Cargando…

Trends in access of plant biodiversity data revealed by Google Analytics

Abstract. The amount of plant biodiversity data available via the web has exploded in the last decade, but making these data available requires a considerable investment of time and work, both vital considerations for organizations and institutions looking to validate the impact factors of these onl...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Jones, Timothy Mark, Baxter, David G., Hagedorn, Gregor, Legler, Ben, Gilbert, Edward, Thiele, Kevin, Vargas-Rodriguez, Yalma, Urbatsch, Lowell E.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Pensoft Publishers 2014
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4238075/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25425933
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.2.e1558
_version_ 1782345456435593216
author Jones, Timothy Mark
Baxter, David G.
Hagedorn, Gregor
Legler, Ben
Gilbert, Edward
Thiele, Kevin
Vargas-Rodriguez, Yalma
Urbatsch, Lowell E.
author_facet Jones, Timothy Mark
Baxter, David G.
Hagedorn, Gregor
Legler, Ben
Gilbert, Edward
Thiele, Kevin
Vargas-Rodriguez, Yalma
Urbatsch, Lowell E.
author_sort Jones, Timothy Mark
collection PubMed
description Abstract. The amount of plant biodiversity data available via the web has exploded in the last decade, but making these data available requires a considerable investment of time and work, both vital considerations for organizations and institutions looking to validate the impact factors of these online works. Here we used Google Analytics (GA), to measure the value of this digital presence. In this paper we examine usage trends using 15 different GA accounts, spread across 451 institutions or botanical projects that comprise over five percent of the world's herbaria. They were studied at both one year and total years. User data from the sample reveal: 1) over 17 million web sessions, 2) on five primary operating systems, 3) search and direct traffic dominates with minimal impact from social media, 4) mobile and new device types have doubled each year for the past three years, 5) and web browsers, the tools we use to interact with the web, are changing. Server-side analytics differ from site to site making the comparison of their data sets difficult. However, use of Google Analytics erases the reporting heterogeneity of unique server-side analytics, as they can now be examined with a standard that provides a clarity for data-driven decisions. The knowledge gained here empowers any collection-based environment regardless of size, with metrics about usability, design, and possible directions for future development.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-4238075
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2014
publisher Pensoft Publishers
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-42380752014-11-25 Trends in access of plant biodiversity data revealed by Google Analytics Jones, Timothy Mark Baxter, David G. Hagedorn, Gregor Legler, Ben Gilbert, Edward Thiele, Kevin Vargas-Rodriguez, Yalma Urbatsch, Lowell E. Biodivers Data J General Research Article Abstract. The amount of plant biodiversity data available via the web has exploded in the last decade, but making these data available requires a considerable investment of time and work, both vital considerations for organizations and institutions looking to validate the impact factors of these online works. Here we used Google Analytics (GA), to measure the value of this digital presence. In this paper we examine usage trends using 15 different GA accounts, spread across 451 institutions or botanical projects that comprise over five percent of the world's herbaria. They were studied at both one year and total years. User data from the sample reveal: 1) over 17 million web sessions, 2) on five primary operating systems, 3) search and direct traffic dominates with minimal impact from social media, 4) mobile and new device types have doubled each year for the past three years, 5) and web browsers, the tools we use to interact with the web, are changing. Server-side analytics differ from site to site making the comparison of their data sets difficult. However, use of Google Analytics erases the reporting heterogeneity of unique server-side analytics, as they can now be examined with a standard that provides a clarity for data-driven decisions. The knowledge gained here empowers any collection-based environment regardless of size, with metrics about usability, design, and possible directions for future development. Pensoft Publishers 2014-11-11 /pmc/articles/PMC4238075/ /pubmed/25425933 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.2.e1558 Text en Timothy Mark Jones, David G. Baxter, Gregor Hagedorn, Ben Legler, Edward Gilbert, Kevin Thiele, Yalma Vargas-Rodriguez, Lowell E. Urbatsch http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC-BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
spellingShingle General Research Article
Jones, Timothy Mark
Baxter, David G.
Hagedorn, Gregor
Legler, Ben
Gilbert, Edward
Thiele, Kevin
Vargas-Rodriguez, Yalma
Urbatsch, Lowell E.
Trends in access of plant biodiversity data revealed by Google Analytics
title Trends in access of plant biodiversity data revealed by Google Analytics
title_full Trends in access of plant biodiversity data revealed by Google Analytics
title_fullStr Trends in access of plant biodiversity data revealed by Google Analytics
title_full_unstemmed Trends in access of plant biodiversity data revealed by Google Analytics
title_short Trends in access of plant biodiversity data revealed by Google Analytics
title_sort trends in access of plant biodiversity data revealed by google analytics
topic General Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4238075/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25425933
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.2.e1558
work_keys_str_mv AT jonestimothymark trendsinaccessofplantbiodiversitydatarevealedbygoogleanalytics
AT baxterdavidg trendsinaccessofplantbiodiversitydatarevealedbygoogleanalytics
AT hagedorngregor trendsinaccessofplantbiodiversitydatarevealedbygoogleanalytics
AT leglerben trendsinaccessofplantbiodiversitydatarevealedbygoogleanalytics
AT gilbertedward trendsinaccessofplantbiodiversitydatarevealedbygoogleanalytics
AT thielekevin trendsinaccessofplantbiodiversitydatarevealedbygoogleanalytics
AT vargasrodriguezyalma trendsinaccessofplantbiodiversitydatarevealedbygoogleanalytics
AT urbatschlowelle trendsinaccessofplantbiodiversitydatarevealedbygoogleanalytics