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Contributing Data to OBIS-SEAMAP

Data Registration Processes at a Glance

Data registration processes
  1.  Send your data as an email attachment. Virtually any format acceptable (*1). Effort data is appreciated.
  2. OBIS-SEAMAP processes and registers it into the database and send you a notification email.
  3. Review and edit metadata (e.g. abstract etc.) online.
  4. Let OBIS-SEAMAP know it's ready to go public.
  5. OBIS-SEAMAP publishes it.
  6. The public can see the dataset on the OBIS-SEAMAP web site.
*1 Please see "What are the minimum data fields OBIS-SEAMAP requires?" and "What formats are acceptable for OBIS-SEAMAP?" in this page for more detail.

 Frequently Asked Questions

 

What are the minimum data fields OBIS-SEAMAP requires?

 

OBIS-SEAMAP requires that all data be searchable by taxon name and by geographic coordinates.

The minimum data requirements for a record are the “what”, “where” and “when” of an observation:

  • What=SPECIES IDENTIFICATION:  A scientific name (Genus species) is preferred, however data at higher taxonomic levels, such as genus, family or order is also allowable. If you record species codes, a look-up table is also required.
  • Where=LOCATION:  The latitude/longitude coordinates of the observation. The coordinates can be in decimal degrees or degrees/minutes/seconds. Positive values for negative latitudes and longitudes are acceptable as long as they are labled with the correct  N/S, E/W designation. Other formats are also acceptable as OBIS-SEAMAP converts them properly in the data processing.
    Because the accuracy of the geographical position of different records may differ, information on the spatial resolution will be included in the meta-data.
  • When=DATE/TIME:  The date and time of the observation should be provided. Almost any format is acceptable.

How about other fields?

OBIS-SEAMAP appreciates whole datasets including additional attributes, in-situ data such as sea surface temperature, salinity, Beaufort sea state. Fields other than the required ones described above are not publicly available by default.

OBIS-SEAMAP users may request you the additional field data OBIS-SEAMAP holds. Upon your permission, OBIS-SEAMAP releases the requested data to the user who requested.

Would you like effort data?

OBIS-SEAMAP very much appreciates effort data. Effort data are transformed into trackline data and shown on the map as line segments, which is one of the biggest advantages you get by submitting your data to OBIS-SEAMAP.

What formats are acceptable for OBIS-SEAMAP?

Virtually any data format is acceptable unless the data are written in device-dependent binary format that needs to be deciphered. Common acceptable formats include, but are not limited to:

  • Excel shreadsheet (.xls)
  • Comma/tab separated values (.csv)
  • Text file (.txt)
  • Access database (.mdb)
  • DataBase File (.dbf)
  • ESRI shapefile

How do I provide data to OBIS-SEAMAP?

The easiest way to send data is as an e-mail attachment. If the data are too large to send via e-mail, OBIS-SEAMAP can provide a user account to upload the data.

Once the data is registered into the OBIS-SEAMAP database, you will have opportunity to review it and edit the metadata before it goes public.

Do I need an account on your site to provide data?

We will automatically create your account for your review. You don't need it in advance when you submit your data via e-mail.

 How am I credited? Can the founding sources be also credited?

You are credited as a data provider. Founding sources and collaborators can be listed in "Dataset credit."

How is my data cited? Am I noticed when my data is used for publications?

Your data as long as OBIS-SEAMAP is cited according to the OBIS-SEAMAP Terms of Use. In your review processes, which take place before your data goes public, you provide the citation information. The OBIS-SEAMAP users are required to contact you (the data provider) before your data is used for their researches and to cite your data and OBIS-SEAMAP in their publications or products.
However, OBIS-SEAMAP does not track how datasets are used and is not able to provide you the history of uses of your data.

Who holds the ownership of the data?

As a data provider, you holds the ownership of the data.

How is my data viewed on OBIS-SEAMAP?

Your data is listed by institution on the Datasets Page. The Dataset Page shows all the associated metadata, which you will edit during the review processes. The data can also be viewed with the online mapping tools available through OBIS-SEAMAP. When OBIS-SEAMAP users query the data by species or geographic locations, your data will be listed as a contributing dataset and mapped along with other data.
Your data is also converted to a KML file and loaded into Google Earth.
All the data on OBIS-SEAMAP are uploaded into and searched with OBIS, which is a parent node of OBIS-SEAMAP, and GBIF.

I'm confused about the relationship between OBIS and OBIS-SEAMAP? Do I need to submit my data to OBIS as well?

OBIS is a parent node of OBIS-SEAMAP. By default, all the OBIS-SEAMAP data are uploaded into OBIS. Only the minimum required fields are uploaded into OBIS. Additional attributes and effort data you submitted to OBIS-SEAMAP are not uploaded into OBIS. Note that OBIS has its own data schema, so your data may look different from the original format on the OBIS web site.
Also note that the OBIS and OBIS-SEAMAP data are uploaded into GBIF. These three nodes are interconnected.

How is my data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP?

Users can download only the minimum required data fields in your data after agreeing to the OBIS-SEAMAP Terms of Use. The Terms of Use restricts users from using your data in any publication without obtaining your permission. No additional fields can be downloaded without your consent. The data are downloaded in CSV, ESRI shapefile, or KML (Google Earth) formats.

I'm still conducting analyses or preparing publications using the data I submitted or am willing to submit to OBIS-SEAMAP. Can you hold it until I'm finished? Do I have control over when the data goes public?

The data will be published upon your consent. Even if the data is registered into the OBIS-SEAMAP database and ready to go, it won't be published until you give OBIS-SEAMAP a go. There have been several cases where the provider agrees to publish the minimum required fields but not to publish effort data until the analysis is done. These cases are easily accommodated.

I want to know who viewed and downloaded my data. Do I get notification?

Currently you are not notified when OBIS-SEAMAP users viewed or downloaded your data. However, the OBIS-SEAMAP Terms of Use is presented before the download begins. It requires the user to contact you if the use of the data leads to any publication or product.