Technical Booklets
GBIF has produced a number of booklets on specific GBIF-related topics.
GBIF Data Portal: a practical hands-on tutorial
The GBIF data portal provides access to millions of biodiversity scientific data records share via the GBIF network. This tutorial provides an introduction to the main features of the GBIF Data Portal, with examples of combining search parameters to zero in on records of interest.
GBIF Training Manual 1: Digitisation of Natural History Collections Data
A complete package of background information and guidance for the curators and managers of natural history collections and herbaria.
Initiating a Collection Digitisation Project
This document is designed to give the reader the confidence to get started and to make the right decisions when planning a natural history collection digitisation project.
Significance of Organism Observations - Data Discovery and Access in Biodiversity Research
Gaining a solid understanding of the patterns by which organisms are distributed across a broad range of spatial and temporal scales requires vast amounts of species occurrence dta. This paper goes deeper into the specific nature of observational data, their discovery and organisation.
Guide to Best Practices for Generalising Sensitive Species Occurrence Data
GBIF has been concerned about the unprotected distribution of sensitive primary species occurrence data (for example the exact localities of rare, endangered or commercially valuable taxa) since its launch. This document reviews current approaches for obscuring or generalising such data, with a set of recommendations to guide data holders to develop their own policies.
Biogeomancer Guide to Best Practices in Georeferencing
The document provides guidelines to best practices for adding accurate geographical information (georeferencing) to biological species data. Contains examples for different location types, and provides information and examples on how to determine the extent and maximum uncertainty distance for locations based on the information provided.
Principles and Methods of Data Cleaning
Error prevention is far superior to error detection and cleaning, but no matter how efficient the process of data entry, error will still occur. Therefore, data validation and correction cannot be ignored, especially when dealing with legacy biodiversity data and this manual helps to correctly face these issues.
Terms Used in Bionomenclature
This is a glossary of over 2,100 terms used in biological nomenclature - the naming of whole organisms of all kinds. It is accompanied by a web application that enables the glossary to facilitate semantic linking on the web.
Special issue of 'Biodiversity Informatics'
Towards a Global Strategy and Action Plan for Discovery and Publishing of Natural History Collections Data.
This journal special issue (Vol 7, No. 2, 2011), helps to ensure that the findings and recommendations from the Action Plan are widely disseminated both within the collections research- and curatorial communities, as well as to funding agencies.
See also our Pamphlets and Annual Reports.
