Filling the gaps: sensor network use and data-sharing practices in ecological research

Automated sensors are ubiquitous in ecological “research networks” and academic-led studies. We conducted a survey of academic ecologists to assess the extent of sensor use and how sensor-captured data are managed. There were 135 survey respondents, each representing a unique research group and collectively representing more than 1800 researchers from more than 90 universities in the US. This pool of represented academic researchers collectively matched the financial expenditure, sensor use, and data volumes of several large national research networks. Few respondents reported the use of metadata and workflows while almost 70% stored data locally instead of within institutional archives, though most recognized the importance of doing the latter. Most respondents also indicated that their research could be enhanced by taking advantage of cyber-expertise and software tools. Access to sensor-generated datasets may be improved by several means, including the promotion of targeted training, high-profile studies showcasing researchers' participation in large-scale syntheses, and incentives for industry to develop, adopt, or adapt technologies that facilitate data documentation, discovery, and sharing.