Peter L. Pulsifer

The role of data management in engaging communities in Arctic research: overview of the Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA)

Abstract Local and traditional knowledge (LTK) was a key component of many projects in the 2007–2009 International Polar Year (IPY) and much information was amassed through maps, interviews with local experts, photographs, artwork, and other forms of documentation. Unlike conventional physical and life sciences, few options exist for those seeking data management for social, cultural, or traditional knowledge projects. This poses many problems for researchers and communities alike. The collaborative demands of the IPY data policy emphasized the need for effective and appropriate means of recording, preserving, and sharing the information collected in Arctic communities. This article describes the history and activities of the Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic, a project launched during the IPY that continues to facilitate the collection, preservation, exchange, and use of local observations and knowledge. Using examples, we describe new approaches and special considerations for managing community data. We also show how data management can assist in linking LTK and various sciences and building connections between researchers and communities and across communities. Data management, if designed to serve local needs as well as broader interests, can help to facilitate new relationships between local communities and global researchers.

A framework and database for community sea ice observations in a changing Arctic: an Alaskan prototype for multiple users

Indigenous sea ice experts from three Alaskan communities, geophysicists, an anthropologist, and information technology specialists collaborated to develop an observational framework and a database to record, archive, disseminate, and analyze sea ice observations. Observations are based on ice uses and information about ice conditions, weather, ocean state, and animal behavior relevant to hunters and to community members. Daily logs kept during the ice season have been archived since 2006, with key variables extracted for subcategories pertaining to weather and ice observations, ice-related activities, and wildlife. The observation program and the development of the associated database are discussed in terms of community wishes and information needs and the potential uses for hunters, students, and others in coastal Alaska. Database records for Gambell, Wales, and Barrow, Alaska, are analyzed to arrive at a representative seasonal cycle of ice conditions for 2006/2007. This single year is placed into a longer-term context by examining interannual variability for freeze-up and breakup dates from 2006 through 2011 extracted from the database. We discuss the adaptive nature of the database framework and its relevance to coastal communities in gathering and transmitting knowledge about the ice environment that can help in adapting to rapid Arctic change.

Managing consequences of climate-driven species redistribution requires integration of ecology, conservation and social science

Climate change is driving a pervasive global redistribution of the planets species. Species redistribution poses new questions for the study of ecosystems, conservation science and human societies that require a coordinated and integrated approach. Here we review recent progress, key gaps and strategic directions in this nascent research area, emphasising emerging themes in species redistribution biology, the importance of understanding underlying drivers and the need to anticipate novel outcomes of changes in species ranges. We highlight that species redistribution has manifest implications across multiple temporal and spatial scales and from genes to ecosystems. Understanding range shifts from ecological, physiological, genetic and biogeographical perspectives is essential for informing changing paradigms in conservation science and for designing conservation strategies that incorporate changing population connectivity and advance adaptation to climate change. Species redistributions present challenges for human well‐being, environmental management and sustainable development. By synthesising recent approaches, theories and tools, our review establishes an interdisciplinary foundation for the development of future research on species redistribution. Specifically, we demonstrate how ecological, conservation and social research on species redistribution can best be achieved by working across disciplinary boundaries to develop and implement solutions to climate change challenges. Future studies should therefore integrate existing and complementary scientific frameworks while incorporating social science and human‐centred approaches. Finally, we emphasise that the best science will not be useful unless more scientists engage with managers, policy makers and the public to develop responsible and socially acceptable options for the global challenges arising from species redistributions.

An Open Source Development Framework in Support of Cartographic Integration

Developments in Internet mapping have been dynamic in terms of emerging tools, services, databases and participants. New products developed by the private sector and open source projects are providing new means for constructing and disseminating maps. However, there is a need for research and development to support the creation of cohesive information products that synthesize information, such as Web-based atlases. Existing products tend to focus on processing and representation of primary information resources which are not highly integrated or ‘mediated’.

