Data and information system

An indicator is considered robust when its measurement or calculation remains reliable even when conditions (spatial, temporal, impact intensity, or others unrelated to the change being measured) vary. The relationship between the biodiversity components used in the calculation and the impact on biodiversity remains stable. The value of a robust indicator is little or not affected by imprecise measurements or errors, variability in measurement instruments, missing data, or confounding variables.

The degree of ease with which data can be located and retrieved. Data may be made available through public or private websites and databases (national or international), be free or paid, accessible to the general public or restricted to certain users, and downloadable in standardized or specific formats, either open or proprietary.

The level of expertise required to understand the indicator, its construction, its calculation, and to interpret its value and evolution, depending on the related issue. The complexity levels defined for ONB indicators are “novice,” “intermediate,” and “expert.”

A value that allows assessment of whether objectives have been achieved, and thus measures the progress made. In the context of the ONB (French National Biodiversity Observatory), target values are set by national or international legal texts.

An indicator is effective when it synthesizes information precisely enough to describe the phenomenon being studied, facilitates its understanding by the general public, and when its production cost is not a limiting factor.

An indicator is sensitive when it can distinguish between situations that one aims to differentiate. A sensitive indicator quickly signals a meaningful change. It is therefore suited to the appropriate level of detection for the intended objectives. This requires that measurements be carried out at relevant time intervals and spatial scales.

An indicator is accurate when it measures the phenomenon it is intended to describe with a low margin of error or uncertainty. Achieving a high degree of accuracy is generally associated with the use of proven tools and methods, demonstrated by low variability in measurements when repeated under similar conditions.

The taxon is any unit (genus, family, species, subspecies, etc.) of the hierarchical classifications of living things. Generally the term is used in the specific (species) and subspecific (subspecies) ranks.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is defined as DNA that can be extracted from environmental samples, such as water, soil or feces, without the need to first isolate target organisms.

Opération consistant à localiser une entité (ouvrage, évènement,...) dans un référentiel géographique donné avec plus ou moins de précision : de façon absolue (longitude, latitude, altitude ; ou X, Y, Z) ou relative (commune, zone hydrographique, système aquifère, cours d'eau, masse d'eau, point kilométrique, etc.) selon un système de coordonnées géographiques connu. Par extension, la numérisation sur carte est une géolocalisation : on crée un objet géographique dans le référentiel au lieu d'en attribuer un existant

Opération consistant à localiser une entité (ouvrage, évènement,...) dans un référentiel géographique donné avec plus ou moins de précision : de façon absolue (longitude, latitude, altitude ; ou X, Y, Z) ou relative (commune, zone hydrographique , système aquifère , cours d'eau, masse d'eau, point kilométrique, etc.) selon un système de coordonnées géographiques connu.