SER Species-based Surveys

Quality Control

Most of the data has been inputted by the local expert in the relevant group so this should be adequately validated, however, grid references for early records and publically supplied data have often been inferred to the best knowledge of the collator. The data has not be checked using the NBN Record Cleaner.

Method steps

1. The data are primarily collected by the taxon-interest groups involved with each survey and hence survey techniques various depending on the species involved, however, the majority are based upon general field observations. The bulk of the records are then collated by the taxon-interest group and verified prior to supply to SER. Bat Group and Mammal Group records are also computerised by the relevant groups using MapMate prior to supply to SER. These MapMate data are subsequently transferred into Recorder 6 at SER.

The majority of the records in the dataset are within Modern Staffordshire, however, there is a significant proportion for the historical Vice-county 39 which also includes parts of the Black Country and Birmingham. A small proportion also come for the 'edges' of the adjacent counties when the presence outside the county could be relevant to the potential within Staffordshire (e.g. very mobile species such as birds). Data is held at varying precision, 100m precision or better is preferred by SER, however, much is supplied at 1km precision and some old literary records are only assignable to 10km squares.