IMIS

Purpose of data capture: The data has been collected for various reasons, including ecological surveys, amateur enthusiasm and also with the RECORD database specifically in mind. Methods of data capture: Data is sourced from amateur naturalists, professional ecologists and the general public. These are then validated and veirified by a system of peer review conducted by a panel of local experts. Geographical coverage: The area covered is the RECORD coverage area, which is the administrative areas of Cheshire County, Wirral MBC, Warrington BC and Halton BC. Some parts of Greater Manchester are included, which were formally part of Cheshire County (see http://www.record-lrc.co.uk/rECOrd.aspx?Mod=Article&ArticleID=4 for more details). Although RECORD try and acquire data from the whole of its coverage area, more densely populated areas tend to have more records associated with them. This generally creates a bias to north of the area where most of the large towns are situated. Temporal coverage: Records are generally collected on an informal basis, and therefore can come from any time. Most of the time, years shortly before the present carry the largest amount of records. Data quality: Collecting data on an informal basis means that no guarantees can be made that it comprehensively covers any particular time or place. However, it does mean that data comes from as many sources as possible and therefore usually has as detailed coverage as is possible at the time. In order the counter possible inaccuracies contained within data from such a range of sources, a validation system by local experts is used to highlight possible dubious records. These records do not make it on to the NBN Gateway.