Prof. Ron Vave
Mixed-methods quantitative and qualitative analysis underpins all research in the Vave Lab. A suite of tools is used to analyze ecological and social datasets — from household survey data and QGIS mapping to deep-sea video annotation and alluvial diagrams.
R Software
Statistical analysis and data visualization — hierarchical clustering, time series decomposition, correlation analysis, and ggplot2 figures.
Statistical Analysis
QGIS
Spatial mapping of marine protected areas, LMMA boundaries, CPWB sites, interview locations, and FPA distributions across Fiji.
Spatial Mapping
Qualtrics
Survey design for household surveys, community wellbeing assessments, and socioeconomic data collection across research sites.
Survey Research
TATOR
Deep-sea video annotation for taxonomic specimen identification in partnership with National Geographic — 69,091+ media files catalogued.
Video Annotation
NVivo & MAXQDA
Qualitative data analysis — thematic coding of interview transcripts, focus group data, and ethnographic field notes.
Qualitative Analysis
Adobe Photoshop
Scientific image processing and preparation of publication-quality figures and visual documentation of fieldwork.
Image Processing
R Code
R script for ggplot2 visualization of anthropogenic impact data on marine and cultural resources — from Ecosystem Services journal (2024)
Funeral Cost Scatter Plots
Box and scatter plots comparing village vs urban burial costs and funeral duration (days between death and burial) across iTaukei funeral categories — from World Development Sustainability (2023)
Alluvial / Sankey Diagram
Sankey diagram showing relationships between Countries-Communities (Bangladesh, Hawaiʻi, Fiji), Management Goals, Rules Types, and Management Mechanisms — from Ecosystem Services journal (2024)
QGIS Interview Locations — Fiji
QGIS map of iTaukei funeral survey data collection sites across Fiji — on-site interviews (16 villages), off-site interviews (17 ppl), phone interviews (100 ppl), and Google Survey Form (68 ppl) — from World Development Sustainability (2023)
Funerary Protected Areas (FPAs) — Fiji
Map showing total number of Funerary Protected Areas (FPAs) by province across Fiji from 1960–2019. Total: 188 FPAs. Naitasiri leads with 66 FPAs — from Ambio (2022)
CPWB District Mapping — Fiji
QGIS choropleth maps showing the extent of 5 Culturally Protected Water Body (CPWB) practices by district across all Fiji island groups — from Ambio (2022)
Marine Resources & Cultural Values Chart
Multi-panel bar charts showing importance of marine resources (fish and non-fish species) and cultural values to an indigenous community in Hawaiʻi, with commercial and subsistence fishing impact assessments — from Ecosystem Services (2024)
Five CPWB Practices — Infographic
Infographic summarising the five Culturally Protected Water Body (CPWB) practices of iTaukei Fijians: Conception to Eldest Child, Meconium, Circumcision, Chiefly Investiture, and Funerary — from Ambio (2022)
Deep Sea Mining Timeline — PNG
Timeline of deep-sea mining activity in Papua New Guinea across local community, company, and international regulatory dimensions from pre-1990 to 2019 — from Maritime Studies (2023)
TATOR Platform — NGS-ExTech Project
TATOR annotation interface using videos from Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) assessment of deep waters of Rotuma, Yasawa Islands and Great Sea Reef in Fiji collected with the National Geographic Pristine Seas (NGPS). Annotation support and training through UH Manoa’s Deep-sea Animal Research Center (DARC) Lab.
TATOR Platform — NGS-ExTech Project
A rare deep-sea encounter: the false catshark (Pseudotriakis microdon) photographed at depth in Fiji’s waters during BRUV surveys with the National Geographic Pristine Seas team.