Solutions for nature conservation and sustainability research
In this text, I will explain a common data problem that the sea turtle researchers at Osa Conservation asked me to solve. The solution is a so-called data blending tool to not just stitch data from multiple tables together, but also to address differences in data formatting, and to keep track and automatically document all modifications in metadata output files.
Very few research databases or data collections that are being populated through human labor can do without a field or other opportunity to enter notes. At least five possible uses of notes can be identified. It is important to regularly review the notes to unleash their power.
urtles and their nests is about ten years old or limited in their possibilities. I am considering developing new database software. In this text, I am calling for input from sea turtle NGOs and individual experts about their work practices and for feedback on the outline that comprises the bulk of this text
Variety in data-editors During my work on the SWINNO project and its database I noticed how the assistants who did the data work, I call them data editors, have different strategies of entering data. Also, they know the rules that govern the entry of the variables in various degrees, they have different ways of dealing... Continue Reading →
June 2020 At Osa Conservation (where I am currently doing volunteer work), sea turtle research has been going on for at least ten years. Data about the sea turtles, their nests and the hatchlings, is written down in note books during the beach patrols. Later, this data is collected in one or more spreadsheets. Over... Continue Reading →
In this text, I will explain the problem that the sea turtle researchers at Osa Conservation asked me to solve. It turns out that they have a data problem that I am sure many other researchers and organizations have. The solution is a database tool to stitch data from multiple tables together, while addressing differences... Continue Reading →
Rubber Boots Data 