[Tdwg-obs] Survey and Monitoring
Robert K. Peet
peet at unc.edu
Sat Nov 12 18:57:49 CET 2005
Hello,
Like Lynn, I would like the observations standard to support observations
of communities as well as individual organisms
Consider the VegBank approach
(http://vegbank.org/vegdocs/design/erd/vegbank_erd.pdf):
A vegetation plot (location) can have multiple plotObservation events,
each of which can have multiple taxonObservation events (collectively such
as density, or of individuals), each of which can have multiple
identification events, each of which can refer to multiple taxonomic
concepts. In addition, the plotObservation can have multiple
identifications, and each of these can refer to multiple community
concepts.
With this approach permanent information about the location, such as
geocoordinates, is associated with the plot. Transient information about
the plot is recorded with the plotObservation and here we also could refer
to protocols applied. Monitoring can be handled by a recursive loop
linking plotObservations or taxonObservations
Bob Peet
======================================================================
Robert K. Peet, Professor & Chair Phone: 919-962-6942
Curriculum in Ecology, CB#3275 Fax: 919-962-6930
University of North Carolina Cell: 919-368-4971
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3275 USA Email: peet at unc.edu
http://www.unc.edu/depts/ecology/
http://www.bio.unc.edu/faculty/peet/
======================================================================
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 15:35:44 -0500
> From: Steve Kelling <stk2 at cornell.edu>
> Subject: [Tdwg-obs] Survey and Monitoring
> I apologize for the delay in posting to the listserve. As I am
> sure it is true for you, it has been quite hectic for me.
>
> My feeling is that we have a good definition for the
> integrative element of observational data. That is, the element in which
> observational data can be (and is) incorporated in existing Natural History
> collections data. To reiterate;
> An observation is a collection event that describes a phenomenon, and is
> bound to the spatiotemporal location where it was made. Furthermore, an
> observation describes an occurrence and can be linked to descriptions of
> other occurrences.
> Now we can begin to talk about the methods of aggregating
> observations. To do this means issues such as protocol (including
> precision, accuracy, and certainty in the methods), data quality, inferring
> negative data, and detectability must be addressed. It is at this point
> where observational data can begin to contribute and extend the value of
> the data held within biodiversity data networks.
>
> What I would like to do is begin a discussion on
> survey/monitoring techniques and issues. Specifically I would like to
> develop the necessary requirements to define methodology metadata. For
> example, how does one distinguish between surveys and monitoring? For
> example, I consider monitoring as a protocol- driven collection of
> observational data gathered repeatedly over a time series at a specific
> location. Thus, I would distinguish monitoring from a survey in that a
> survey documents an occurrence of an organism(s) at a location at a
> particular time, and does not include repeated sampling.
>
> Anyway, I look forward to hearing from you.
>
> Regards,
>
> Steve Kelling
> Cornell Lab of Ornithology
> 607-254-2478 (work)
> 607-342-1029 (cell)
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