Geospatial Information Standards

GIS Standards

Environmental crime is estimated to be the world’s fourth largest illicit market by value.

Wildlife trafficking is one crime that creates harm for social and ecological systems. Diverse sectors are working to combat trafficking of wild flora and fauna in source, transit and destination geographies.

The wildlife trafficking community is highly motivated and diverse; we collect a lot of data in multiple formats and from multiple sources. Like other sectors, we are building our Big Data capacity and applying evidence during decision-making.

In 2016, the wildlife trafficking community embarked on creating a data dictionary and set of geospatial data standards to help combat wildlife trafficking. This effort was designed to help overcome barriers to effective interventions previously impeded by difficulties in data compatibility. The products on this page were built upon broad engagement, iterative revisions and public discourse on three continents with mutisector stakeholders.

A three-stage model of wildlife trafficking.

The Standards

The standards and data dictionary are designed to be integrated with high and low tech data environments, and applied to any species of flora or fauna on any continent. They are intentionally responsive to regional, national and international agreements and strategies focused on combating wildlife trafficking.Download, apply them to your specific context, and deploy them using high or low tech methods.

The standards are intended to support decision-makers and decision-making. They are platform agnostic.

The data dictionary is intended for reference and guidance. Consider adapting definitions to fit your context, and share insights to improve usability.

Demographic Information

Field Name: Date

Field Alias: Date

Field Definition: Date animal(s) killed or date when discovered

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain code/ field value): DD/MM/YYYY

Field Name: Country

Field Alias: Country

Field Definition: Country where source event happened

Field Values Source: ISO

Field Values (domain code/ field value):

Field Name: Place

Field Alias: City, Village, Park, etc.

Field Definition: What is the closest city or point of interest you can reference?

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Name of place

Field Name: SeizurePhase

Field Alias: Source, Transit, Destination

Field Definition: Was the animal or material found at the site of the poaching, is the material in transit, or is the material at its destination?

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain code/ field value): “Source”, “Transit”, or “Destination”

Field Name: WhoColl

Field Alias: Who Collected the Data

Field Definition: Who collected the data? It could be the name of a person, organization, etc.

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Name

Field Name: Contact

Field Alias: Contact Info

Field Definition: Contact information may be left voluntarily if one wishes to be contacted about this data collection

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain code/ field value): Email, Phone Number, Address, etc.

Field Name: Hidden

Field Alias: Hidden Name and/or Contact Info

Field Definition: Option to hide name and contact info from public consumption

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (name/ contact info): “Yes” or “No” in each field

Animal Information

Field Name: AnimalStatus

Field Alias: Is/Are the animals alive or dead?

Field Definition: All or a portion of the animals seized may be alive at the time of seizure

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: “Alive” or “Dead”

Field Name: SpeciesGroup

Field Alias: Species Group

Field Definition: Group of species that the type of animal(s) belongs to

Field Values Source: Environmental Conservation Online System

Field Values (domain code/ field value):

Field Name: Animal

Field Alias: Type of Dead/Alive Animals

Field Definition: The common species name for the found at the crime scene

Field Values Source: Environmental Conservation Online System

Field Values (domain code/ field value):

Field Name: NumAnimal

Field Alias: Number of Animals

Field Definition: The number of individual animals found at the crime scene

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain code/ field value): Integer

Weapons Information

Field Name: CatWeapon

Field Alias: Category of Weapon

Field Definition: Category of weapon used against animal

Field Values Source: Wikipedia

Field Values (domain code/ field value):

Field Name: OtherCatWeapon

Field Alias: Other Category of Weapon

Field Definition: Field to describe other type of weapon category. This field will only appear if the value “Other category of weapons” is selected in the previous field.

