TeleNature Grant Information:

NSF/ITR/IM: An Internet Environment for BioDiversity Survey Collaboration and Verification

National Science Foundation Award Abstract
https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/servlet/showaward?award=0113918

NSF Grant Proposal
NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates Proposal

The proposed project addresses the problem of gathering remote data from hundreds of mostly novice collaborators in the field. This problem raises issues of distributed intelligence, field support, mobile computing, remote training, data quality and consistency, coordination of information across time and space, and real-time feedback from remote experts. We propose to build a BioDiversity Collaboration Environment (BDCE) that will build on this success and expand it through the use of information technology. BDCE addresses the need for information technology integration and information technology training for biologists.

The object of the work is to reform the way the information retrieval is done and to integrate information retrieval with information creation and organization. In the old static model of retrieval an information consumer sits in front of a terminal and passively receives information. New information technology allows for a much more dynamic model of inter-person collaboration and information capture and creation as part of an information intensive task. People retrieve information to help them perform some task. Frequently the task is complex enough and the information so sparse or ill-formed that the retrieved information does not help task performance. When this happens in the old model the person steps out of the computer information system and turns to other resources such as books and papers and most important, other people. If all goes well they will eventually accomplish their task, but the computer information system did not help with the process and was not itself improved. There is thus a great need for better integration of innovative IT into work practices.

We propose to conduct this research in a mobile computing environment, literally in the field. This introduces interesting variables that are not normally considered in information management research. These variables include the need for extensive data caching to minimize the effects of communication bottlenecks such as digital cell modem connections. The application requires a nearly hands-free information retrieval interface. In this fieldwork, workers are usually limited as to the information resources that they can bring. We propose to use mobile computing and network technology to bring much more information to the field, potentially changing the nature of the task. We will also challenge the one user Ð one database model. Our information system will deliver information from multiple sources, both human and database, over limited bandwidth and relatively modest compute power in the field. Finally, the format of scientific data must make it accessible to the average users in the field.

We propose to build a system that integrates collaboration, collection development, information retrieval, and information creation and management. A key component of this technology is the development of software agents that automatically analyze the needs of biological survey members, survey site characteristics, prior surveys of the same site, natural history museum records and other resources to create a customized collection of digital support material that can be cached on disk and taken to the field. This will help with bandwidth limitations in the field. We accomplish expanded collaboration by building interpersonal communication directly into the retrieval interface. Consumer/searchers can easily redirect information needs and search specification to remote domain experts. This may include text, images, and sound. The expert may answer the immediate information need from any distance and in so doing incorporate information provided by the ÔconsumerÕ plus the solution into the database system. Information consumers then become information generators, tailoring system content to the task so that later ÒconsumersÓ will not have the same problem. This IT integration can cause a qualitative shift in work practice.

The research question is whether this process improves task performance over time without introducing so much overhead cost for the participants as to negate the advantage of the innovations. To accomplish this we need to track and measure task performance, intra-system and extra-system information use and communication. Task performance can be measured by time to completion, number of tasks completed, error types, error rate, use compliance, satisfaction, and continued participation.

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