Portal
Background and goals
The need for a web-based information and networking portal on biodiversity monitoring was already formulated in the general concept for the monitoring centre. As a central element the portal will support the activities and goals of the monitoring centre and the biodiversity monitoring community in the future.
The portal is intended to bring together existing biodiversity-relevant data and specialist information scattered across various institutions, as well as other platforms and web services. The information and networking portal will report on ongoing and planned monitoring programmes. In order to improve the quality and availability of data, standards, definitions and interfaces must be developed further and harmonised in cooperation with those involved in monitoring. The portal will serve as a supporting instrument for this process. We also plan to make tools for survey and analysis methods available here. With the help of the portal, current data-based information on the state and development of biodiversity should be available more quickly.
All of this contributes to identifying and closing gaps in monitoring and deriving more effective measures for the protection of biodiversity.
Target group
The information and networking portal will be aimed equally at politicians and authorities, professional societies, associations and voluntary organisations, but also at planning offices, science and research, those active in citizen science projects and the interested public. For successful nationwide cooperation, it is important that the stakeholders can exchange their knowledge in the best possible way. Thus, existing synergy potentials can be used.
Key issues
The key issues paper on the information and networking portal provides the target and action framework for the design of the portal.
Summary of key issues
The key issues for the content of the information and networking portal are:
- Information on current monitoring activities is available on the platform, as well as specialised information such as methodological standards, mapping instructions, reports and scientific publications.
- All relevant and available (meta-)data and information on nationwide biodiversity monitoring can be found and accessed via the platform.
- Biodiversity and monitoring data can be filtered and retrieved via various applications and are illustrated in the form of maps and graphics.
- Information on selected topics of biodiversity monitoring is provided in a form suitable for the target group, for example in the form of articles, videos and infographics.
- The portal serves the exchange between the different stakeholders in biodiversity monitoring.
- Needs-based tools and formats are provided to support those involved in biodiversity monitoring.
Time table
In the first phase, we will develop the concept for the content of the information and networking portal. The requirements for the portal and use cases will be determined in 2023 through a comprehensive survey of biodiversity monitoring stakeholders on the needs and content of an information and networking portal. Since September 2023, the company con terra has been supporting the monitoring centre for the conception phase.
Milestones
The planned milestones for the first phase (2023–2024) are as follows:
Key factors influencing the success of the portal are described after a trend and environmental analysis. This includes evaluating opportunities, synergies, goal conflicts, challenges, and risks. The initial unique selling points of the portal become apparent.
Stakeholders and users are surveyed regarding their needs and the value added by the portal. Initial content priorities are established.
Specific requirements are developed based on use cases.
Es wird eine klare Intention inklusive Kernbotschaften für das Portal definiert. Zudem werden die Vision, Mission, Kern- und Teilziele sowie Alleinstellungsmerkmale und Erfolgsfaktoren formuliert.
The content concept for the portal is elaborated, including recommendations for core functionalities, system architecture, and a timeline and capacity plan for implementing the basic version of the portal.
In the coming phases, we plan to successively implement and expand the concept. The committees of the monitoring centre and various stakeholders from the monitoring community will be closely involved in the development. It is planned to initially set up a digital basic system, which will be expanded step by step with functions and modules. Thus, the design of the portal is a gradual process. If certain needs or external factors change decisively, the portal can be adapted accordingly.
Preliminary results
Summary of the first preliminary results from the requirement analysis:
In addition to analysing the stakeholders and potential user groups, the portal's relevant subject areas were identified and described. These include politics, legal and regulatory framework conditions, information technology, cooperation options, science and society.
In addition, selected existing websites relevant to the Monitoring Centre's portal were analysed with regard to possible interfaces, functionalities and necessary differentiations from other portals, for example.
Essential questions for the further portal conception were derived in each case and will be taken up in the further process. Some fundamental questions are raised repeatedly, for instance:
- What niche does the portal occupy?
- How will it be used? How will it be different from existing initiatives?
- Should it be everything? Information AND data AND networking portal?
Over 530 people from the monitoring community took part in the monitoring centre's survey on portal development between February and March 2024.
The main aim of this survey was to determine the general wishes and initial requirements of potential users with regard to the content of a portal for nationwide biodiversity monitoring. Our aim is to develop a portal that is user-friendly and provides suitable services reliably and over the long term.
The respondents to this survey represent a broad spectrum of experts and interested parties from professional organisations, science, authorities, companies and society. This diversity is also reflected in the wide range of needs formulated, which give us valuable insights into the different requirements of future users.
Parallel to the survey, requirement workshops and interviews are being conducted to define and specify the use cases more precisely. Over 200 user stories and best practice suggestions have already been recorded. A large number and wide range of needs have been expressed. So far, requirement in the following overarching categories have been mentioned most frequently:
- Access to data and filters
- Overview of monitoring programmes
- Data quality and metadata
- Cooperation partners and stakeholder networking
- Interpreted data
- Compiled materials and information
- Programming interfaces (API) and standards
- Linking of existing structures
- Contributing data and data sovereignty
In general, our initial assumptions regarding requirements and the specifications for the portal from the principle concept are confirmed by our user-centred requirement analysis.
The evaluation and compilation of the first key use cases for the portal will take place in April and May. A summary of the results and the next steps will then be published on this website.
First preliminary results of the survey: Well-balanced interest of desired subject areas for the portal
|
Desired subject areas of the portal |
Number |
|---|---|
|
Status and trends |
601 |
|
Species/species groups |
588 |
|
Ecosystems and habitats |
562 |
|
Measures to conserve biodiversity |
528 |
|
Causes of biodiversity change |
504 |
|
Genetic diversity |
304 |
|
Further subjects |
128 |
This overview shows which tasks are categorised as particularly important for the portal and should generate added value for the monitoring community. The function of the portal as a central interface and approaches for the general improvement of data quality are prioritised by the community. In addition, functions such as enabling analyses, providing an overview of methods, tailored editorial content and making data upload available are considered important.
Clear hierarchy of added value: centralised interface & data quality particularly important
|
|
Central interface |
Data quality |
Analyses |
Overview of methods |
Tailored editorial content |
Data upload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Importance |
Number |
Number |
Number |
Number |
Number |
Number |
|
very important |
376 |
361 |
228 |
147 |
120 |
123 |
|
important |
99 |
125 |
212 |
240 |
189 |
154 |
|
neutral |
29 |
20 |
49 |
96 |
152 |
154 |
|
not important |
5 |
5 |
15 |
17 |
35 |
45 |
|
very unimportant |
3 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
24 |
This overview shows which tasks are categorised as particularly important for the portal and should generate added value for the monitoring community. The function of the portal as a central interface and approaches for the general improvement of data quality are prioritised by the community.
Contact persons, training & events stand out
|
Networking area |
Number |
|---|---|
|
Contact persons |
267 |
|
training courses |
227 |
|
Events |
214 |
|
Participation forums |
132 |
|
Discussion forums |
106 |
|
Job exchanges |
78 |
|
Mapping exchanges |
75 |
|
Others |
16 |
This overview provides initial insights into where the added value of the portal is seen in the area of networking: in particular, there is a desire for centralised, up-to-date and nationwide information on contact persons, training courses and events. In 4th and 5th place are opportunities for participation and discussion forums. Job exchanges and mapping exchanges were less popular
Contact
Would you like to be continuously informed about the further process? Do you have any questions? Then please contact us: