Report prepared for the Experts Meeting Towards the Implementation of a Global Invasive Species
Information Network (GISIN), 6-8 April, 2004. Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Page 65
8/30/2004
seven million points – two million in the USA
and five million elsewhere. For example, on
an aerial image of the White House
(supplied by Topozone), a user could
specify that they observed an insect on a
particular tree in the image and
automatically obtain the latitude and
longitude for that tree from the image.
Species observation reports are stored in a
database and can be monitored for quality
through development of a type of
observation quality profile, similar to a
consumer’s credit report that is based on
the individual’s behavior over time.
The gazetteer mechanism behind this
mapping function contains over
seven million points – two million in
the USA and five million elsewhere.
The Discover Life project is just beginning to
implement quality control measures on
publicly submitted observation records.
Using volunteers, a training program has
been set up to test for variance in species
identification accuracy. Quality scores will
be developed based on variances between
observers. As large amounts of data or
observation records are submitted, data
quality ratings or scores will be created for
reporters by comparing their observations
with museum records and reports from
other individuals. These ratings constitute
the quality profile or credibility report.
The IDnature guide system has been tested
by secondary school students supplied with
a known specimen that they must identify
using an IDnature guide. The students’
identifications are compared with the known
identification for the specimen. Guides are
improved to help eliminate mistakes based
on the success rate of accurate
identifications.
Citizens can report observations of
invasive species such as the
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid by using an
IDnature guide to identify it and the
reporting system to submit their
observations.
This will be a very useful tool for early
detection of invasive species. Citizens can
report observations such as the Hemlock
Wooly Adelgid by using an IDnature guide
to identify it and the reporting system to
submit their observations. At the technical
level, the distinction between native and
introduced species records is integrated into
the IDnature guides by importing the data in
the form of American Standard Code for
Information Interchange (ASCII) text files,
converting it into Extensible Markup
Language (XML), and hashing it into an
indexed file. An attached flag is then used to
indicate whether the species is introduced
or native allowing users to select from
Introduced and Native checkboxes in the
IDnature guide form.
Global Mapper
The Global Mapper constitutes another
major component of the Discover Life
system. This tool allows users to zoom in on
groups of points and select individual points
that indicate observation records for
different species, each a different color. If
the mouse is hovered over a point, or if the
user clicks on a point (rather than an empty
space on the map), information about the
observation record is displayed. Users can
also create their own map of species
observations using this tool and insert the
URL for it into their own Web site or use it
for other reference purposes.
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