Information for Researchers

rOpenSci Package

The ecoengine API is now available for use in R through the rOpenSci ecoengine package. rOpenSci allows access to data repositories through the R statistical programming environment that is already a familiar part of the workflow of many scientists. The project’s Karthik Ram has developed the package that allows users to work with the Ecoengine API directly through the R terminal, tapping into an extensive array of tools that can be used to better understand the information being served.

Using the package in R, you can now easily:

• Query and return data from observations, photos, species checklists, and sensors
• Quickly create a leaflet JS map to display your results with one line of code
• Quickly create a photo viewer website with one line of code
• and more!

Checkout Karthik’s Introduction to the ecoengine package for a great tutorial on how to install and use this awesome tool.

Data Resources

The Ecoengine API currently hosts the following data:

• Geolocated specimen records from the Berkeley Natural History Museums encompassing vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and fossils
• Ecological data collected over the last century from UC Field Stations
• Sensor measurements from the Keck HydroWatch Center located at Angelo Coast Range Reserve and Sagehen Creek Field Station
• Photos via CalPhotos—imaged species and landscapes
• Historic vegetation maps and data from the Wieslander Vegetation Type Mapping Project

Future development of the engine will include tools for data discovery, web applications for analysis, and a showcase of user generated apps.

Visit globalchange.berkeley.edu to learn more about how YOUR data can be incorporated into the engine.