Durham Biodiversity
Data Service
 
Badger - Darin Smith
Water Vole - Darin Smith
Otter - Darin Smith

DATA VERIFICATION

DBDS ensures that all data passed to data users has been verified by appropriate local experts.  

Historic datasets have been validated by DBDS staff and all new data shared with DBDS is now subject to our verification procedures. Details of local experts who verify data on our behalf is available in the data flow section.  

The table below shows the scoring system used as part of the verification process, which allows species data to be given a confidence score by verifiers. Some data, for example public survey results will be given a score for the whole dataset rather than for each record.  

 
 
Assigning confidence levels to wildlife data
Species Type
Widespread species, easily identifiable1
Restricted species, easily identifiable 2
Widespread but harder to identify species3
Critical species. Restricted species where misidentification possible5, or species requiring high level of skill for identification4
Code
Confidence Level
3
Highly confident
Known recorder
Record within current range, known recorder
Known recorder
Evidence only
2
Fairly confident
Unknown recorder/ public survey
Record outside current range, known recorder
0
Record within range, known recorder
1
Likely
0
Record inside current range, unknown recorder
Unknown recorder/ public survey
Record outside current range, known recorder
0

Unlikely /unconfident (kept on record for cluster analysis)

0
Record outside current range, unknown recorder
0
Record inside current range, unknown recorder
Assign code 3 where there is acceptable evidence for a record regardless of recorder, e.g adequate photograph, identifiable corpse etc. Otherwise use the guidelines above.
1. e.g hedgehog, badger.
2. e.g. red squirrel.
3. e.g field mouse, palmate newt.
4. e.g polecat, pine marten.
5. e.g many plants & invertebrates.