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Description

Field Name: TypeWeapon

Field Alias: Type of Weapon

Field Definition: Specific type of weapon

Field Values Source: Wikipedia

Field Values (domain code/ field value):

Field Name: OtherFireArm

Field Alias: Describe Firearm

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “OtherF” or “UnsureF” is selected

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Firearm description here

Field Name: OtherKnife

Field Alias: Describe Knife

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “OtherK” or “UnsureK” is selected

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Knife description here

Field Name: OtherPolearm

Field Alias: Describe Polearm

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “OtherPA” or “UnsurePA” is selected

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Describe Polearm here

Field Name: OtherBladed

Field Alias: Describe other bladed weapon

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “OtherOB” or “UnsureOB” is selected

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Describe bladed weapon here

Field Name: OtherBlunt

Field Alias: Describe blunt object

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “OtherB” or “UnsureB” is selected

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Describe blunt object here

Field Name: OtherPoison

Field Alias: Describe Poison

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “OtherP” or “UnsureP” is selected

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Describe poison here

Field Name: OtherExplosives

Field Alias: Describe Explosives

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “OtherE” or “UnsureE” is selected

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Describe explosives here

Field Name: OtherArchery

Field Alias: Describe Archery Weapon

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “OtherA” or “UnsureA” is selected

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain code/ field value): Describe archery weapon here

Field Name: BulletFound

Field Alias: Bullet Found at Scene

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “Firearm” is selected in the CatWeapon field

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: “Yes” or “No”

Field Name: NumBullF

Field Alias: Number of bullets found

Field Definition: This field will only appear is the value “yes” is selected in BulletFound field

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: An interger

Field Name: TypeBullet

Field Alias: Type of Bullet

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “Yes” is selected in BulletFound field. Describe what the bullet is made out of or its special characteristic.

Field Values Source: Wikipedia

Field Values (domain code/ field value):

Field Name: OtherBullet

Field Alias: Describe Bullet

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “Other” or “Unsure” is selected in the TypeBullet field

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain code/ field value): Describe the bullet here

Field Name: Caliber

Field Alias: Caliber of Bullet Found

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “Yes” is selected in the BulletFound field. You must select the size of the bullet in millimeters (mm)

Field Values Source: Wikipedia

Field Values (domain code/ field value):

Field Name: OtherCal

Field Alias: Describe/Estimate Caliber

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “Other” or “Unsure” is selected in Caliber field

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Describe or estimate the caliber of the bullets found here

Field Name: LengthBlade

Field Alias: Length of Blade

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “Knife”, “Polearms”, or “OtherBlade” is selected in the CatWeapon field. Describe/estimate the length of the blade in millimeters (mm)

Field Values Source: Input length of blade here

Field Values (domain code/ field value):

Field Name: OtherWeapon

Field Alias: Other Evidence of Weapons

Field Definition: If there is other evidence of weapons found at the poaching site, or any other pertinent information not covered by previous categories, then fill out this field

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Description here

Seizure Information

Field Name: HowSeizure

Field Alias: How was the seizure found?

Field Definition: Details about how the seizure was successful

Field Values Source: –

Field Values:

Field Name: SeizureCrimeLocation

Field Alias: Physical Location of the Material

Field Definition: Where was the material found? Was it packed, in a home, or vehicle?

Field Values Source: –

Field Values:

Field Name: SeizureCrimeOther

Field Alias: Other criminal material?

Field Definition: Was there other criminal aspects at the crime scene, such as other illicit goods?

Field Values Source: –

Field Values:

Origin Information

Field Name: OriginPapers

Field Alias: Additional Origin Papers Found

Field Definition: If the animal was found in transit, does additional paperwork exist? Additional paperwork might give details about the origin. This field will only populate if the field value for “SeizurePhase” is transit or destination.

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: “Yes” or “No”

Field Name: OriginCountry

Field Alias: Origin Paper Country

Field Definition: If there was paperwork found with the animal, where is its origin? This field will only populate if the field value for “OriginPapers” is yes.

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain codes/ field values):

Field Name: OriginalLocation

Field Alias: Origin Paper Place

Field Definition: If the paperwork found has specific location details, they go here. This field will only populate if the field value for “OriginPapers” is yes.

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Place name, such as a city, village, or park.

Field Name: Date/ Time Papers

Field Alias: Additional Dates

Field Definition: Is there additional paperwork that describes a timeline, or a specific date and time?

