Welcome to the Vector Data Ecosystem

Science runs on data. As researchers, we know how valuable (and time consuming) collecting new data can be. For those of us who focus on quantitative data analysis, limited data can dictate the types of analyses we can (or can’t) perform (they don’t call it ‘big data’ for nothing). Fortunately, there are now many online resources and data repositories that host a wide range of information on disease vectors, including mosquito surveillance data, pathogen testing, genetic sequencing, and more. The online vector data ecosystem is invaluable for researchers looking to run analyses on new data, or supplement their own data collection efforts. However, the sheer number of platforms, and varying levels of accessibility, can be daunting, especially for new users who may not know which resource best aligns with their research objectives.

Our new paper, Characterizing the Vector Data Ecosystem , is an effort to provide the vector-borne disease research community with a comprehensive guide to existing online data resources. These range from fully accessible large data aggregators (think GBIF), to dedicated vector surveillance platforms (e.g., VectorSurv) and specialized databases (e.g., WingBank, an image database of mosquito wings). We hope that this new resource will help to eliminate any confusion when choosing online databases, and promote greater use of existing resources.

We have also created an online ‘living document’ version of the database, which you can access here. Please let us know if you have any new resources to add, as the living document will be updated as new data platforms become available!