Depending on the type of dataset type you are trying to upload there are different formats and templates required to ensure that the EcoCommons can visualise the data and so that the R scripts can read the data appropriately.
Note: Your data is only visible in your profile. This data is not shared with anyone unless you enable it to be so.
To upload your own data click on “Datasets” and then “Import data”. Under “Please select the data source” click on “Upload my own data”.
Select the dataset type you would like to upload from the menu - this will bring up the appropriate form. Click on “Select file(s)” to upload your data. See below for guides for each different dataset type.
Upload Species Occurrence and Absence datasets
EcoCommons will only interpret .csv files with columns labeled lon (for longitude) and lat (for latitude), so please ensure your headings match these labels.
Please note: Your longitude and latitude must be in decimal degrees. It is optional to include a column labeled month, which is necessary if you want to use the dataset in a Migratory Modelling experiment.
Once you uploaded your data click “Next”. On the following page fill in the metadata for this species occurrence/absence dataset. Once all metadata has been filled in, click "Finish".
You can visualize your data by searching for it within the "Datasets" tab.
Upload Multi species occurrences and multi species absences
EcoCommons will only interpret .csv files with columns labeled lon (for longitude), lat (for latitude) and species, so please ensure your headings match these labels.
Please provide only ONE multi species file.
Please note: Your longitude and latitude must be in decimal degrees.
Once you uploaded your data click “Next”. On the following page fill in the metadata for this multi species occurrence/absence dataset. Once all metadata has been filled in, click "Finish".
You can visualize your data by searching for it within the "Datasets" tab.
Upload species traits data
For Species Traits datasets the .csv file must at least contain three columns with labels 'lon' (for longitude), 'lat' (for latitude) and 'species' (different species names), so ensure your headings match these labels. Trait data can be given any label. You can also include columns with environmental data, for example if you have measured traits in plots where you have also measured environmental factors. In the Species Trait Experiment you can indicate which columns refer to trait or environmental data.
Please note: Your longitude and latitude must be in decimal degrees.
Once you uploaded your data click “Next”. On the following page fill in the metadata for this multi species occurrence/absence dataset. Once all metadata has been filled in, click "Finish".
You can visualize your data by searching for it within the "Datasets" tab.
Issues uploading your own species data
There are some common reasons an occurrence dataset may not upload correctly. If you receive an error on your uploaded dataset please check your .csv file for the following:
- Missing data in the columns or rows.
- Non ascii characters in the column headings or throughout the data, for example, accents or tildes (á) or non letter characters (/-!@+*).
Once you have removed these from your file the upload should succeed. However, if you are still having issues it is best to copy/paste the data into a new .csv file and re-save it. This will ensure that there is no residual formatting issues attached to the file.
If you still experience issues please contact our support team.
Uploading your own climate and environmental data
EcoCommons accepts raster data in GeoTIFF format. Valid files are either single GeoTiff files or a number of GeoTiff packaged within a zip file.
It is easy to convert your csv files to GeoTIFF format, follow the instructions here: https://github.com/NICTA/nationalmap/wiki/csv-geo-au.
Ideally the map projection information is embedded as metadata within the GeoTiff itself. In case of missing map projection, EcoCommons assumes WGS-84 (EPSG:4326).
Once you uploaded your data click “Next”. On the following page fill in the metadata for this dataset. Once all metadata has been filled in, click "Finish".
You can visualize your data by searching for it within the "Datasets" tab.