Work Package 5

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Work Package 5

• Internet Platform for Cybertaxonomy

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What is a platform ?

• wikipedia
• The word platform is used in several different
  contexts, usually referring to some kind of
  standing surface used to support things, give
  them stability, or visibility

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What is Cybertaxonomy?

• Cyber (in wikipedia)
• Cyber was a range of mainframe computers
  manufactured by Control Data Corporation.
• Cyber is used to refer to the cyber subculture as
  a whole, or specifically to its people, music or
  fashion.
• Cyber is a Marvel comics supervillain.
• Cyber is a prefix stemming from cybernetics and
  loosely meaning through the use of a computer.

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An Internet Platform for Cybertaxonomy

• Using biodiversity informatics techniques to
  support, give stability and provide visibility
  for taxonomy
• Aim increase the efficiency of the taxonomic
  work process
• Target user community taxonomists

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Will we tell taxonomists what they need?

• No
• But will taxonomists tell us?
• We will establish an interactive communication
  process between actual taxonomic practice and the
  platform team
• (We might tell taxonomists what other taxonomists
  do)

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The 4 pillars of the interactive process

• Biodiversity informatics
• Was developed from inside our community
• Teams of biologists and information scientists
• Modelling
• Using standard informatics approaches to analyse
  work processes, data flows, etc. (human and
  machine)
• Guinea pigs
• Within WP5, in WP 6 and 7
• Drawing on the experience of our IIT departments

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An Internet Platform for Cybertaxonomy

• Medium-term development of a stable computing
  platform serving taxonomists
• Components Software / services for taxonomists
• WP5 to identify, test, document, adapt,
  stabilise, and certify existing products
• Development of new software and services only
  where necessary
• Integration and enabling of IT departments

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An Internet Platform for Cybertaxonomy

• Examples for software and services
• Tools for key generation and descriptions
• Camera ready distribution maps
• Bibliography access specifically for taxonomists
• Lists of titles, digital access to original
  publications, etc.
• Digital specimen access specifically for
  taxonomists
• Downloads, Itineraries, Label-text search,
  handwritings
• Group collaboration tools for taxonomists
• Priorities defined in the modelling process,
  continuously re-defined

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An interactive process action

• First 12 months, start of
• IIT Department analysis inventory at INRA M4
• Modelling task at RBG Kew, Revisionary Taxonomy
  M4
• Modelling task at NMNH Budapest ATBIM (M8)
• Harmonisation task at BGBM Berlin-Dahlem (M6)
• Developer group lead (1/2) at BGBM (M7)
  in-kind
• Taxonomic tool analysis at IBSAS Bratislava (M8)
• Geographic tool analysis at MNCN Madrid and RMCA
  Tervuren (M5)
• Access to bibliography at NHM London (M7)
• Establish close linkage with WP6, WP7, and WP3

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An interactive process

• Year 1
• Internet platform becomes visible
• Year 2
• Developer team at work at RBG Kew, SMN Stuttgart,
  and BGBM Berlin-Dahlem
• WP6 and 7 provide continuous feedback from
  Initial target taxa and IM teams
• Internet platform starts to become useful for
  taxonomists inside and beyond the project

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What is Cybertaxonomy?

• Cyber (in wikipedia)
• Cyber was a range of mainframe computers
  manufactured by Control Data Corporation.
• Cyber is used to refer to the cyber subculture as
  a whole, or specifically to its people, music or
  fashion.
• Cyber is a Marvel comics supervillain.
• Cyber is a prefix stemming from cybernetics and
  loosely meaning through the use of a computer.
• See Cyberspace, Cyberitis and Cybersex.

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WP 5
Thank you
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5.1.1. Liaison with BoD

• Start May
• Responsible partner Copenhagen
• Not immediately necessary because presently WGB
  representing BGBM in BoD

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5.1.2 Documentation of IT I

• Document the internal decision making
  structures, the internal provisions and rules for
  - equipment and software, and existing resources
  in collaborating Informatics IT departments
• Responsible partner INRA
• Planned start Mai
• Meeting in Berlin May 30-31, test documentation
• First Deliverable (Documentation of hardware
  software resources) due Oct. 30, 2006

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5.2.1 - Modelling the work process for
Revisionary Taxonomy

• Responsible partner Kew
• Planned start May
• Workshop in Berlin in December
• Further discussion of (IT) methods since
• Delay due to staffing start 1. July
• First deliverable Nov. 30, 2006

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5.1.3 - Informatics Committee

• Setting up an I. C. to facilitate the dialogue
  and collaboration between Informatics IT
  departments and deal with issues such as
  definition of platform environment, certification
  of components, and future workplans
• Responsible partner BGBM Berlin, supported by
  IBSAS
• Participating partners all others
• Planned start May
• Organisation Harmonisation coordinator to be
  hired in Berlin, together with Developer group
  lead
• First milestone Preliminary Informatics
  Committee constituted and first meeting held
  July 31, 2006 may be delayed.

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5.1.4. Harmonisation

• Management coordination of the Workpackage,
  liaison and integration with other WPs
• Responsible partner BGBM Berlin
• Planned start May
• Will start with Harmonisation Coordinator hired
• First milestone Preliminary harmonisation
  structure established July 30, 2006

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5.3 Virtual Library of Taxonomic Literature and
Documentation

• Responsible partners NHM und HNHM
• Start immediately with small personnel
  allocations
• Liaison with Biodiversity Heritage Library
  project
• Initiating a EU project
• First deliverable Feb. 28, 2007

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5.4. Geographical platform components

• Responsible partner Madrid, Tervuren
• Start immediately with small personnel
  allocations
• First deliverables Nov. 30, 2006 and Feb. 28,
  2007
• May be delayed due to missing contract

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WP 5 Personnel 2006

• Personnel
• ITI documenter at INRA Franck Dorkeld ?
• Modeller at Kew (Rev. Taxonomy) Dave Taylor ?
• Harmonisation coordinator in Berlin Malte Ebach
  (1st August)
• Developer group lead in Berlin Markus Döring ?
• Administrative assistant in Berlin Agnes
  Kirchhoff ?
• ATBIM modeller at Budapest Sept. 2006
• Taxonomic application checker at Bratislava
  August 2006

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WP 5 May-June 2006

• Liaison and coordination
• WP Leader meeting in Munich
• Fixing tasks for WP3
• Modelling for Inventories Monitoring meeting
  with WP7 May 24/25 in Stuttgart
• Geographical tasks Meeting with Madrid team May
  31 in Madrid
• Meeting of Kew modeller with WP6 members at NHM
  BGBM
• Meeting with WP6 lead before kick-off meeting
• Start of Documentation task