifacts such as photographs, interview transcripts etc.

Methods

Each measurement has a way to be taken. Instructions and tools may be provided, results are noted - on paper, or direct to computer. Measurements may be taken by inexperienced people. The system therefore will carry a moderate amount of online instructional content.

Data Entry

The systems will have web based form entry, potentially backed up with mobile data capture systems and import from other formats.

Users

Each place may be monitored by a local community group, e.g. a surf lifesaving club, IWI, or a club formed specifically The system supports the registration of the group, identification of members etc. It might also provide feedback on progress and other social networking concepts such as user profiles, photos, blog/news items etc. User roles include: Administrators who setup the projects, Editors who contribute measurements and readers who can see reports.

Common Technical Features

Custom Data

Each project has its own set of measurements and data types. We don't want to hand code everything so would like to be able to generate both data storage, validation and screen entry from a source description. Alternatively we could have a dynamic system that allows administrators to build the scheme up on the fly.

User Management

All the usual user management features: self registration, I forgot my password, login, profile etc. plus group management features, form a group, assign people, give rights etc.

Content editing

Editors can add pages about the project, how to make measurements, etc. Groups can add pages about their 'patch' progress, meet ups, events.

Data Entry

Data entry requires screen designs for each type of measurement group, location entry, perhaps species identification, validation, workflow. Forms should have all the standard GUI features, text entry, number entry, pick lists, radio buttons etc. In addition custom data types should have custom UI entry such as location pick from a map, date selection etc. Where possible fields should be auto filled e.g. the user, the date etc. Upload of files - attachments may also be required.

Reports

Groups need summary reports on the data they have entered plus tools to generate more specific reports. Charting tools would be good too.

Data Extraction

The data belongs to the groups, they may wish to extract all records in some format to use for other purposes. NIWA may wish to move data into a longer term repository. Excel, CSV, XML, downloads etc.

Data Storage

The wide variety of data types and measurements associated with different projects makes constructing traditional relational tables messy, Entity Attribute Value databases may be more appropriate but make the data difficult to access using tradition tools. Some mix of the two may be appropriate. The question is one of whether to have new tables for each measurement type, dynamically created, or have very generic tables that can store a variety of data types.

Some definitions

A measurement consists of one or more values each of which has a specific data type. A data type is defined by attributes: the name, units, range, accuracy, format, description, validation rules etc.

A measurement also has attributes of the date time,location, and who made the measurement.

Location may be simple coordinates e.g. GPS or Site (Station?) A 'known' location which also has attributes of name, description, etc.

Locations and stations belong to a place which represents an areal extent such as a beach or river. Places also have properties depending on type e.g. a river may carry an NZ Reach ID

 

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