Collecting and Analyzing Unpublished Data
New research is expensive and takes time. But many of the answers to
key questions may already exist. A significant pool of wind-wildlife
data, representing an investment of millions of dollars and thousands of
investigator research hours, exists not in published papers, but in
confidential site studies performed by wind developers seeking project
permits. These studies are focused at a local level on individual wind
farm projects.
To compile and analyze the data and findings that result from these
project-specific studies, AWWI has commissioned a pilot to test the
feasibility for a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive Research Information
System (RIS) and data repository to provide much-needed data to
wind-wildlife scientists. If feasible, the RIS, will gather existing
wind-wildlife data to support comprehensive meta-analysis and identify
research gaps.
The feasibility of an RIS will depend on protecting proprietary data
and confidentiality concerns, thereby facilitating the release of
private data and substantially increasing the raw material available for
scientific analysis. The RIS will be an invaluable science-based
resource to facilitate greater understanding of wind-wildlife
interactions.