Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
Activities of theETI Biodiversity Center
Amsterdam, Campinas, Concepcion, London, Montevideo, St.Peterburg
Peter H. SchalkETI Biodiversity Center
University of [email protected]
A case example
1990 - 2002
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
Needs in the taxonomic and biodiversity community
Needs formulated by UNESCO, UNEP, CBD, GBIF:- taxonomic impediment: need for a new (ICT) momentum- growing demand for taxonomic/biodiversity information: more output - biodiversity documentation needs global collaboration (incl. Dev. Countr.)- scientific resources worldwide accessible (N-S balance)
An answer (1989):
- ETI Biodiversity Center set up by UNESCO in 1989- located at the University of Amsterdam with support of Dutch Government- an R&D organization by and for taxonomists & biodiversity researchers- new mechanism to document the earth’s biological diversity- knowledge center for biodiversity informatics- not-for profit e-publishing organization to increase accessibility of info
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
The ETI Biodiversity Center is a NGO in operational relations with UNESCO, dedicated to the production of scientific and educational computer-based materials for the preservation and worldwide dissemination of knowledge concerning the world’s plants, animals and other organisms. Its mission is to improve quality, quantity and accessibility of crucial taxonomic and biodiversity information.
ETI acts as a commonly shared gateway between knowledge providers (taxonomists, ecologists, biodiversity specialists) and a broad range of user communities: science, education, policy, eco-management, society (e.g. awareness).
It facilitates an interactive process of data sharing and compilation between specialists in all regions of the world and stimulates an information flow from academia to society.
Mission
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
• to develop software tools for taxonomists and biodiversity researchers, to store, manage, exchange, compile and disseminate their knowledge (Linnaeus II, taxonomic databases, ‘wrapping’ tools, webpublishing tools).
• to stimulate and support international human resource networks of specialists, who, by using common (‘standard’) software tools, build computer based knowledge systems (ETI’s taxonomy networks cover approx 1,500 specialists worldwide).
• to facilitate worldwide distribution of up-to-date taxonomic and biodiversity knowledge systems by offering an electronic publishing service (on CD-ROM, DVD-ROM for stand alone use) and through the Internet (on-line access to all information). Currently some 90 CD-ROMs were published (some 50,000 users) and information on 230,000 taxa is available on-line.
• to provide training in the use of biodiversity informatics (courses).
ETI’s principle tasks
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
ETI’s user community:
A. The taxonomists & biodiversity specialists. Knowledge Providers- developers of ICT instruments for data management and analysis- technical assistance to implement and use ICT tools- mechanism for making knowledge widely available (e-publishing)
B. The users of taxonomic and biodiversity information. ‘Society’- science (pure and applied)- education (various levels)- government: policy and management- commerce/industry- laymen/society in general
informationproviders
informationappliersE
T I
Information flowInformation flow
ICT tools/support Feedback/needs
User community A User community B
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
Assessing user needs for informatics appications is of prime importance.
- international workshop identifying requirements of the user community - develop desired tools / mechanisms in order of priorities- prototypes tested with selected user group for feedback from the field- once in use: continued adjustments of tools and mechanisms to standards- outreach: make services widely known and available
Maintaining the tool: keep your promises!
- Keep in touch: continuous feedback from largest possible user group - prioritize suggestions for improvements, step by step development- modular approach in upgrading tool/mechanism (replace parts, not whole)- warrant downward compatibility with older software versions (small steps)-warrant future availability and upgrades (commitment of developer)- provide help desk and training if needed
Lin
naeus
II
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
What did/does the provider/user require in ETI’s case?
-a reliable easy to use data entry and management system that supports building taxonomic monographs, capable of continuous extending/updating information content, capable of easily exchanging data with colleagues (through Internet) and between different platforms (Windows, Macintosh), flexible enough to cater for personal needs (customizing) and suitable as (electronic) publication medium.
