Ecosystem Approach Community of Practice: SpeciesChart

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SpeciesChart
This VREVirtual Research Environment. allows for the comparison of species distribution maps. The comparison may be across different data-sets, data-provider, and visualization tool. The purpose is to allow biodiversity researchers to prioritize their activities in the improvement of the data used to generate maps, the algorithm, and to collaboratively share this knowledge.
The service answers a direct need of FIN staff, and is thus of High priority
The proposed solution would first aim to compare the 684 FAO species maps with their AquaMaps and AquaMaps2050 equivalents already in the iMarine e-infrastructure.
  • Potential target community: In the project: FAO, FIN, IOC/Unesco with great interest beyond the EA-CoPCommunity of Practice.;
  • Users: 10 -15;
  • Potential for co-funding: Low;
  • Structural allocation of resources: 3 PM (estimate);
  • Referred in DoW: No;
  • Business Cases: It specifically targets BC2. It is likely that the output will be of interest to BC1, where the tool allows to analyze a time-series of occurrence maps;
  • How does the proposed action generally support sustainability aspects. The tool offers to improve the quality and efficiency in the map Quality control and the effectiveness of the work-flow. It reduces staff costs and contributes to collaborations;
  • How consistent it is with EC regulations/strategies (eg INSPIRE). Not relevant;
  • Re-usability – compatibility - benefits;
Product description

A proposal for the VREVirtual Research Environment. has been prepared by E. Blondel, and is currently (March 2013) being implemented.

The tool definition has several parts:

Parentage. The tool relates to many iMarine activities in data discovery, management and visualization.
Relation to CoPCommunity of Practice. Software. The tool has no equivalent in the CoPCommunity of Practice..
Relation to D4S technologies
Productivity
The VREVirtual Research Environment. visualization of time-series has interesting features to allow VREVirtual Research Environment. users to produce attractive and user oriented products. Behind the VREVirtual Research Environment., a large effort is made to access and manage geospatial data, which requires much effort.
The VREVirtual Research Environment. comparison tool has a rather limited coverage if it is only applicable to the FAO distribution maps. There are only 684 maps (at the moment), and some of these are not of interest to the use-case described.;

In addition, the statistical analysis promises to be complicated to build as the requirements are vague and difficult to interpret. The result sought is a prioritization of the comparison activity, and has little use beyond the VREVirtual Research Environment.. It will improve the efficiency of the manager in setting priorities based on map comparison. However, it is likely that other prioritization considerations (e.g. based on species group, economic insters, etc.) will weigh heavier.

When implemented the tool will not directly reduce a work-load, but will only contribute to a better understanding and focus of the activity. Up until the visualization part, the case is clear. However, the comparison and prioritization parts have to be described better.
Presentation
The VREVirtual Research Environment. has not yet been defined to the level of UI Design.
Policy
Are there any policies available that describe data access and sharing? No.
Have the Copyright / attribution / metadata / legal aspects been addressed from a user and technology perspective? This is a private tool, any specificities need not be addressed by this tool.