The influence of sampling design on spatial data quality in a geographic citizen science project

Greg Brown; Jonathan Rhodes; Daniel Lunney; Ross Goldingay; Kelly Fielding; Nicole Garofano; Scott Hetherington; Marama Hopkins; Jo Green; Skye McNamara; Angie Brace; Lorraine Vass; Linda Swankie; Clive McAlpine

doi:10.1111/tgis.12568

Back

The influence of sampling design on spatial data quality in a geographic citizen science project

Journal article

Peer reviewed

The influence of sampling design on spatial data quality in a geographic citizen science project

Greg Brown, Jonathan Rhodes, Daniel Lunney, Ross Goldingay, Kelly Fielding, Nicole Garofano, Scott Hetherington, Marama Hopkins, Jo Green, Skye McNamara, …

Transactions in GIS, Vol.23(6), pp.1184-1203

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tgis.12568

Files and links (1)

url

PublishedView

Published (Version of Record)

Abstract

Geographic citizen science has much potential to assist in wildlife research and conservation, but the quality of observation data is a key concern. We examined the effects of sampling design on the quality of spatial data collected for a koala citizen science project in Australia. Data were collected from three samples—volunteers (n = 454), an Internet panel (n = 103), and landowners (n = 35)—to assess spatial data quality, a dimension of citizen science projects rarely considered. The locational accuracy of koala observations among the samples was similar when benchmarked against authoritative data (i.e., an expert-derived koala distribution model), but there were differences in the quantity of data generated. Fewer koala location data were generated per participant by the Internet panel sample than the volunteer or landowner samples. Spatial preferences for land uses affecting koala conservation were also mapped, with landowners more likely to map locations for residential and tourism development and volunteers less likely. These spatial preferences have the potential to influence the social acceptability of future koala conservation proposals. With careful sampling design, both citizen observations and land use preferences can be included within the same project to augment scientific assessments and identify conservation opportunities and constraints.

Details

Title: The influence of sampling design on spatial data quality in a geographic citizen science project
Authors/Creators: Greg Brown - California Polytechnic State University
Jonathan Rhodes - Environmental Earth Sciences
Daniel Lunney - Bush Heritage Australia
Ross Goldingay - Southern Cross University
Kelly Fielding - The University of Queensland
Nicole Garofano - Environmental Earth Sciences
Scott Hetherington - Tweed Shire Council
Marama Hopkins - Tweed Shire Council
Jo Green - Byron Shire Council Mullumbimby Australia
Skye McNamara - Ballina Shire Council Ballina Australia
Angie Brace - Gold Coast City Council
Lorraine Vass - Lismore Base Hospital
Linda Swankie - Lismore Base Hospital
Clive McAlpine - Environmental Earth Sciences
Publication Details: Transactions in GIS, Vol.23(6), pp.1184-1203
Publisher: Wiley
Number of pages: 20
Grant note: LP160100186 / Australian Research Council, ARC Linkage Project; Australian Research Council
Identifiers: 991005579406607891
Copyright: © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites

Metrics

33 Record Views

16 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.40 Forestry; 3.40.195 Biodiversity Conservation
Web Of Science research areas: Geography
ESI research areas: Social Sciences, general