Data Export Formats in MariMap

Collecting marine monitoring data is only half the job. Getting that data into the right format for your audience, whether that is a global biodiversity database, a funding agency, a GIS analyst, or your own field team, is what makes the data useful beyond your project. MariMap supports seven export formats, each designed for a specific purpose.

At a glance

• MariMap supports 7 export formats: DwC-A, GCRMN, GeoJSON, CSV, Shapefile, PDF, and Excel.
• Exports are generated from the Report builder in the Reports section.
• Choose the format based on your audience: registries, researchers, GIS teams, funders, or field partners.
• All exports include metadata headers with project, site, and survey information.

Overview of all 7 export formats

Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A)

What it is

Darwin Core Archive is the international standard for sharing biodiversity occurrence data. It packages species observation records with standardized field names, metadata descriptions, and file structure so that biodiversity databases can ingest the data without transformation.

When to use it

• Publishing survey data to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
• Sharing occurrence records with the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS).
• Contributing to national biodiversity inventories.
• Building a citable dataset for academic publications.

What the export contains

• Occurrence records: one row per species observation with fields for scientific name, count, date, location (latitude/longitude), depth, observer, and sampling protocol.
• Event records: survey-level metadata including site ID, survey date, method, and environmental conditions.
• Meta.xml: the archive descriptor that tells consuming systems how to read the files.
• EML metadata: dataset-level information including title, abstract, contact, geographic scope, and license.

GBIF publication workflow

1. Export the DwC-A file from MariMap.
2. Register as a GBIF data publisher (or use your organization's existing account).
3. Upload the archive through the GBIF Integrated Publishing Toolkit (IPT) or directly.
4. Review the data quality report from GBIF.
5. Publish and receive a DOI for citation.

GCRMN format

What it is

The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network format is a standardized reporting template used for regional and global reef condition assessments. It focuses on benthic cover indicators and fish community metrics.

When to use it

• Contributing to GCRMN regional status reports.
• Aligning with the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) reporting framework.
• Providing data to national coral reef monitoring programs.

What the export contains

• Benthic cover percentages by standard GCRMN categories (hard coral, soft coral, macroalgae, turf algae, coralline algae, sponge, rubble, sand, other).
• Fish abundance and biomass by trophic group.
• Site metadata (coordinates, depth, reef zone, survey method).
• Survey metadata (date, team, method parameters).

GeoJSON

What it is

GeoJSON is an open standard format for representing geographic features with their attributes. It is widely supported by web mapping libraries, GIS software, and data analysis tools.

When to use it

• Loading survey data into QGIS, ArcGIS Online, or Mapbox.
• Creating custom web maps with survey results.
• Spatial analysis of site boundaries, transect locations, or species distributions.
• Sharing geographic data with technical partners who work in GIS.

What the export contains

• Feature collection with one feature per survey unit (transect, quadrat, or photo point).
• Geometry: point, line, or polygon depending on the survey protocol.
• Properties: survey date, site name, protocol, key metrics (cover, abundance, biomass), and observation summaries.

CSV

What it is

Comma-separated values files are the simplest tabular format. They open in any spreadsheet application, statistical software (R, Python, SPSS), or database tool.

When to use it

• Custom statistical analysis in R, Python, or Excel.
• Importing data into other database systems.
• Sharing raw observation data with researchers who need to run their own analyses.
• Archiving data in a format that will remain readable for decades.

What the export contains

• One row per observation (species record, benthic point, or quadrat measurement).
• Columns for all recorded fields: site, survey, transect/quadrat ID, species, count, size, cover, depth, date, observer, and method.
• A header row with standardized column names.
• UTF-8 encoding for international character support.

Shapefile

What it is

Shapefiles are a legacy vector data format originally developed by Esri. They remain widely used in government agencies, large conservation organizations, and traditional GIS workflows.

When to use it

• Submitting spatial data to government agencies that require shapefiles.
• Loading data into ArcGIS Desktop or other Esri products.
• Providing spatial layers to partners who use traditional GIS toolchains.

What the export contains

• A .zip archive containing the required shapefile components: .shp (geometry), .dbf (attributes), .shx (index), and .prj (projection).
• One feature per survey unit with geometry and attribute fields matching the CSV export structure.
• WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) coordinate reference system.

Note: Shapefiles have limitations on field name length (10 characters) and file size. For complex datasets with many attributes, GeoJSON is the better choice.

PDF

What it is

PDF exports produce formatted documents that combine maps, charts, tables, and narrative text into a presentation-ready report.

When to use it

• Submitting monitoring reports to funders and grant agencies.
• Sharing results with non-technical stakeholders (community leaders, government officials, board members).
• Creating annual site condition reports.
• Archiving survey results in a human-readable format.

What the export contains

• Title page with project and site information.
• Site map with survey locations.
• Summary tables for key metrics (cover, abundance, biomass).
• Charts showing trends over time.
• Survey methodology description.
• Appendices with detailed observation tables.

The MariMap report builder for generating PDF exports.

Excel

What it is

Excel exports produce .xlsx files with structured worksheets that are ready to open in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc.

When to use it

• Sharing data with field teams who are comfortable with spreadsheets.
• Providing data to partners who need to review and annotate results.
• Quick data review and filtering without specialized software.
• Combining MariMap data with other spreadsheet-based datasets.

What the export contains

• Summary worksheet: project and site metadata, survey dates, key indicators.
• Observations worksheet: detailed observation records with all fields.
• Metadata worksheet: column definitions, method parameters, and data dictionary.
• Formatted headers and column widths for readability.

How to export from the report builder

1. Navigate to Reports in the left navigation.
2. Click Create report or open an existing report.
3. Select the surveys, sites, and date range to include.
4. Choose the export format from the format selector.
5. Configure format-specific options (e.g., which DwC-A extensions to include, PDF layout preferences).
6. Click Export to generate and download the file.

For batch exports across multiple sites, use the report builder's multi-site selection to generate a single export covering your full program.

Choosing the right format for your audience

When in doubt, export as CSV for data and PDF for presentation. These two formats cover the broadest range of use cases.

MRV readiness and disclosure alignment

• Baseline vs repeat surveys: mark baselines and keep repeat surveys on comparable geometry.
• Monitoring plan logic: define cadence, QA/QC thresholds, and conservative handling of uncertainty.
• Outcome types and claims discipline: record uplift, avoided loss, or maintenance credits; separate inputs from verified outcomes.
• Rights and integrity: document FPIC, customary marine tenure, OECM, ICCA, benefit sharing, durability mechanisms, and leakage risk.
• Disclosure alignment: map indicators to TNFD, CSRD, ESRS, EU Taxonomy, SBTN, and SBTi requirements.
• Use the Metrics Reference and Data Providers for definitions and sources.

Related guides

• Generating Reports for Funders and Regulators
• Understanding Satellite and Environmental Data
• Open Data Sources for Marine Conservation

References

• Darwin Core Standard
• GCRMN Monitoring Methods
• GBIF