[Tdwg-obs] GBIF SURVEY: generalizing / randomizing sensitive data (deadline April 1, 2006)

[Lynn Kutner]

Hi all -
 
Apologies if you've already received this; I wanted to make sure it was
widely distributed.
 
Lynn

 
Lynn Kutner
NatureServe
www.natureserve.org
(303) 541-0360
lynn_kutner at natureserve.org

 

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New on-line survey <http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=861321784377>
on how data custodians are overseeing the sharing of Sensitive Primary
Species Occurrence Data

The GBIF Secretariat <http://www.gbif.org/>  recognises concerns about
the unprotected distribution of Sensitive Primary Species Occurrence
Data (for example the exact localities of rare, endangered or
commercially valuable taxa). This as an important issue to be addressed
related to data to be shared through the GBIF network and made visible
through the GBIF Data Portal <http://www.gbif.net> .

We urgently need to review current approaches to obscuring or
generalizing such data, and to develop best practice recommendations in
this area.  It is also important to understand the possible impact that
such approaches may have on biodiversity science. This review will lead
to a discussion paper which will be made available later this year on
the GBIF web site.

The GBIF Secretariat wishes to examine:

* which data are regarded as 'sensitive'

* which approaches are currently used by GBIF data providers to protect
sensitive data (and the associated advantages and disadvantages of these
approaches)

* the extent to which each approach may be reversed through
co-relational analysis

* the extent that generalization may restrict various analyses

* the level of generalization that may be appropriate for different
types of data

* the best ways of documenting generalization of data and the methods
used

* whether a standard approach can be promoted for all sensitive data
provided through the GBIF network

* whether changes should be made to the TDWG ABCD and Darwin Core
schemas (used by GBIF for exchange of Primary Species Occurrence Data)
to facilitate sharing generalised data 

We are offering an on-line survey
<http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=861321784377>

(http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=861321784377) and invite
representatives of all institutions holding Primary Species Occurrence
Data (specimen data, observations, living collections, and survey and
monitoring data) to fill out this survey. The deadline for completion is
April 1, 2006.

After this date the survey will be closed and we will compile the
responses to contribute to the review process.

Further background on the survey can be found in the introduction to the
survey <http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=861321784377> . All
respondents will receive a link to the draft Discussion Paper when it
becomes available and there will be an opportunity to provide additional
comments and reflections before the report becomes public.


Larry Speers

Senior Programme Officer

Digitization of Natural History Collections Global Biodiversity
Information Facility Copenhagen, Denmark

Arthur D. Chapman

(Consultant to GBIF on Sensitive Data)

Australian Biodiversity Information Services Toowoomba, Australia