Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service

Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe An introduction to the Bio. CISE project Walter G. Berendsohn Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem Free University of Berlin

Bio. CISE: The Vision A common electronic access system facilitating queries across the hundreds of millions of specimens and monitoring or mapping records held by institutions, projects and individual researchers in the EU and partner countries. Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Definition: Biological Collection Data collections (mapping, survey and monitoring projects) l Natural history collections (mainly in museums and universities) l Living collections (e. g. botanical and zoological gardens, microbial strain collections) l Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

“The Bio. CISE “ The Biological Collection Information Service (“The Bio. CISE”) will be an interface between holders of biological collections (information providers) and users seeking access to information on specimens or observations (units). Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Phases of the general project 1. Data structure research and modelling (CDEFD project 1993 – 1996) 2. Resource identification (survey) and development of project proposals (Bio. CISE project 1997 – 1999) 3. Demonstration projects, showing partial implementation of The Bio. CISE 4. Common access to biological collection information Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Results of the CDEFD project CDEFD originally set out to develop a “Common Datastructure for European Floristic Databases”) but soon extended the scope to cover all biological collections. l The resulting information model covers all core aspects relevant to the management of physical objects and field records (the "unit-concept"). l Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Resource identification phase Collect and publish information on collection data resources and on biodiversity informatics expertise l Identify user needs l Build partnerships and formulate proposals leading to the implementation of The Bio. CISE Rapport and communication via WWW l Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Collection data resources (survey) Data resources must refer to collection objects and/or observations l Fluid boundary to Taxonomic (Species) Information and Environmental Information l Electronic inventory must be present or in the making, or existing catalogue must lend itself to digitisation l Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Biodiversity informatics expertise Catalogue (with their consent) l Persons l Companies l Institutions with know-how in the implementation of biological collection information systems Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

The User’s side of The Bio. CISE Who needs The Bio. CISE l What use can be made of a Bio. CISE l Data quality and standardisation requirements l Information access (IPR, free access) l User interface (queries and output) l Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Project proposals Liaison with existing organisations and initiatives essential: fill in the gaps l Opportunities: l l l 5 th Framework programme of the EC OECD Megascience Forum, Global Biodiversity Informatics Facility Several national initiatives Instigate consortia and aid in the formulation of projects. Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Possible project areas l l l Integration of information within a systematic or thematic sub-discipline Geographic access to biodiversity information Common access via metadata Standard for exchange and common interface Expert service for biological informatics Models for self-sufficiency and commercial exploitation Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Integration of information within a systematic or thematic sub-discipline Queries Collection Data Output Observation Data Taxonomic and species oriented information • Checklists and monographs • Sound-Files, Photos, Slides, Films • Data on migration Information System • Retrieval of collection information (unit related) • Species- oriented geographical and multimedia information • Integrated information Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Geographic integration of biodiversity information Queries Invertebrates Output survey and collection information Environmental Centres Plants • survey and collection information Information System Retrieval of • information on cooccurence of species • information on correlations between species and environmental parameters • distribution maps • collection information (unit related) Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

The metadata-driven Bio. CISE Queries Natural history museums Projects Surveycentres Natural history museums Projects Survey centres Naturalhistory museums National Information System National network Thematic Information System International, national or regional network Output Collection Information Service System Information on: • laboratories • projects • persons • (protected)areas • units Projects Survey centres Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Technology transfer Queries Laboratories with databased inventory Output Laboratories with noncomputerised inventory Information System • Retrieval of collection information • online accessible data Laboratories with noninventoried collection Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Co-operation of different-sized laboratories Queries Small, highly specialized collection or survey Output Local museum collection or local survey Information System • Retrieval of collection information • online accessible data Large-scale taxonomic facility Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe

Providers’ benefits Providing information l is part of the mission of research collections l may be a commercial service in itself l helps in the sale of objects (if any for sale) l may foster co-operation, division of labour, specialisation, and planning in general l joint organisation of administrative tasks Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe