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Marine Digimap 2012/2013

EDINA undertook a survey of Marine Digimap users from November 2012 to February 2013. The survey was accessed from the Marine Digimap homepage and the link was emailed to users.

50 responses were received, a summary of which is presented here:

Uptake by discipline, role and purpose

Discipline

Respondents selected their discipline from the list shown below; they could select more than one discipline and could specify “Other”. The disciplines specified in under other were put into one of the other disciplines where appropriate.

Most respondents selected Geography and Environment (30%) and Physical Sciences (27%). These disciplines include Earth Science subjects such as Oceanography and Environmental Science.

Biological Sciences (including Marine Biology) (15%), Engineering (14%) were well represented.

Discipline	Respondents	Percentage
Agriculture, food, and forestry 2	2%
Architecture and planning	6	7%
Biological sciences	13	15%
Business and management studies	0	0%
Communication and media studies	0	0%
Creative and performing arts	0	0%
Education and research methods	1	1%
Engineering	12	14%
Geography and environment	25	30%
Humanities	2	2%
Law	0	0%
Mathematics and computer science	0	0%
Medicine including dentistry	0	0%
Modern languages and area studies	0	0%
Nursing, midwifery and allied health	0	0%
Physical sciences	23	27%
Psychology	0	0%
Social sciences	0	0%
Veterinary medicine	0	0%
Other	0	0%

Role

The large majority of survey respondents were Students. This reflects the numbers of students registered to use the service.

 

Purpose

Respondents were asked for what purposes they were using Marine Digimap, they could tick all options that applied to them in this question.

Marine Digimap is mostly being used for Coursework (32%) and research (25%).

Undergraduate and postgraduate theses account for 21% of usage. Marine Digimap has become embedded in the learning and teaching at some subscribing institutions: “…the tuition I have received is based on using this service…” Student, Higher Education Institution.

User Comments

• “We are using Marine Digimap to research locations which would be suitable for Tidal and Wave power devices. Groups of students are tasked to Design Tidal Barrages, Tidal Stream and Wave power systems close to or on the shore and in deeper water.” Lecturer, Higher Education Institution.
• “Using a GIS to develop reports on diving in Lyme Bay, the possibility of eel grass presence in Plymouth Sound and ferry routes around Plymouth.” Lecturer, Higher Education Institution.
• “Understanding the habitat preference of marine mammals.” Researcher, Higher Education Institution.

Perceived quality of the service

Recommendation

When users were asked if they would recommend Marine Digimap, 96% agreed; only 2% disagreed.

User Comments

• “It's the optimal form to deliver and use a conventional hydrographic chart.” Lecturer, Higher Education Institution.
• “Unique and accessible data source for those interested in Britain's coastal environments.” Lecturer, Higher Education Institution.
• “It’s a good, up to date and reliable map data service.” Student, Higher Education Institution.

Perceived Ease of Use

72% of respondents found Marine Digimap easy or very easy to use; whereas 4% found it difficult and only 2% found it very difficult.

User Comments

• “I find it really handy to have the data available quickly and easily.” Postgraduate, Higher Education Institution.
• “Efficient, quick, easy to access.” Researcher.
• “Provides easy to access data.” Student, Higher Education Institution.

Perceived Time Saving

The survey asked if the users work would take longer without Marine Digimap, 92% of respondents Agreed; only 2% disagreed.

User Comments

• “I do not know how I would get hold of some of the data without Digimap.” Postgrad, Higher Education Institution.
• “I would have to navigate the physical library holdings every time I need a new section of map.” Student, Higher Education Institution.
• “It would take me longer to develop my project if I had to draw plans by myself.” Student Higher Education Institution. 

What would happen without Marine Digimap?

In response to the question “What alternative would you use if Marine Digimap was not available?”; 68% did not know, 14% said none and 18% gave an alternative.

The 41% of users who said they would use an alternative was made up of 6% who said they would use paper maps (dependent on library holdings); 4% who would pay for the data directly from SeaZone(which may not be discounted or subsidised to the same extent as the service); 4% who would create the data themselves(adding to the length of time a project would take); 2% who would use free online mapping services such as Google and Bing (which do not have much Marine detail or data to download) and 2% who gave examples of free online services(which were more specific in their scope or coverage).

User Comments

• [I would have to] “Try to gain NERC funding and then approach the relevant data providers...” Lecturer, Engineering, Aberdeen University.
• “I do not know how I would get hold of some of the data without Digimap.” Postgraduate, Higher Education Institution.
• “I would need to find another source of this information which provides just as vast amount of data as marine Digimap, which is still compatible.” Student, Higher Education Institution.