Digitization of Natural History Collections (DIGIT)

Larry Speers

Program Officer Digitization of Natural History Collections Data

TDWG Annual Meeting

Oct. 19, 2002

Indaiatuba, SP, Brazil

GBIF's Mission

• The purpose of GBIF is to make The purpose of GBIF is to make

the world’s biodiversity data freely the world’s biodiversity data freely

and universally available and universally available within an

appropriate framework for property

rights and due attribution.

DIGIT – LONG TERM VISION

To facilitate the expansion of To facilitate the expansion of biodiversity knowledge by having biodiversity knowledge by having legacy and newly acquired legacy and newly acquired primary species occurrence data digitised and dynamically digitised and dynamically accessible .accessible .

• Bioinformatics

Definition

• Bioinformatics is the application of information technology to biology with the emphasis on persistent data stores.

R. Robbins, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Definition

• > 2 billion > 2 billion specimens specimens worldwideworldwide

Persistent Biodiversity Data Stores Containing Primary Species Occurrence Data

Legacy data Natural History CollectionsCulture collectionsObservational species occurrence databases

Persistent Biodiversity Data Stores Containing Primary Species Occurrence Data

Legacy data Natural History CollectionsCulture collectionsObservational species occurrence databases

Ongoing data acquisition (new data)Collections – New materialObservational species occurrence databases

THE DIGIT PROGRAM UNIVERSE

Record types: Occurrence data based on specimens, vouchers, images, recordings, observations (initial focus on specimens and physical vouchers); the authority files that are necessary to integrate and use this data

Taxonomic coverage: All groups covered by the Catalogue of Names (vertebrates, invertebrates, protists, fungi, lichens, algae, non-vascular plants, vascular plants, bacteria, viruses)

Geographic extent: Global

Temporal extent: All (with emphasis on scientific value)

DIGIT Work Program: Short-Medium Term Goals

To facilitate access to data associated with the specimens in

the world’s natural history collections

To identify efficient and cost effective ways to organize and

accelerate the specimen digitization process

To facilitate the repatriation of specimen data from the

developed to the developing world

To facilitate the advancement of biodiversity science through

improved access to specimen data

DIGIT - Key Action Areas: Short and Medium Term

Develop preliminary baseline estimates of the current status of the global digitization effort

Complete a comparative review of existing collection management and data capture software solutions and approaches

Review current digitization efforts with the goal of documenting best practices, cost effective solutions and identifying most efficient practices for data capture and geo-referencing.

DIGIT - Key Action Areas: Short and Medium Term

Develop a web enabled “Best Practices for Specimen Digitization Handbook”

Support efforts to make selected existing specimen databases internet accessible

Through partnerships initiate new digitization projects with the goal of accelerating the digitization effort

DIGIT – Partners

Commitment to share the product data sets

Commitment to the long term maintenance of the

product data sets

Commitment to improve data quality through time

Commitment to the development, adoption and use

of community based standards

Standards

Interoperability – DADI, ECAT Observational data Implementation

Software developers (Turnkey Solutions) Legacy data versus new data

Next generation of curatorsNext generation of collectorsNext generation of end users

Outreach; Capacity Building; Training; - OCB

DIGIT Budget, 2003

Baseline estimates of current status of global digitization efforts

Experts meeting to develop “Best Practices Handbook”

“Best Practices Handbook” - production and dissemination

Seed money to initiate of new digitization efforts and improve the quality and availability of existing databases

$40,000

$20,000

$10,000

$750,000

TOTAL $820,000

DIGIT Budget 2003

Develop preliminary baseline estimates of the current status of the global digitization effort 5%

Experts Meeting to develop Best Practices Handbook 2.5%

Develop Best Practices Handbook - Design and Layout 1.25%

Seed money to initiate new digitization efforts and improve the quality and availability of existing databases 91.25%

DIGIT Funding Guidelines 2003

Funding priorities to be developed through consultative process

Proposal review process to be as open as possible

Seed money - provide grants of up to 20% of the total project cost - to a maximum of $50,000 US

Globally 15 - 25 projects

Characteristics of Projects (Examples)

Projects that will result in rapid progress

Projects with a high probability of success

Projects with high scientific or economic impact

Projects that have a high potential for capacity building

DIGIT Funding Process

Experts Workshop Brazil - Oct. 19 - Define Preliminary Selection Criteria

Community Discussion of Identified Criteria - GBIF CIRCA Server

Identified Criteria Sent to DIGIT Science Sub-Committee for Review

GBIF Secretariat to develop guidelines for RFP process - Nov. 2002

Request For Proposals - Jan. 2003

Proposal Selection Committee - Feb. 2003

Funding - 1st quarter 2003

Preliminary results - 4th quarter 2003

DIGIT Funding Process

Experts Workshop Brazil - Oct. 19 - Define Preliminary Selection Criteria

Priorities for Digitization of Natural History Collections Workshop Agenda

18:00 - 19:00

19:00 - 19:30

19:30 - 20:45

20:45 - 21:45

21:45 - 22:00

Pre-meeting Working Luncheon Vick Restaurant

Introduction – Definition of Objectives

Breakout groups (10 -15 participants)

Plenary – Presentation of Group Summaries

Plenary Discussion

DIGIT Funding Process

Experts Workshop Brazil - Oct. 19 - Define Preliminary Selection Criteria

Potential for leveraging additional funds

Efficiency (Estimated cost/per specimen)

Potential for developing and testing new and innovative approaches to data capture, geo-referencing or data set management

Potential for rapid results

Potential for capacity building

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ConnectivityConnectivityComputational CapacitiesComputational Capacities

What is needed?What is needed?

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