BEEP - your research platform
The BEEP app and BEEP base are tools for the collection of data for your (honeybee) research project. Collect quantitative and qualitative data with the combination of the BEEP hardware and software, design your study with a customised inspection sheet for the manual data collection and invite beekeepers to participate in your research project.
The BEEP platform is an 'open research' platform, which allows you to obtain high-quality data and monitor bee colonies in a harmonized and standardized way. To allow for this harmonization in data collection, the BEEP foundation has compiled a standardised data model. It is based on about 30 sources like beekeeping logbooks, apiary management systems, digital record keeping tools, the COLOSS BEEBOOK, the Healthy-B toolbox, FAO's honey bee diseases guide and various websites. More information on the data model can be found here.
Work plans, scientific protocols and manuals can be adapted and optimised for your project. Field observations and lab analysis sampling for diseases can be performed, to get a complete picture of the bee health status. The BEEP base, an automatic measurement system, can be used for automatic data collection. Other systems can also be used for that purpose. Since BEEP is an open source platform, you can add your own sensors and/or devices, and link systems through the BEEP API. All collected data can be found and downloaded from the BEEP app, where it is displayed in graphs, lists and available as a raw dataset.
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The basic BEEP platform and services
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Data collection through standardised inspection sheets With the BEEP app you can personalise multiple inspection sheets for your specific interest or purpose, which can change during the year or project timeline. Those inspection sheets can be short and simple or more elaborate, depending on your needs. It supports various types of beekeeping practices like Varroa mite treatment, colony characteristics determination for queen selection, or swarm control. You can create multiple checklists based on the BEEP data standard and share them with participating beekeepers and researchers. |
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Automatic data collection through the BEEP base or other device, with real time overviews The BEEP base is an automatic measurement system that collects weight, sound and temperature data on a set interval. The data are sent to the BEEP server over the LoRa network and accessible in the BEEP webapp. The data are visible in graphs and can be downloaded for analysis. The data are also stored on the BEEP base and can be directly downloaded to the server with the Bluetooth connection of the BEEP base app (available on iOS and Android). |
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Data input: inspection data / measurement data / weather / qualitative and quantitative / pictures / lab data The data in the BEEP webapp consist of your own inspection data with an option for notes and pictures when needed, weather data fetched from a weather data service is loaded automatically, measurement data from the BEEP base or another measurement device. Create sample ID tracking for laboratory research. |
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Data storage and access in one place The BEEP webapp is a platform where you can collect data with inspection sheets, photos, notes and reminders. If you make use of the BEEP base, the automatic measurement system, the measurement data on weight, temperature and sound are also sent to the BEEP app and stored there. You can access your data per apiary, hive or measurement system. Download your data (.xslx and .csv) to analyse it. |
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Data download
The research progress can be followed at api.beep.nl. Check whether the inspection sheets are being filled in and the automatic measurement data is coming through. Download all research data from here. The API also allows you to connect another measurement system to your hives. |
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| Alerts for direct information on the status of the hive
The BEEP app has an alert functionality. With the alert functionality, you can set parameter and get an alert when they are met. E.g. when you want to get a notification when a swarm could be detected, the alert rule could be: I would like to receive an alert if the average decrease of the Weight >= 0.5kg. A range of default alert rules are provided. Notifications can be sent by email and are displayed in the BEEP webapp. |
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Technical support The BEEP helpdesk is available with information about the BEEP platform, and you can contact us directly for any questions you might have. It is also possible to schedule a call or to make an appointment to visit our office. The BEEP team is also available for project advice and design. The development of new functionalities that fit your research is also an option. |
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Intuitive, multilingual interface The BEEP interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. The BEEP webapp is available in twelve languages (English, Dutch, German, French, Greek, Italian, Norse, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanisch, Finnish, Swedish) and can be translated into more languages.
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The research feature
The needs of hobby beekeepers, professional beekeepers and researchers vary. As a partner in multiple researches, BEEP has developed features specifically for research purposes. Among those are:
- Add a research project to the BEEP app to conduct your research
- Adapt the platform system (hard- and software) to the research methodology, e.g. add more temperature sensors to the BEEP base or develop a new feature in the BEEP app
- Enable BEEP users to share their data for the benefit of the research
- Creation of sample ID tracking for laboratory analysis
- Design one or more checklists for the research and share them with BEEP users associated with the study to collect information
- Project advice
Get in touch with us for more information.
What can you expect from BEEP?
The BEEP app and BEEP base are tools that you can use in your research project. Data collection can be automated, standardized and shared within research groups. You can set up your own checklists and share them with the research participants. For a annual fee you get access to all research features. Get in touch for more information.