CRITTERBASE

Collector's App

Data collectors use the Collector's App to check the quality of their data; and to convert it into CRITTERBASE, too. It is platform independent (macOS, Linux and Windows) and written in Python.

Work locally

The Collector's App does not depend on any server structure. You can bring your data into the correct format locally and work with it, absolutely securely. You maintain complete control over your data.

Web service

The CRITTERBASE Web service is hosted by the AWI Computing Centre and offers online access to publicly available data.

Data security

We store our research data securely on the GitLab service of the AWI Computing Centre. Any changes are logged, automatic backups are made regularly and any transport is SSL-encrypted directly via git client software like Sourcetree.

REST service

A direct machine-to-machine communication with the CRITTERBASE Web service is also possible through a REST interface to allow for software-based queries.

Cloud Computing

The CRITTERBASE Web service can also be accessed via the REST interface within the AWI JupyterHub or other instances of the AWI Marketplace, with all data and code remaining securely in one place in the AWI Computing Centre.

Quality control

All data is subjected to a rigorous quality control. This includes the initial reading in of the data as well as the checking of data that has already been imported.

Reporting

The Collector’s App can create useful reports and overviews regarding the overall quality of the CRITTERBASE. Especially with very large amounts of data, this is absolutely essential in order to guarantee high data quality. Particular emphasis was placed on user-friendly feedback.

WoRMS integration

The Collector's App can query taxon names directly from WoRMS. Thanks to advanced buffering technology, WoRMS queries can be carried out rapidly. CRITTERBASE is an official partner of WoRMS.

SQL

When the Collector's App builds a CRITTERBASE, it sets up a clean PostgreSQL database. Especially if you are working locally, this means you can make direct queries to your local CRITTERBASE via SQL. This can also be done in R and Python - keeping everything you need for analyses and modelling neatly in one place

Extendable

Due to the modular and generic architecture and the choice of an agile programming language, it is relatively easy to make adjustments to the entire CRITTERBASE system.

Open Source

The whole project is Open Source and uses Ubuntu Linux, Python, Qt for Education, OpenJDK, jQuery, Apache, PostgreSQL and PL/pgSQL.

CRITTERBASE is a team effort ...

Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Bremerhaven

Karen Albers	Developer (Web service), computer science
Jan Beermann	Project member BENOSIS - data provider, biology - ecology
Thomas Brey	Main lead of CRITTERBASE, core member, biology - ecology
Kerstin Beyer	Support with data collection, biology - ecology
Daniel Damaske	Advisory on data management & digitization at Deutsche Allianz Meeresforschung
Jennifer Dannheim	Project leader BENOSIS, core member, biology - ecology
Stephan Frickenhaus	Strategic support in data science/publication enabling, computer science
Manuela Gusky	Support in data collection, biology - ecology
Birgit Glückselig	Support with data collection, biology - ecology
Michael Günster	AWI GitLab support, computer science
Miriam Hansen	Support in data entry in CRITTERBASE, biology - ecology
AWI Helpdesk	Helping in countless IT problems
Kerstin Jerosch	EU project coordination CoastCarb
Paul Kloss	Lead developer, core member, computer science
Gesche Krause	Strategic support in enabling stakeholder interaction, social science
Roland Koppe	Lead support of AWI Computing Centre, Lead developer (Web service, computer science)
Peter Konopatzky	Support in mapping and geo-referencing, computer science
Rebecca Konijnenberg	Project member WEECOS - data collector & R-code provider, modelling
Casper Kraan	Support for data entry in CRITTERBASE, biology - ecology
Joerg Matthes	Support in virtual machines
Petra Meyer	Administration
PANGAEA team	Support for making data citable
Hendrik Pehlke	Project member WEECOS - R-code provider, modelling
Dieter Piepenburg	Project leader PANABIO, core member, biology - ecology
Stefan Pinkernell	Support on AWI JupyterHub and AWI Marketplace, computer science
Katharina Teschke	Project leader WEECOS, core member, biology - ecology
Tawfik Sabbagh	Developer (Web service), computer science
Andreas Walter	Support in mapping and geo-referencing, computer science
Paul Wachter	Support in data entry in CRITTERBASE, computer science
Alexa Wrede	Project member of upcoming CRITTERTRAITS & R-code contributor, biology - ecology

Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie, Hamburg

Anne Elsner	Data-exchange cooperation between MARLIN and CRITTERBASE
Gregor v. Halem	Data-exchange cooperation between MARLIN and CRITTERBASE

Financial support

AWI	Alfred-Wegener-Institut through ESKP (Earth System Knowledge Platform)
BMEL	Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft
BSH	Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie, Hamburg
DFG	Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through Nationale Forschungsdateninfrastruktur (NFDI-4biodiversity)
HIFMB	Helmholtz Institut für Funktionelle Marine Biodiversität an der Universität von Oldenburg