title: A semi-automated workflow for biodiversity data retrieval, cleaning, and quality control.
abstract: The compilation and cleaning of data needed for analyses and prediction of species distributions is a time consuming process requiring a solid understanding of data formats and service APIs provided by biodiversity informatics infrastructures. We designed and implemented a Taverna-based Data Refinement Workflow which integrates taxonomic data retrieval, data cleaning, and data selection into a consistent, standards-based, and effective system hiding the complexity of underlying service infrastructures. The workflow can be freely used both locally and through a web-portal which does not require additional software installations by users.
authors.affiliation: Freie Universität Berlin, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Cherian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.affiliation: Freie Universität Berlin, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Güntsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obst
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vicario
authors.affiliation: School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.affiliation: School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland ; University of Amsterdam - Facilty of Science, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yde
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.affiliation: School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goble
keywords: biodiversity informatics; data cleaning; e-Science; service oriented architecture; web services; workflows