Citizen Science data validation
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Citizen Science (CS) can play a role in influencing the way in which society values native biodiversity. CS can contribute by collecting valuable data, already complementing several existing official surveillance systems in EU Member States. The quality of CS data is essential for early warning, management and control of IAS.
The Joint Research Centre developed the smartphone app “Invasive Alien Species in Europe”, allowing the report of IAS of Union concern, in support of the EU Regulation 1143/2014.
The JRC report “Data-validation solutions for citizen science data on invasive alien species” analyse aspects of data quality in European and global CS portals and how validation of IAS records is carried out. In addition, a refined validation procedure for the JRC IAS app is proposed. Further development of the validation procedure is expected to increase the quality of the data for science, policy and management purposes, to improve the feedback to and engagement of citizen scientists, to assist data validators in performing record checks, and to increase the use of the JRC IAS app.
For more information: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC126140