LTER Information Management

Training Materials

LTERInformationManagers

Committee

Data Capture & QA/QCKristin Vanderbilt, Ph.D.Sevilleta LTERNew Mexico, USA

QA/QC Mechanisms designed to prevent

introduction of errors in to a dataset

Loss of data quality can occur at many stages:

At the time of collection Commission: Incorrect or inaccurate data are

entered into a dataset Misidentifying quad Malfunctioning instrumentation

Sensor drift Low batteries Damage

Credit: http://sev.lternet.edu

Loss of data quality can occur at many stages:

During digitisation Mistyping code Transposing numbers

Loss of data quality can occur at many stages:

During documentation Omission: Data or metadata are not recorded

Inadequate documentation of experimental design, sampling methods

Inadequate documentation of anomalies in the field

Forgetting to take measurement in the field

Database

• Datasheet Design• Training technicians• Documentation of procedures• Data Entry Constraints

• Graphics• Statistics

Scientist

Cost of error correction increases

Datasheets facilitate data collection

DateTimeHabitat TypeMacroplot #Tree SpeciesDBHConditionMicroplot #Shrub Species

Shrub Cover%

Daubenmire Plot

SpeciesCover %

Hard to transcribe….

INVENTORY AND MONITORING PROJECT, Glacier National ParkDate:Time:Habitat Type:

Macroplot Microplot Daubenmire PlotMacroplot Number: Microplot Number: Dubenmire Plot Number:

Tree Species DBH (cm) Condition Shrub Species Cover (%) Understory Species Cover (%)

Flowering Plant Phenology – Data Collection Form Design

Three sites, each with 3 transects On each transect, every species will

have its phenological class recorded

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

Deep Well Five Points Goat Draw

Plant Life Stage_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What’s wrong with this data sheet?

Data Collection Form Development:

Plant Life StageP/G V B FL FR M S D NPP/G V B FL FR M S D NPP/G V B FL FR M S D NPP/G V B FL FR M S D NPP/G V B FL FR M S D NPP/G V B FL FR M S D NPP/G V B FL FR M S D NP

PHENOLOGY DATA SHEETCollectors:_________________________________Date:___________________ Time:_________Location: deep well, five points, goat drawTransect: 1 2 3 Notes: _________________________________________

P/G = perennating or germinating M = dispersingV = vegetating S = senescingB = budding D = deadFL = flowering NP = not presentFR = fruiting

Web 1

1 23 4

Plot

Quadrats

Web 3

1 23 4

Web 2

1 23 4

This study design is replicated at 3 sites: Deep Well, Five Points, and Goat Draw

N

S

E W

Sevilleta LTER NPP Study: At each location, record the percent cover and height of each plant species. Data are sampled on each quadrat.

N

S

E W

Sevilleta LTER NPP Quadrat Cover MeasurementsDate: ____________________Data Collector: ____________________Site: (circle one) Deep Well Goat Draw Five PointsWeb: (circle one) 1 2 3Plot: (circle one) N S E W

Quad Species Cover Height