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Additional timeline information

Explore the Open Access Data Dictionary

Resources

Geospatial standards are not unique to wildlife trafficking

Many sectors actively use geospatial standards and many organizations are actively using standards in their wildlife trafficking work. These existing efforts provide a good background for groups that are just getting started. For groups that are already using geospatial standards, consider comparing and contrasting your efforts to others being used.

Scientific literature
- Wildlife Trafficking in Africa: Opportunities for Science Diplomacy
Community
- Northeast Environmental Data Network Best Practices for Data Dictionary and Usage
Other sectors
Ethics
- Working with Sensitive Data

Looking for resources?

Case Studies

Geospatial standards are not unique to wildlife trafficking

Many sectors actively use geospatial standards and many organizations are actively using standards in their wildlife trafficking work. These existing efforts provide a good background for groups that are just getting started. For groups that are already using geospatial standards, consider comparing and contrasting your efforts to others being used.

In the field
- Countering Wildlife Trafficking Institute

How the standards are being used to collect, use, and leverage data.

GIS Standards

The Standards

Demographic Information

Field Name: Date

Field Alias: Date

Field Definition: Date animal(s) killed or date when discovered

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain code/ field value): DD/MM/YYYY

Field Name: Country

Field Alias: Country

Field Definition: Country where source event happened

Field Values Source: ISO

Field Name: Place

Field Alias: City, Village, Park, etc.

Field Definition: What is the closest city or point of interest you can reference?

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Name of place

Field Name: SeizurePhase

Field Alias: Source, Transit, Destination

Field Definition: Was the animal or material found at the site of the poaching, is the material in transit, or is the material at its destination?

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain code/ field value): “Source”, “Transit”, or “Destination”

Field Name: WhoColl

Field Alias: Who Collected the Data

Field Definition: Who collected the data? It could be the name of a person, organization, etc.

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Name

Field Name: Contact

Field Alias: Contact Info

Field Definition: Contact information may be left voluntarily if one wishes to be contacted about this data collection

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain code/ field value): Email, Phone Number, Address, etc.

Field Name: Hidden

Field Alias: Hidden Name and/or Contact Info

Field Definition: Option to hide name and contact info from public consumption

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (name/ contact info): “Yes” or “No” in each field

Animal Information

Field Name: AnimalStatus

Field Alias: Is/Are the animals alive or dead?

Field Definition: All or a portion of the animals seized may be alive at the time of seizure

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: “Alive” or “Dead”

Field Name: SpeciesGroup

Field Alias: Species Group

Field Definition: Group of species that the type of animal(s) belongs to

Field Values Source: Environmental Conservation Online System

Field Values (domain code/ field value): Amphibians/ AmphibiansArachnids/ArachnidsBirds/ BirdsClams/ ClamsCrustaceans/ CrustaceansFishes/ FishesInsects/ InsectsMammals/ MammalsReptiles/ ReptilesSnails/ Snails

Field Name: Animal

Field Alias: Type of Dead/Alive Animals

Field Definition: The common species name for the found at the crime scene

Field Values Source: Environmental Conservation Online System

Field Name: NumAnimal

Field Alias: Number of Animals

Field Definition: The number of individual animals found at the crime scene

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain code/ field value): Integer

Weapons Information

Field Name: CatWeapon

Field Alias: Category of Weapon

Field Definition: Category of weapon used against animal

Field Values Source: Wikipedia

Field Name: OtherCatWeapon

Field Alias: Other Category of Weapon

Field Definition: Field to describe other type of weapon category. This field will only appear if the value “Other category of weapons” is selected in the previous field.

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Description

Field Name: TypeWeapon

Field Alias: Type of Weapon

Field Definition: Specific type of weapon

Field Values Source: Wikipedia

Field Name: OtherFireArm

Field Alias: Describe Firearm

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “OtherF” or “UnsureF” is selected

Field Values Source: –

Field Values: Firearm description here

Field Name: OtherKnife

Field Alias: Describe Knife

Field Definition: This field will only appear if the value “OtherK” or “UnsureK” is selected

Field Values Source: –

Field Values (domain code/ field value):