Data Services
BSAP manages, analyzes, and delivers biological data that support conservation, regulatory compliance, and research across Illinois and the Midwest. Our team combines field expertise with spatial analysis, modern data tools, and legacy biological records to produce reliable, defensible information for partners and agencies.
Based on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, BSAP benefits from the Prairie Research Institute’s secure data infrastructure and technical support services, allowing us to store, manage and share biological information efficiently and responsibly.
GIS Capabilities
BSAP integrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into nearly every aspect of our work.
Our Capabilities Include:
- Mapping species occurrences, habitats, and survey boundaries
- Spatial analysis to identify ecological patterns and inform project design
- Integration of biological, hydrologic, and environmental datasets for modeling and visualization
- Development of field applications to support data collection and decision-making
- Landscape analyses using field-collected data and remote sensing
Our GIS products help agencies and planners visualize biological data in context, improving project coordination and conservation outcomes
Data Analysis
BSAP biologists apply ecological and statistical analysis to interpret field data and evaluate environmental trends.
Our capabilities include:
- Statistical summaries and diversity indices
- Species distribution modeling
- Landscape analyses using field-collected data and remote sensing
- Demographic analyses, including population projections and Population Viability Analyses (PVA)
- Management and reformatting of long-term data on communities or individual species
Data Applications and Tools
BSAP develops customized data tools and workflows to improve field data collection and data management.
Our capabilities include:
- Development of customized digital tools for field data collection and management
- Creation of mobile apps and Survey123 forms to streamline environmental assessments and reporting
- Integration of real-time data collection, analysis, and sharing across projects and partners
- Compilation and management of biological databases, for example, statewide records for all of Illinois’s vascular plants from multiple data sources and agencies
Project Highlight
To streamline bat bridge assessments, BSAP created a Survey123 application for the Illinois Department of Transportation. This tool digitized a complex reporting form, reducing errors, increasing efficiency, and improving data standardization across projects.
Our team continues to collaborate with partners to design digital tools that support real-time data collection, analysis, and sharing.
Data Preservation
BSAP’s data and specimen contributions form a lasting record of Illinois’ biological diversity. Our biologists regularly submit new and updated species records to state and federal conservation databases and curate specimens within the INHS Biological Collections.
- Each year, BSAP biologists contribute hundreds of new and updated species records to the Illinois Natural Heritage Database.
- Specimens and associated metadata are curated in INHS collections, creating a permanent record of species occurrence and distribution.
These datasets allow researchers to study long-term ecological changes and evaluate conservation outcomes.