Data Usage Policy

How we collect, process, and use scientific data

1. Data Collection Overview

BugCity.pl collects and processes data to advance scientific understanding of urban entomology. Our data usage practices are designed to maximize scientific value while protecting user privacy and maintaining data integrity.

All data collection follows FAIR principles: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.

2. Types of Data We Collect

Observational Data

  • • Species identifications
  • • Location coordinates
  • • Date and time stamps
  • • Environmental conditions
  • • Habitat descriptions

Media Data

  • • Photographs and images
  • • Video recordings
  • • Audio recordings
  • • Metadata from media files
  • • GPS coordinates from images

User Data

  • • Observer credentials
  • • Experience level
  • • Contact information
  • • Institutional affiliations
  • • Contribution history

Technical Data

  • • Website usage analytics
  • • Device and browser info
  • • Performance metrics
  • • Error logs
  • • Security monitoring

3. Data Processing and Analysis

Quality Control

All submissions undergo automated and expert review for accuracy and completeness.

Data Validation

Cross-referencing with existing databases and expert verification of identifications.

Statistical Analysis

Aggregation and analysis for research publications and conservation insights.

Data Integration

Combining with external datasets for comprehensive urban ecology research.

4. Data Sharing and Open Science

We believe in open science and data sharing to maximize research impact:

  • Anonymized datasets are made available to the research community
  • Data is shared with biodiversity databases (GBIF, iNaturalist)
  • Research collaborations with universities and institutions
  • Public access to aggregated statistics and trends

Personal information is never shared without explicit consent.

5. Data Retention and Deletion

Scientific Data

Retained indefinitely for long-term research value, following scientific data management best practices.

Personal Data

Retained only as long as necessary for stated purposes, with regular review and deletion schedules.

Technical Data

Analytics and logs retained for 2 years, then automatically deleted or anonymized.

User Requests

Data deletion requests processed within 30 days, with scientific data anonymized rather than deleted.

6. Data Usage Questions

For questions about our data usage practices or to request information about your data:

Data Officer: [email protected]

Research Coordinator: [email protected]

General Inquiries: [email protected]