Training course on biodiversity data publishing and fitness-for-use in the GBIF Network, 2011 edition Tools and Resources to Assess and Enhance Fitness-For-Use Meherzad Romer Senior Data Manager NatureServe Canada ) September 30, 2011

Overview 1.Tools that help: o Metadata o Spatial Data o Tabular Data 2.Other resources o Data sources o Documents

Tools - Metadata

Tools - Metadata Metadata Capabilities of IPT

Tools- Metadata Metadata Capabilities of the IPT Geographic coverage metadata in IPT

Tools - Metadata Darwin Core Archive Validator

Tools - Metadata Darwin Core Archive Validator

Tools - Spatial Data

Tools – Spatial Data BioGeomancer Convert text into coordinates Assign radius of uncertainty Single or Batch process

Tools – Spatial Data BioGeomancer Web based only Shows all possibilities

Tools – Spatial Data GeoLocate Convert text to coordinates Assign radius of uncertainty Single or batch process Correct by moving location place mark or drawing polygon Online, stand alone and collaborative versions

Tools – Spatial Data InfoXY Coordinates entered in lat/long Can batch process Results precise to the administrative boundaries Output: html or MS Excel spreadsheet

Tools – Spatial Data SpOutlier Enter lat/long (altitude) Map Better with more locations Uses weighted centre Checks on water/land

Tools – Spatial Data SpOutlier

Tools – Spatial Data Georeferencing Calculator Input: Coordinates, offsets and headings, uncertainty sources Output: Final coordinates Estimate of error

Tools – Spatial Data Diva-GIS Basic GIS software Free Biologically oriented Vector/Raster Compatible with many formats

Tools – Spatial Data Quantum GIS More complex Free Compatible with Spatial Geodatabases and geographical web services Vector/Raster Community development

Tools – Spatial Data The R-project Environment and language for statistical computing. Allows analysis and drawing. Plays nicely with others: GIS, scripting languages

Tools – Tabular Data

Tools – Tabular Data Name Parser Atomize Sci. Names 3 parted name Ignores varieties for subspecies

Tools – Tabular Data Name Parser

Tools – Tabular Data Name Finder Find scientific names Inputs: File Url Free text

Tools – Tabular Data Name Finder Returns: Count Names as found Recognized form

Tools – Tabular Data Taxon Tagger Input: Url PDF file

Tools – Tabular Data Taxon Tagger Output: Scientific Names Higher Taxonomy Hightlights names

Tools – Tabular Data Checklist Bank (Development Prototype) Input: Scientific Names Output: Higher taxonomy

Tools – Tabular Data Darwin Test GBIF France Validate and check records Darwin Core Archive format Coordinate conversions Check names against databases Detect encoding issues Generalize sensitive data (coords) Access based

Tools – Tabular Data Scripting/dynamic languages This is geocoding With 10 more lines, you can achieve very specific, complex and custom results

Tools – Tabular Data Google Refine DEMO

Other Resources - Data Sources

Data sources OpenStreetMap Data quality? Free Editable Downloadable Community based

Data sources Thesauri Thematic checklists: o Fish : FishbaseFishbase o Animals in general: Index to Organism Name (ION)Index to Organism Name (ION) o Mammals: Mammal Species of the World (MSW)Mammal Species of the World (MSW) o Bacteria: List of Bacteria with Standing in Nomenclature (LBSN)List of Bacteria with Standing in Nomenclature (LBSN) Country codes o ISO or ISO3166-2, available for example in Access format (

Other Resources - Documents

Documents GBIF Position Paper on Future Directions and Recommendations for Enhancing Fitness-for-Use Across the GBIF Network

Documents GBIF Spain BDQ Inventory

Documents GBIF Online Resource Centre Browse and download Fitness for use Best practices Training Manuals

Thank you. Questions?