Datasets Help
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Introduction
Dataset page lists up all the datasets available through OBIS-SEAMAP, grouped by data providers (organizations). The list gives you the brief information about the datasets along with options to map them.
The page is split in two. The left side shows the list of data providers. The right side contains data filtering form and resulting list of datasets.
Other resources
Refer to each page for more information on:
- Map Online
- Map on Google Earth
- Shapefile
- CSV file
- WMS
- WFS
- Animation
For data providers, refer to Data Providers' FAQ and Upload Specification as well.
Providers
Providers box shows the list of data providers along with the number of datasets available from the provider in the parentheses. Clicking one of the providers results in the list of the datasets from the provider in the right side.
The first two items in the list are exceptions.
- The first 'Latest 20 additions' lists 20 of recently added datasets among all the providers.
- The second 'All providers' clears the provider selection.
Dataset Search
The upper right side provides dataset search capability. The search criteria are applied to the current provider selected in 'providers' box. If you want to search without specifying a provider, select 'All providers' from 'providers' box.
The following table describes avaiable search criteria.
| Criterion | values | description |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | [boat | plane | shore | tag] | Platform the dataset is conducted on. See FAQ. |
| Taxa | [birds | mammals | turtules] | The taxonomic groups whose observations are included in the datasets. |
| Keyword | Any words | This box accepts any words. The words entered are treated as a phrase and used to search datasets whose dataset name, abstract, references, purpose, provider name contain the phrase. |
| Species | Species scientific or common name | Specify your species of interest. This box has 'as-you-type search' enabled (see below). Multiple species are accepted. They are evaluated with OR condition. |
| Spatial interest | Maximum and minimum values for latitude and longitude | Spatial interest is a rectangular area you are interested in. A rectangular area is defined with maximum and minimum values for latitude and longitude. The area can be defined with the Google Map interface (see below). To launch the Google Map interface, click on 'Map...'. |
As-you-type search
'As-you-type' seach shows you possible select options as you type a species name, either scientific name or common name, in the box. You will see the options being narrowed down as you go on typing. If you find the species of interest, click on the option. Then, the box is complete with the option.
The above image is an example when you enter 'hum', looking for humpback whales. The select options show two possible species whose scientific/common names contain 'hum'. At this point, you can keep typing or click on 'Megaptera novaeangliae'.
To enter multiple species, press 'Enter' key at the end of each species name. 'As-you-type' seach is on for the last line only.
Defining Spatial Interest with Google Map
Google Map is a convenient way to define your area of interest with a rectangle.
- Click on 'Map...' under 'Spatial interest' block.
- In Extent Picker popup window, navigate (zoom in/out, pan) the map using Google Map's standard navigation tools.
- Click on the map to locate one of the four points of a rectangle.
- Move the mouse and you will see a rectangle with red lines follow the mouse move. Note it is not mouse drag. Release the mouse button while moving it.
- Click on the map to locate the diagonal point of the rectangle.
- Click 'Submit Extent' button.
- The coordinates are entered in the four boxes under 'Spatial interest' block.
Note 1: You can redraw the rectangle as many times until you are satisfied by repeating the steps 3 - 5.
Note 2: you can manually adjust the coordinates in the four boxes after submitting on the Google Map interface.
Dataset list
Dataset list shows the datasets that meet the criteria with 20 entries per page.
They are grouped by data provider. If there are more than 20 datasets matched, you can navigate through pages by clicking [Next] or [Prev].
Data accuracy
Although we make every effort to provide acurate data, they are not perfect. The most common errors are:
- Observation points far inland;
- Observation points in an area that the species is not supposed to occur;
- Species with wrong taxnomony.
If you find erroneous data, please contact us. We will correct them as much as possible.
