[Taxacom] Data quality of aggregated datasets

[Dave Vieglais]

In addition, the confidence associated with the error estimate should also be recorded. For example, does "+/- 100m" refer to the 95% confidence interval? Circular Error Probable (50%)? 3 sigma ellipse (98.9%)? etc.

On 2013.05.07, at 13:20-0400, Richard Pyle <deepreef at bishopmuseum.org> wrote:

>> There is nothing wrong with collecting fine scale records on a GPS using
> longitudes and latitudes, but when you are using a GPS there 
>> is no need for a radius as the error is well within the walking distance
> of most creatures.  
> 
> You should *always* capture the radius -- even for GPS coordinates.  You
> cannot know in advance what the information will be useful for, and not all
> GPS devices record with the same accuracy.  A GPS with +/- 100m may be no
> different from one with +/- 10m if you are doing ecological analysis; but it
> could make a huge difference if your goal is to return to the same tree or
> coral head or whatever.  I think it's just silly to throw away information
> when it's easy to capture.  It's also silly to think you know in advance
> what information will, or will not, be useful to future researchers.
> 
> Aloha,
> Rich
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Taxacom Mailing List
> Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> http://mailman.nhm.ku.edu/mailman/listinfo/taxacom
> 
> The Taxacom Archive back to 1992 may be searched with either of these methods:
> 
> (1) by visiting http://taxacom.markmail.org
> 
> (2) a Google search specified as:  site:mailman.nhm.ku.edu/pipermail/taxacom  your search terms here
> 
> Celebrating 26 years of Taxacom in 2013.
>