GeoLocator DP

Data exchange format for geolocator data

GeoLocator Data Package (GeoLocator DP) defines a data exchange format for geolocator data. By using a common structure across projects, GeoLocator DP makes data easier to share, compare, and reuse, ultimately supporting bird migration research, conservation, and public outreach.

Ready to publish your GeoLocator Data Package? Follow the step-by-step practical guide in the GeoLocator Data Package chapter of the GeoPressureManual to create, curate, and share your package with confidence.

Data Package Structure

A GeoLocator Data Package follows the more general Data Package and is organized into three components: (1) the core resources containing raw geolocator data, (2) optional but highly recommended trajectory resources generated with GeoPressureR, and (3) a minimal local manifest.

1. Core Resources

The core GeoLocator DP resources consist of raw geolocator data and deployment information. These resources can be generated without running trajectory analyses.

File Description
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 other events.

2. GeoPressureR Resources

The GeoPressureR extension consists of optional trajectory data generated through the GeoPressureR workflow analysis.

File Description
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 pressure-based paths.
params.json List of parameters used to run the GeoPressureR workflow.

3. Local Manifest

Following the Data Package standard, each GeoLocator DP contains a datapackage.json file with: (1) a machine-readable index of all data resources, (2) a package-level $schema pointing to the GeoLocator DP profile version. Unlike previous versions, in the v1.0, the local manifest stays intentionally minimal, while metadata are managed in Zenodo.

How to contribute?

If you have multi-sensor geolocator data and would like to contribute a GeoLocator Data Package, follow the workflow below.

  1. create_geopressuretemplate(): Set up your local GeoPressureTemplate project folder [guide].
  2. geopressuretemplate(): Run trajectory analyses in your GeoPressureTemplate project [guide].
  3. read_geopressuretemplate(): Build your GeoLocator Data Package from the template outputs [guide].
  4. Draft the record on Zenodo with metadata, reserve the DOI, and select the GeoLocator-DP community (without publishing yet) [guide].
  5. validate_gldp() and GeoLocatoR::plot(): Validate the package and resolve issues until all checks pass [guide].
  6. Submit for curation and publish the record [guide].

Contribution workflow from setup to publication

Why using Zenodo?

  1. long-term hosting, DOI assignment, and versioned records,
  2. a simple and reliable way to manage metadata through web forms,
  3. community curation through the GeoLocator DP Zenodo community.

For the metadata checklist, validation policy, and visual quality checks before release, see the Curation page.

Resources

GeoLocatoR logo The GeoLocatoR R package is designed to handle GeoLocator DP: creating a DP, adding resources, writing a DP, and reading a DP. It is essentially an extension of the frictionless package for geolocator data.
GeoPressureManual logo The Geolocator Manual R book has a dedicated part on the use of the GeoLocator Data Package. This is a great place to start learning more about how to use it with your GeoPressureTemplate project.
GeoPressureR logo GeoPressureR is the main package to analyze geolocator data. Once a GeoLocator Data Package is created, GeoPressureR is our recommended software to read the data into R and analyze the data.
GeoLocator DP logo You'll be able to find all GeoLocator Data Packages in the GeoLocator Data Package Zenodo Community. Once you've published your data package, make sure to submit it to the community.
GeoLocatorExplorer logo Explore the most likely trajectories of all existing data packages on a 3D map with GeoLocatorExplorer.

How to Cite

Nussbaumer, R., Desmet, P. & Geolocaor Developement Team (2024). GeoLocator Data Package. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14258411