Chapter 7 The cartographer as mediator: Cartographic representation from shared geographic information*

The advent of the Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and distributed, agent-based computing present new challenges for the development of cartographic systems. The ability to effectively share meaning between system elements (semantic interoperability) remains an area of active research. The authors suggest a concept of geographic mediation (geomediation) that may be useful in framing current and emerging processes of integrating and representing geographic information in the context of distributed information. It is proposed that this concept can be used to guide practice and theory related to the design and evaluation of cartographic systems that can be seen as central to concepts like Taylors cybercartography. The chapter presents a high-level architecture, the “open cartographic framework”, based on a mediator approach. Implications for using such an approach are discussed in this chapter. The chapter concludes by suggesting that an effective geomediation process necessitates consideration of both formal and negotiated processes for establishing its meaning.

Reproducible research in linguistics: A position statement on data citation and attribution in our field

Abstract This paper is a position statement on reproducible research in linguistics, including data citation and attribution, that represents the collective views of some 41 colleagues. Reproducibility can play a key role in increasing verification and accountability in linguistic research, and is a hallmark of social science research that is currently under-represented in our field. We believe that we need to take time as a discipline to clearly articulate our expectations for how linguistic data are managed, cited, and maintained for long-term access.

Introduction: local and traditional knowledge and data management in the Arctic

Introduction: local and traditional knowledge and data management in the Arctic Peter L. Pulsifer, Henry P. Huntington & Gretta T. Pecl a Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic (ELOKA), National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, 449 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA b Huntington Associates, 23834 The Clearing Dr., Eagle River, AK 99577, USA c Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies Fisheries, Aquaculture, Coasts Centre, Private Bag 49, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia Published online: 16 Apr 2014.

Creating an Online Cybercartographic Atlas of Inuit Sea Ice Knowledge and Use

A team of community and university researchers, Inuit experts, Inuit organizations, and software developers are developing a Cybercartographic Atlas of Inuit Sea Ice Knowledge and Use. In keeping with a cybercartographic approach, the Atlas combines maps with text and multimedia representations including images, sound, video, and visualizations. Ultimately, members of the communities involved in the Inuit Sea Ice Use and Occupancy Project are interested in evaluating the utility of such approaches for their educational potential as classroom tools, as well as to ensure more dynamic forms of knowledge documentation that can be easily updated and accessed over time. At the user interface level, the Atlas presents documented Inuit knowledge in new and innovative ways. The ability to support innovative representations is underpinned by a flexible data model that is populated with knowledge documented through a participatory mapping process. The Atlas presents a variety of topics including “Our Partner Communities,” “Our Contributors,” and Inuit knowledge of “Ice Conditions” and “Uses.” Future iterations of the Atlas will see a restructured and greatly expanded table of contents and potentially the addition of user-contributed content functionality.

Chapter 21 Cybercartography for education: The case of the cybercartographic atlas of antarctica

Abstract This chapter examines the educational design of the Cybercartographic Atlas of Antarctica for high school students. It examines different learning methods and establishes a need to create a learning environment that appeals to Howard Gardners Multiple Intelligences Theory, while incorporating elements of edutainment to capture the attention of teenagers. Working in collaboration with Students on Ice, an organization that leads learning expeditions to the Antarctic and the Arctic, this chapter describes a prototype learning module, based on climate change, and a prototype gaming component for the Atlas.

Formalizing the semantics of sea ice

We have initiated a project aimed at enhancing interdisciplinary understanding and usability of polar data by diverse communities. We have produced computer- and human-understandable models of sea ice that can be used to support the interoperability of a wide range of sea ice data. This has the potential to improve scientific predictive analyses and increase usage of the data by scientists, modelers, and forecasters as well as residents of communities that rely on sea ice. We have developed a family of ontologies, leveraging existing best in class models, including one module describing physical characteristics of sea ice, another describing sea ice charts, and a third modeling “egg codes” - an internationally accepted standard for symbolically representing sea ice within geographic regions. We used a semantic Web methodology to rapidly gather and refine requirements, design and iterate over the ontologies, and to evaluate the ontologies with respect to the use cases. We gathered requirements from a wide range of potential stakeholders reflecting the interests of operational ice centers, ice researchers, and indigenous people. We introduce the driving use case and provide an overview of the resulting open source ontologies. We also introduce some key technical considerations including the prominent role of provenance, terms of use, and credit in the model. We describe how the ontologies are being employed and highlight their compatibility with a wide range of existing standards previously developed by many of the stakeholder communities.