EcoPlots - The data Integration platform for systematic site-based surveys

Harmonised ecology systematic survey site-based data is critical for trans-geography and trans-disciplinary research. However, integrating site-based survey data from multiple sources remains challenging due to the lack of data representation and exchange standards. 

TERN, Australia’s trusted name in research infrastructure development, has developed EcoPlots to integrate site-based survey data from multiple sources and provide integrated search and access capabilities. EcoPlots map source data to a standard information model and allow users to search based on multiple regions, data sources, methods used in the data collection, feature types, parameters, and observation date ranges. 

Users can also search for species, filter parameters and attributes with exact values and ranges. They can download data in multiple formats, including a comprehensive ontology-based CSV file format, simple CSV, and GeoJSON, which contains all observations related to a site. In addition, users can mint DOIs for their search outputs to improve the reusability of data. In Australia, EcoPlots has enabled the integration of site-based survey data across research infrastructure projects, academia, and government agencies.