MONITR: Marine Observation Network Inventory TRacker
A major challenge exists in aggregating, integrating, and updating metadata on the coastal ‘observation network’ on the BC coast. That is, who is monitoring “what, where, and how?”
Many different groups are conducting monitoring activities on the BC coast (and beyond), providing data, information, and knowledge that supports local and regional marine planning – including the MPA Network and MaPP – marine planning processes that are being implemented by First Nations, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Province of BC.
To ensure specific challenges of monitoring and management are met, Coastal Habitats Hub is developing accessible tools and digital systems that enable scientific collaborations to help inform the development of support services, including training programs, resources, and networks. One of the tools currently under development alongside the Fisheries Economic Research Unit (FERU) at the Institute of Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia, is the Marine Observation Network Inventory TRacker (MONITR). MONITR is a platform to gather metadata on coastal observations to serve the evolving needs of management and stewardship on the BC coast (and beyond, in future iterations), and connect marine monitoring practitioners and projects with one another.
There are two primary components to MONITR: The Metadata Survey And the Metadata Map
Metadata Survey
Metadata Map
Data vs Metadata
MONITR does not collect hard monitoring data but rather, metadata – the data of the data, i.e., “who, what, where, and how”. Submitting monitoring information via the metadata survey is entirely voluntary. If you are submitting a survey, you are consenting to having the information you share be posted on the Metadata Map, unless specified items in the survey are marked, e.g., selecting ‘no’ to share contact details in the Observer Directory. There is also an option to provide an external link to the organization’s website or monitoring results if the project or program wishes to share a link to their data.
Most of the survey questions are optional and you can share as much or as little as you like. The dots on the map can be as exact or general as the user prefers, or only a general region can be provided if the user does not want to have a dot on the map. Any survey submissions can be deleted or edited upon request by the owner at any time.
This tool is currently modelled only on the BC coast and is actively scaling up to Canada’s three coasts and transboundary regions.
MONITR Beta Test Workshop
On April 22nd the Coastal Habitats Learning and Knowledge Hub hosted the Marine Observation Network Inventory TRacker (MONITR) ‘Beta Test’ tool demonstration and interactive workshop. This event explored how MONITR can be utilized as a tool to gather metadata on coastal observations on the BC coast and beyond.
Following the demo, participants had the opportunity to join breakout discussions focused on how different coastal users could utilize and interact with this tool, identifying areas for improvement and suggestions for current and future iterations.
The Coastal Habitats Hub team includes WWF-Canada, the Hakai Institute, the RAD Network, the EcoFlux Lab at McGill University, and the University of Victoria’s Blue Carbon Canada Program.
The Coastal Habitats Hub is funded in part by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
