Tools & protocolsMethods were developed and standardised more so in 2019 when it was realised that methodologies differed between the south and north of the country. For example, Shoresearch groups in the north found that the methodology was not always applicable to the types of surveys they were undertaking or the species found in the south where Shoresearch originally evolved. They then set methodology and started using set recording forms and resources. A national data portal was developed to centralise data collection and it has continued to be developed from there. They have also launched a Shoresearch mobile app which removes the need for paper forms.
Licensing & permissionsShoresearch plan to make their data more openly accessible but currently available data are under the CC-BY license.
Verification & quality controlThere is a Data Management Plan which states that Shoresearch use verifiers from iRecord and that the data is to be shared with the NBN. Verification is initially carried out during the survey by experienced staff within the Shoresearch team and again by iRecord at a later stage. The data range is also checked during the QA process.
ProcessingData are collected and standardised using the Shoresearch app and/or uploaded to their data portal before archiving in a database at the the BRC. A verification and quality control process take place and the species are aligned with the UK Species Inventory.
SharingResults summaries are shared with the public after events using various methods, data are shared upon request, statutory agencies are provided with reports summarising data and data are available online, verified data flows onto the NBN.