peatab

PeATAB is a term used to describe a portable data-collection and analysis platform designed for peatland research. It is intended to standardize field data capture, enabling researchers to collect and organize peat properties and site metadata in a consistent tabular format that can be exported for analysis.

The name combines peat, the focal material, with tab, signaling a tabular data approach. PeATAB can refer to both hardware devices and accompanying software tools that function together to collect, store, and export data. It emphasizes offline operation, data integrity, and interoperability with GIS and laboratory equipment.

Origin of the concept traces to ecologist and data-science discussions in the early 2020s. It has no formal standard and remains a community-driven idea. Several open-source repositories publish prototype schemas, sample data sets, and software interfaces that illustrate how a PeATAB workflow might operate.

Core design elements include a standardized data schema with fields such as sample_id, site_id, latitude, longitude, depth_cm, moisture_pct, pH, temperature_C, color, texture, and notes. The software supports versioning, offline capture, validation rules, and export to CSV or JSON, with adapters for GIS tools.

Applications span peatland surveys, restoration monitoring, and climate research. Advantages include improved data consistency across projects and easier sharing. Limitations include the absence of a formal governing body and uneven adoption across organizations, which can hinder cross-site comparability.