14  Introduction

GeoLocator Data Package (GeoLocator DP) is a data exchange format for geolocator data, following the Data Package standards for structuring data. Read more about GeoLocator DP.

Note

What is a Data Package?

A Data Package is a lightweight format to package data using the Data Package standard. It provides a framework to organize your data files, metadata, and descriptive information in a consistent and reusable manner. For geolocator data, this ensures that information about tagged birds, their movements, and associated metadata are all neatly bundled into one easily exchangeable package.

14.1 Structure

A geolocator data package consists of three sets of data: (1) project metadata, (2) core resources containing the main dataset and (3) optional trajectory data generated with the GeoPressure suite.

14.1.1 Metadata

  • datapackage.json: List of project metadata such as package title, licences, contributors etc. as well as a list of the data resources that make up the package.

14.1.2 Core Resources

The core GeoLocator DP resources contain all the raw geolocator data. These resources can be generated without any analysis of the geolocator data.

  • tags.csv: Table of devices used in the study. We assume that a tag is only used once on a single animal.
  • measurements.csv: Table with the raw measurements of all sensors (e.g., light, pressure, …) for all tags.
  • observations.csv: Table with the field observations associated with tags such as equipment, retrieval, or others events.

14.1.3 GeoPressureR Resources

The GeoPressureR extensions consist of optional trajectrory data generated through the GeoPressureR workflow anaylsis.

  • staps.csv: Table of the stationary periods of all tags.
  • paths.csv: Table of the trajectory of all tags, typically most likely path or simulation paths.
  • edges.csv: Table containing the flight information of the edges associated with the paths.
  • twilights.csv: Table of the twilights estimated from light data for all tags.
  • pressurepaths.csv: Table of the pressurepaths

The GeoPressureR Resources is optional, and even if you have not (yet!) analysed your data, it’s worth publishing the data (maybe with an embargo?). The data package can always be updated once the analysis is done.

14.2 Examples

Nussbaumer, R., Rime, Y., & Osinubi, S. T. (2024). GeoLocator Data Package: South African Woodland Kingfisher [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13829929

Important

The GeoLocator Data Package Zenodo Community is the best place to see all GeoLocator Data Package.

Zenodo

Once you’ve published you data package, make sure to sumbit it to the cummunity.

14.3 GeoLocatoR

GeoLocatoR website

GeoLocatoR is a R package designed to help you create and work with the GeoLocator Data Package.

Main Features:

  • Create a Geolocator Data Package: Easily create a geolocator datapackage object, add resources (data), and write the data package to your preferred directory. Or, read an existing data package from a directory or from Zenodo like a pro.
  • Works Seamlessly with GeoPressureTemplate: GeoLocatoR is perfectly tailored to work with GeoPressureTemplate—a template repository for analyzing geolocator data using GeoPressureR. Use this dynamic duo to streamline your analysis, maintain a standardized project structure, and keep your geolocator data in perfect formation. (See vignette: Create from GeoPressureTemplate)
  • Built on frictionless-r: This package is built on top of the frictionless-r package, adhering to the Frictionless Data standards for open data. Think of it as the wind beneath GeoLocatoR’s wings !

You can install GeoLocatoR from GitHub:

# install.packages("pak")
pak::pkg_install("Rafnuss/GeoLocatoR")