- Furthermore: security (data protection, technical support), tool independence (import/export), freedom of publishing/disseminating when wanted (no copyright restrictions for data use).
- Also: a (subsidized, warranted) electronic publication service, off-line and on-line possibilities, speedy handling of finalized content (visible output).
- Acknowledgement and where possible some degree of financial return from resulting information products.
Lin
naeu
s II
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
Users needs for the resulting knowledge products (client side)
- Reliable easy to use systems- Off-line AND on-line output- Quality information of respectable source- Data rich (broad scope) information products- Broad application in different fields of use- Regular updates of information contents- Helpdesk for technical support- Affordable (low) prices
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
The result (part 1: off line tool):
A multifunctional interactive software package that combines taxonomic (multimedia) databases, hierarchies, literature database, glossary, method section, computer assisted identification tools and a geographic information system in one standard system. Import/export functions warrant communication with other database and information systems.
ID 3 pict.key
ID 1 d.key
ID 2GIS MapIt
TimeIt
GlossaryReferencesMultimedia
Species Database
Multimedia Higher Taxa Database
taxa list
Navigator & program info
USER
intro section
contrib. section
help function
Institute info
ID 2 IdIt key
free text search
Linnaeus II
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
ETI Partner program individual specialists (some 1,500)
ETI Network program grouped specialists (taxon/region)
ETI Member program institutional co-operation
ETI Branch program national/regional node (5)
ETI Biodiversity Center:Development ICT tools, technical supportHelpdesk, network co-ordinationPublication service, IPR,
CD-ROMs& Internet
Other users
SciencePublishers
The Mechanism
output
input
IPR
feed back
feed backroyalties information
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
GBIF EMBnet ETI branches sp2000
Validated taxon names
Synonyms, descriptions, illustrations, maps
On-lineLinks to other db’s
ETI’s WorldBiodiversityDatabase2002: 230,000Taxa on-line
Name findertool
00
Taxonomicviews & search
Taxonomistsdatabase
3,500specialists
GeographicSearch tool
ModularIdentification
tool
04020199
GIS
The result (part 2: on line tool): Linnaeus III
WWW.ETI.UVA.NL
03
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
Linnaeus IISoftware For data Management
Experts’ ownLinnaeus II WPWeb Site
Import & export
Linnaeus IIRun-Time
ETI’s WorldBiodiversity Database2002: 230,000 taxa on-line
UsersDb’s
The Internet
Linnaeus IISoftware For WebPublishing
Lin IIWebSite
Species2000
The result (part 3: user independence)
Linnaeus III
GBIF
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing KnowledgeWhat was achieved?
- The Linnaeus II software is globaly accepted. The user community (ETI partner network, ±1,600) is still growing. Linnaeus II on-line ‘underway’
- The software is “stable”, flexible, cross platform, and allows for importing and exporting data thus making the user ‘independent’.
- Continuous feedback warrants timely ‘upgrading’ and extented functionality. Eg: a web publishing tool wil be added to Linnaeus II.
- Successful e-publication program: the output of ETI since 1994 is some 90 CD-ROMs titles. There is a warranty to keep them accessible (updates).
- The information is also (freely) available on-line (230,000 taxa in database part, remainder (keys, maps) to follow in 2002 and 2004).
- The author (knowledge provider) receives a royalty percentage from sales of the produced CD-ROMs.
Biodiversity Informatics: Sharing Knowledge
Advantages of ETI approach
Fully user community drivenBroad ‘consensus’ for software package by using feedbackSteady growth of information contentHigh quality information by tapping directly into the sourceBroadly applicable of data (descriptions, hierarchies, keys, biogeography)Multimedia data: attractive and useful for a large ‘audience’Visible product output is important for contributor (citing)
Disadvantages:
Unstructured data delivery and thus incomplete filling of main databaseUncontrolled product output (volume, content)Relative slow increase in number of taxa due to complexity of dataPotential for overflow of organisation (increasing data influx)Need for funding to support R&D component