GUID-1 Workshop Welcome and Introduction Donald Hobern GBIF Program Officer for Data Access and Database Interoperability February 2006

GBIF and TDWG GBIF – Global Biodiversity Information Facility Megascience activity involving 42 countries/economies and 28 international organisations Secretariat based in Copenhagen, Denmark Mission Free and universal access to world’s biodiversity data via Internet Sharing primary biodiversity data for society, science and a sustainable future Products Registry of biodiversity data resources Index of biodiversity data Software tools Web portals ( and data serviceshttp:// TDWG – Taxonomic Databases Working Group Not-for-profit scientific and educational association Affiliated to the International Union of Biological Sciences Mission To provide an international forum for biological data projects To develop and promote the use of standards To facilitate data exchange Products Standards/guidelines for recording/exchanging data about organisms Promotion of use of these standards Forum for discussion (especially annual meeting)

TDWG Globally Unique Identifiers Process  Survey of requirements: an open call for input from all areas of biodiversity informatics (using mailing lists and/or Wikis to support public discussion)  First workshop to review requirements, to evaluate candidate technologies and to establish working groups  Working groups to address identified tasks using mailing lists and/or Wikis to support public discussion and provide recommendations.  Second workshop to review working group recommendations and to define models and processes for initial implementation (mid-2006, location to be announced).  Publication of TDWG standards for GUIDs and an initial implementation of any associated services and support tools

Data navigation – robust links need GUIDs Specimen Catalogue Number Specimen Catalogue Number Specimen Catalogue Number Taxon Concept Name Taxon Concept Name Identified as Taxon Concept Name Publication Title, Year Publication Title, Year Publication Title, Year Synonymy Relationship Author Name Author Name Collector Name Collector Name Sequence Data Barcode Data Barcode Data Barcode Data Type material Identified as PDF XML Referenced material Character Data Character Data Character Data Type material

The question of identity ”Real World” ”Digital World” O1 M(D1) D1D2 M(D2) D1* M(D1*)M(D2)* is digital representation of is digital representation of is metadata describing is metadata describing is metadata describing is revision of Object or Event Which of these can be covered by the same identifier? I.e. which of these are the ”same” for a given purpose?

Example 1 – GUID identifies object or real-world event ”Real World” ”Digital World” O1 M(D1) D1D2 M(D2) D1* M(D1*)M(D2)* is digital representation of is digital representation of is metadata describing is metadata describing is metadata describing is revision of Object or Event Any representation of the object may receive the same GUID. Note that nothing ensures that the same GUID is always used for the object. Possible example: GUID for physical specimen GUID-1

Example 2 – GUID identifies digitisation event ”Real World” ”Digital World” O1 M(D1) D1D2 M(D2) D1* M(D1*)M(D2)* is digital representation of is digital representation of is metadata describing is metadata describing is metadata describing is revision of Object or Event Each digital representation of an object receives a separate GUID. ”Minor” corrections to a digital representation are ignored. Possible example: Different researchers digitise the same specimen and record different elements (Note that these differences could be regarded as variations in metadata) GUID-1GUID-2GUID-1 GUID-2

Example 3 – GUID identifies (fixed) digital object ”Real World” ”Digital World” O1 M(D1) D1D2 M(D2) D1* M(D1*)M(D2)* is digital representation of is digital representation of is metadata describing is metadata describing is metadata describing is revision of Object or Event Every version of the data receives its own identifier. Note that this does not preclude metadata indicating linkages between versions. Possible example: Gene sequence records GUID-1GUID-2GUID-3 GUID-1GUID-2

Thanks Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Funding for TDWG standards development National Evolutionary Science Center Funding and logistics for GUID Workshop 1