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

2. Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe 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. Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe Definition: Biological Collection l 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)

4. Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe “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. 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 (BioCISE project 1997 – 1999) 3. Demonstration projects, showing partial implementation of The BioCISE 4. Common access to biological collection information

6. Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe Results of the CDEFD project l 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").

7. Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe Resource identification phase l 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 BioCISE Rapport and communication via WWW

8. Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe Collection data resources (survey) l 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

9. 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

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

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

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

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

14. Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe Geographic integration of biodiversity information Queries Environmental Centres Plants survey and collection information 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

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

16. Resource Identification for a Biological Collection Information Service in Europe Technology transfer Queries Laboratories with non- computerised inventory Laboratories with non- inventoried collection Laboratories with databased inventory Output Retrieval of collection information online accessible data Information System

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

18. 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