Abstract Detail

Biodiversity Research Collecting Is More Important Than Ever—Ushering in a Collecting Renaissance

Powell, Caleb [1], Motley, Jacob [2], Shaw, Joey [3].

Expediting Specimen Label Creation and Record Transcription Using Born-Digital Field Notes.

Large-scale digitization of natural history collections is making biodiversity data more accessible than ever, yet the process of preparing these data for digital dissemination remains challenging and time consuming. As the methods for accessing and using these data become increasingly digital, so too can the methods for recording and preparing them. Traditionally collectors organize associated specimen data (e.g., date, location, phenology) on physical labels which must then be transcribed into discrete categories during digitization. Label transcription is labor intensive and often performed by technicians who were not present during the collection event. In many cases, resource limitations restrict the data which can be transcribed to an incomplete subset of fields, making so-called “skeletal records.” Initially organizing field notes in digital formats enables collectors to efficiently prepare rich specimen labels which are immediately ready for digital dissemination. Here, we demonstrate how such born-digital methods can expedite specimen label creation and ensure the associated data is accurately and completely represented in the digital record.

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1 - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Biology, Geology and Environmental Science, 615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN, 37412, US
2 - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Computer Science and Engineering, 615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN, 37412, US
3 - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT CHATTANOOGA, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY, GEOLOGY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, Dept 2653, 615 Mccallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN, 37403, United States

Keywords:
born-digital
Digitization
biodiversity specimens
data integration
natural history.

Presentation Type: Symposium Presentation
Session: SY2, Biodiversity Research Collecting Is More Important Than Ever—Ushering in a Collecting Renaissance
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Tuesday, July 28th, 2020
Time: 1:00 PM
Number: SY2007
Abstract ID:710
Candidate for Awards:None