An introduction to the BioCISE project

1
An introduction to the BioCISE project

• Walter G. Berendsohn Botanical Garden and
  Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem Free University
  of Berlin

2
BioCISE 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.

3
Definition Biological Collection

• Data collections (mapping, survey and monitoring
  projects)
• Natural history collections (mainly in museums
  and universities)
• Living collections (e.g. botanical and zoological
  gardens, microbial strain collections)

4
The BioCISE

• The Biological Collection Information Service
  (The BioCISE) will be an interface between
  holders of biological collections (information
  providers) and users seeking access to
  information on specimens or observations (units).

5
Phases of the general project

• 1. Data structure research and modelling (CDEFD
  project 1993 1996)
• 2. Resource identification (survey)
  anddevelopment of project proposals (BioCISE
  project 1997 1999)
• 3. Demonstration projects, showing partial
  implementation of The BioCISE
• 4. Common access to biological collection
  information

6
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.
• The resulting information model covers all core
  aspects relevant to the management of physical
  objects and field records (the "unit-concept").

7
Resource identification phase

• Collect and publish information on collection
  data resources and on biodiversity informatics
  expertise
• Identify user needs
• Build partnerships and formulate proposals
  leading to the implementation of The BioCISE
• Rapport and communication via WWW

8
Collection data resources (survey)

• Data resources must refer to collection objects
  and/or observations
• Fluid boundary to Taxonomic (Species) Information
  and Environmental Information
• Electronic inventory must be present or in the
  making, or existing catalogue must lend itself to
  digitisation

9
Biodiversity informatics expertise

• Catalogue (with their consent)
• Persons
• Companies
• Institutions
• with know-how in the implementation of biological
  collection information systems

10
The Users side of The BioCISE

• Who needs The BioCISE
• What use can be made of a BioCISE
• Data quality and standardisation requirements
• Information access (IPR, free access)
• User interface (queries and output)

11
Project proposals

• Liaison with existing organisations and
  initiatives essential fill in the gaps
• Opportunities
• 5th Framework programme of the EC
• OECD Megascience Forum, Global Biodiversity
  Informatics Facility
• Several national initiatives
• Instigate consortia and aid in the formulation of
  projects.

12
Possible project areas

• 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

13
Integration of information within a systematic or
thematic sub-discipline
Queries
Collection Data

• Output
• Retrieval of collection information (unit
  related)
• Species- oriented geographical and multimedia
  information
• Integrated information

Observation Data
Information System

• Taxonomic and species oriented information
• Checklists and monographs
• Sound-Files, Photos, Slides, Films
• Data on migration

14
Geographic integration of biodiversity information
Queries
Invertebrates survey and collection information

• Output
• Retrieval of
• information on co-occurence of species
• information on correlations between species and
  environmental parameters
• distribution maps
• collection information (unit related)

Information System
Environmental Centres

• Plants
• survey and collection information

15
The metadata-driven BioCISE
Queries
Natural history museums
National Information System
Projects
Collection Information ServiceSystem
Surveycentres
National network

• Output
• Information on
• laboratories
• projects
• persons
• (protected)areas
• units

Natural history museums
Thematic Information System
Projects
Survey centres
International, national or regional network
Naturalhistory museums
Projects
Survey centres
16
Technology transfer
Queries

Laboratories with databased inventory

• Output
• Retrieval of collection information
• online accessible data

Laboratories with non-computerised inventory
Information System
Laboratories with non-inventoried collection
17
Co-operation of different-sized laboratories
Queries

Small, highly specialized collection or survey

• Output
• Retrieval of collection information
• online accessible data

Local museum collection or local survey
Information System
Large-scale taxonomic facility
18
Providers benefits

• Providing information
• is part of the mission of research collections
• may be a commercial service in itself
• helps in the sale of objects (if any for sale)
• may foster co-operation, division of labour,
  specialisation, and planning in general
• joint organisation of administrative tasks