The National Biodiversity Data Centre, Ireland Data Hub illustration

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is the national hub for biodiversity data and information in Ireland. At its core is BiodiversityIreland – a mapping and data discovery portal available at www.biodiversityireland.ie, and the Centre’s data management system.

Much of Ireland’s biodiversity data is hidden in archives, museums, and libraries. The development of digitised datasets that are instantly accessible via the internet will mobilise our data and allow many more applications of the data as well as aiding conservation.

Compass Informatics operates the National Biodiversity Data Centre under a service level agreement on behalf of the Heritage Council, Ireland. The Centre is fully staffed by Compass staff with all ecology and systems development projects undertaken by the company.

The BiodiversityIreland system provides a cost effective method of disseminating this data and brings significant added value to existing survey information.

Features of the Mapping & Data Management System

  • GIS-based system to allow map based access to biodiversity data.
  • Supporting reference datasets to provide environmental context to data including aerial photography, designations, geology, soils, landuse.
  • Reporting features to support use in planning context.
  • Extensive metadata and graphing.
  • Hundreds of thousands of biological records and growing.

NBDC mapping system image Technology Overview

  • Data model compatible with UK National Biodiversity Network data model.
  • Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) node.
  • ESRI ArcGIS Server GIS platform and .Net development within a PHP website.
  • Utilisation of TurboVeg and Recorder software in associated data management steps.

GBIF Node for Ireland

Ireland became a member of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) in 2008, and the National Biodiversity Data Centre has been nominated as the national node for Ireland. Irelnd’s membership of this international organisation complements well the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s strategic objective of making biodiversity information freely and universally available through web services.

Sample Projects

National Invasive Species Database - The Data Centre has established and actively manages the National Invasive Species Database providing important information on the whereabouts and rate of movement of these species. Invasive species are a huge threat to our biodiversity and it is essential that this information is co-ordinated and disseminated in real time.

Tracking Change – The Butterfly & Moth Monitoring Schemes - The Convention on Biological Diversity asks us to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010. But how do we monitor changes in our biodiversity? The National Biodiversity Data Centre has set up two long-term projects that will provide rigorous scientific data to address this issue. They are the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme and the National Moth Monitoring Scheme.