Best practices and software for themanagement and sharing of camera trap data for small and large scales studies
Camera traps typically generate large amounts of bycatch data of non-target species that are secondary to the study’s objectives. Bycatch data pooled from multiple studies can answer secondary research questions; however, variation in field and data management techniques creates problems when pooli...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley Open Access
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/510/ http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/510/1/Reuben%202.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848801835865866240 |
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| author | Scotson, Lorraine Johnston, Lisa R Iannarilli, Fabiola Wearn, Oliver R Jayasilan Mohd Azlan, Wong, Wai Ming Gray, Thomas N E Dinata, Yoan Suzuki, Ai Willard, Clarie E Frechette, Jackson Loken, Brent Steinmetz, Robert Moßbrucke, Alexander M Clements, Gopalasamy Reuben * Fieberg, John |
| author_facet | Scotson, Lorraine Johnston, Lisa R Iannarilli, Fabiola Wearn, Oliver R Jayasilan Mohd Azlan, Wong, Wai Ming Gray, Thomas N E Dinata, Yoan Suzuki, Ai Willard, Clarie E Frechette, Jackson Loken, Brent Steinmetz, Robert Moßbrucke, Alexander M Clements, Gopalasamy Reuben * Fieberg, John |
| author_sort | Scotson, Lorraine |
| building | SU Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Camera traps typically generate large amounts of bycatch data of non-target species that are secondary to the study’s objectives. Bycatch data pooled from multiple
studies can answer secondary research questions; however, variation in field and data management techniques creates problems when pooling data from multiple sources. Multi-collaborator projects that use standardized methods to answer broad-scale research questions are rare and limited in geographical scope. Many small, fixed-term independent camera trap studies operate in poorly represented
regions, often using field and data management methods tailored to their own objectives. Inconsistent data management practices lead to loss of bycatch data, or
an inability to share it easily. As a case study to illustrate common problems that limit use of bycatch data, we discuss our experiences processing bycatch data
obtained by multiple research groups during a range-wide assessment of sun bears Helarctos malayanus in Southeast Asia. We found that the most significant barrier to using bycatch data for secondary research was the time required, by the owners of the data and by the secondary researchers (us), to retrieve, interpret and process data into a form suitable for secondary analyses. Furthermore, large quantities of data were lost due to incompleteness and ambiguities in data entry. From our experiences, and from a review of the published literature and online resources, we generated nine recommendations on data management best practices for field site metadata, camera trap deployment metadata, image classification data and derived data products. We cover simple techniques that can be
employed without training, special software and Internet access, as well as options for more advanced users, including a review of data management software and
platforms. From the range of solutions provided here, researchers can employ those that best suit their needs and capacity. Doing so will enhance the usefulness of their camera trap bycatch data by improving the ease of data sharing, enabling collaborations and expanding the scope of research. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T21:13:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | sunway-510 |
| institution | Sunway University |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T21:13:46Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Wiley Open Access |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | sunway-5102019-04-25T06:21:28Z http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/510/ Best practices and software for themanagement and sharing of camera trap data for small and large scales studies Scotson, Lorraine Johnston, Lisa R Iannarilli, Fabiola Wearn, Oliver R Jayasilan Mohd Azlan, Wong, Wai Ming Gray, Thomas N E Dinata, Yoan Suzuki, Ai Willard, Clarie E Frechette, Jackson Loken, Brent Steinmetz, Robert Moßbrucke, Alexander M Clements, Gopalasamy Reuben * Fieberg, John QH301 Biology Camera traps typically generate large amounts of bycatch data of non-target species that are secondary to the study’s objectives. Bycatch data pooled from multiple studies can answer secondary research questions; however, variation in field and data management techniques creates problems when pooling data from multiple sources. Multi-collaborator projects that use standardized methods to answer broad-scale research questions are rare and limited in geographical scope. Many small, fixed-term independent camera trap studies operate in poorly represented regions, often using field and data management methods tailored to their own objectives. Inconsistent data management practices lead to loss of bycatch data, or an inability to share it easily. As a case study to illustrate common problems that limit use of bycatch data, we discuss our experiences processing bycatch data obtained by multiple research groups during a range-wide assessment of sun bears Helarctos malayanus in Southeast Asia. We found that the most significant barrier to using bycatch data for secondary research was the time required, by the owners of the data and by the secondary researchers (us), to retrieve, interpret and process data into a form suitable for secondary analyses. Furthermore, large quantities of data were lost due to incompleteness and ambiguities in data entry. From our experiences, and from a review of the published literature and online resources, we generated nine recommendations on data management best practices for field site metadata, camera trap deployment metadata, image classification data and derived data products. We cover simple techniques that can be employed without training, special software and Internet access, as well as options for more advanced users, including a review of data management software and platforms. From the range of solutions provided here, researchers can employ those that best suit their needs and capacity. Doing so will enhance the usefulness of their camera trap bycatch data by improving the ease of data sharing, enabling collaborations and expanding the scope of research. Wiley Open Access 2017 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_nc_nd http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/510/1/Reuben%202.pdf Scotson, Lorraine and Johnston, Lisa R and Iannarilli, Fabiola and Wearn, Oliver R and Jayasilan Mohd Azlan, and Wong, Wai Ming and Gray, Thomas N E and Dinata, Yoan and Suzuki, Ai and Willard, Clarie E and Frechette, Jackson and Loken, Brent and Steinmetz, Robert and Moßbrucke, Alexander M and Clements, Gopalasamy Reuben * and Fieberg, John (2017) Best practices and software for themanagement and sharing of camera trap data for small and large scales studies. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, 3 (3). pp. 1-15. ISSN 2056 3485 10.1002/rse2.54 |
| spellingShingle | QH301 Biology Scotson, Lorraine Johnston, Lisa R Iannarilli, Fabiola Wearn, Oliver R Jayasilan Mohd Azlan, Wong, Wai Ming Gray, Thomas N E Dinata, Yoan Suzuki, Ai Willard, Clarie E Frechette, Jackson Loken, Brent Steinmetz, Robert Moßbrucke, Alexander M Clements, Gopalasamy Reuben * Fieberg, John Best practices and software for themanagement and sharing of camera trap data for small and large scales studies |
| title | Best practices and software for themanagement and sharing
of camera trap data for small and large scales studies |
| title_full | Best practices and software for themanagement and sharing
of camera trap data for small and large scales studies |
| title_fullStr | Best practices and software for themanagement and sharing
of camera trap data for small and large scales studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Best practices and software for themanagement and sharing
of camera trap data for small and large scales studies |
| title_short | Best practices and software for themanagement and sharing
of camera trap data for small and large scales studies |
| title_sort | best practices and software for themanagement and sharing
of camera trap data for small and large scales studies |
| topic | QH301 Biology |
| url | http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/510/ http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/510/ http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/510/1/Reuben%202.pdf |