389
agencies have their own standards (e.g., https://ngee-arctic.ornl.gov/data-policies)
and can provide a good starting point when thinking about one’s own.
Communication strategies are another planning aspect that should not be overlooked (Sect. 15.2.2). Timely communication with site administrators is not only
central to receiving permits and critical information; it also brings opportunities for
public engagement during fieldwork, which is one of the most publicly visible parts
of the scientific process. Even if site visits last for only a couple of hours, planning
is important. Interactions with the public can happen at any time, so being prepared
to answer questions and give a brief project overview in plain language, and perhaps
having a flyer ready to hand out, can provide valuable opportunities for science
communication. The support of stakeholders, such as site managers, local communities, and authorities, not only is important for a successful research project but
also plays a critical role in determining the degree to which ecological research
enters in public discourse and ultimately results in broader impact. Moreover, fieldwork brings opportunities for connecting researchers from different disciplines,
which can aid in developing a common language, lead to new collaborations, and
make projects more effective. Good research plans and communication strategies
increase the chances for fruitful exchanges.
From the perspective of a project’s feasibility in terms of time, personnel, and
budget, proper planning allows field campaigns to stick to their schedule (which is
important because ecological processes change over time) and to the collection of
data that are relevant for answering particular questions (it is easy to keep bolting on
new measurements that slow down and jeopardize the main focus of a study).
Moreover, adjusting to particular situations and handling challenges becomes easier
when a detailed plan and the reasons behind it are clearly communicated to the
research team. Clarity on the daily responsibilities and the project aims also help to
keep research teams motivated.
15.1.2 Spectral Models and Scales of Measurement
Models are simplified descriptions of some aspect of the world and usually how it
works (Fleishman and Seto 2009; Horning et al. 2010). Modeling is a multistep
iterative process to formulate, by abstraction and idealization, a representation of
reality (conceptual model), specify it mathematically (mathematical model), and
“solve it,” which usually involves translating the math into computer code (computational model; Dahabreh et al. 2017). Models are used to test hypotheses, to assess
relationships between response variables and factors that influence them, to investigate interactions between parts of a system, to make predictions about how a system
will likely behave in the future, and to test how well models calibrated with data
from the past fit current conditions (also known as hindcasting). Ideally, a model
describes the full extent of the phenomenon of interest, but in practice, there are
limits to the variables that can be determined in any given study. These limits can be
formally described by model boundaries, which are as any ordering/bordering
15 Spectral Field Campaigns: Planning and Data Collection
agencies have their own standards (e.g., https://ngee-arctic.ornl.gov/data-policies)
and can provide a good starting point when thinking about one’s own.
Communication strategies are another planning aspect that should not be overlooked (Sect. 15.2.2). Timely communication with site administrators is not only
central to receiving permits and critical information; it also brings opportunities for
public engagement during fieldwork, which is one of the most publicly visible parts
of the scientific process. Even if site visits last for only a couple of hours, planning
is important. Interactions with the public can happen at any time, so being prepared
to answer questions and give a brief project overview in plain language, and perhaps
having a flyer ready to hand out, can provide valuable opportunities for science
communication. The support of stakeholders, such as site managers, local communities, and authorities, not only is important for a successful research project but
also plays a critical role in determining the degree to which ecological research
enters in public discourse and ultimately results in broader impact. Moreover, fieldwork brings opportunities for connecting researchers from different disciplines,
which can aid in developing a common language, lead to new collaborations, and
make projects more effective. Good research plans and communication strategies
increase the chances for fruitful exchanges.
From the perspective of a project’s feasibility in terms of time, personnel, and
budget, proper planning allows field campaigns to stick to their schedule (which is
important because ecological processes change over time) and to the collection of
data that are relevant for answering particular questions (it is easy to keep bolting on
new measurements that slow down and jeopardize the main focus of a study).
Moreover, adjusting to particular situations and handling challenges becomes easier
when a detailed plan and the reasons behind it are clearly communicated to the
research team. Clarity on the daily responsibilities and the project aims also help to
keep research teams motivated.
15.1.2 Spectral Models and Scales of Measurement
Models are simplified descriptions of some aspect of the world and usually how it
works (Fleishman and Seto 2009; Horning et al. 2010). Modeling is a multistep
iterative process to formulate, by abstraction and idealization, a representation of
reality (conceptual model), specify it mathematically (mathematical model), and
“solve it,” which usually involves translating the math into computer code (computational model; Dahabreh et al. 2017). Models are used to test hypotheses, to assess
relationships between response variables and factors that influence them, to investigate interactions between parts of a system, to make predictions about how a system
will likely behave in the future, and to test how well models calibrated with data
from the past fit current conditions (also known as hindcasting). Ideally, a model
describes the full extent of the phenomenon of interest, but in practice, there are
limits to the variables that can be determined in any given study. These limits can be
formally described by model boundaries, which are as any ordering/bordering
15 Spectral Field Campaigns: Planning and Data Collection