Work Package 5

Internet Platform for Cybertaxonomy

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

What is a platform ?

• wikipedia:– The word platform is used in several

different contexts, usually referring to some kind of standing surface used to support things, give them stability, or visibility

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

What is Cybertaxonomy?

• Cyber (in wikipedia)– Cyber was a range of mainframe

computers manufactured by Control Data Corporation.

– Cyber is used to refer to the cyber subculture as a whole, or specifically to its people, music or fashion.

– Cyber is a Marvel comics supervillain. – Cyber is a prefix stemming from

cybernetics and loosely meaning through the use of a computer.

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

An Internet Platform for Cybertaxonomy

• Using biodiversity informatics techniques to support, give stability and provide visibility for taxonomy

• Aim: increase the efficiency of the taxonomic work process

• Target user community: taxonomists

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

Will we tell taxonomists what they need?

No But will taxonomists tell us?We will establish an interactive

communication process between actual taxonomic practice and the platform team

(We might tell taxonomists what other taxonomists do)

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

The 4 pillars of the interactive process

• Biodiversity informatics– Was developed from inside our community– Teams of biologists and information scientists

• Modelling– Using standard informatics approaches to

analyse work processes, data flows, etc. (human and machine)

• Guinea pigs– Within WP5, in WP 6 and 7

• Drawing on the experience of our I&IT departments

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

An Internet Platform for Cybertaxonomy

• Medium-term development of a stable computing platform serving taxonomists

• Components: Software / services for taxonomists– WP5 to identify, test, document, adapt,

stabilise, and certify existing products– Development of new software and services

only where necessary– Integration and enabling of IT departments

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

An Internet Platform for Cybertaxonomy

Examples for software and services– Tools for key generation and descriptions– Camera ready distribution maps– Bibliography access specifically for taxonomists

• Lists of titles, digital access to original publications, etc.

– Digital specimen access specifically for taxonomists

• Downloads, Itineraries, Label-text search, handwritings

– Group collaboration tools for taxonomists

• Priorities defined in the modelling process, continuously re-defined

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

An interactive process: action

First 12 months, start of – I&IT Department analysis & inventory at INRA: M4– Modelling task at RBG Kew, Revisionary Taxonomy:

M4– Modelling task at NMNH Budapest: ATBI+M: (M8)– Harmonisation task at BGBM Berlin-Dahlem (M6)– Developer group lead (1/2) at BGBM: (M7) + in-kind– Taxonomic tool analysis at IBSAS Bratislava (M8)– Geographic tool analysis at MNCN Madrid and

RMCA Tervuren (M5)– Access to bibliography at NHM London (M7)– Establish close linkage with WP6, WP7, and WP3

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

An interactive process

• Year 1– Internet platform becomes visible

• Year 2– Developer team at work at RBG Kew,

SMN Stuttgart, and BGBM Berlin-Dahlem– WP6 and 7 provide continuous feedback

from Initial target taxa and I+M teams– Internet platform starts to become useful

for taxonomists inside and beyond the project

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

What is Cybertaxonomy?

• Cyber (in wikipedia)– Cyber was a range of mainframe computers

manufactured by Control Data Corporation. – Cyber is used to refer to the cyber subculture as

a whole, or specifically to its people, music or fashion.

– Cyber is a Marvel comics supervillain. – Cyber is a prefix stemming from cybernetics and

loosely meaning through the use of a computer. See Cyberspace, Cyberitis and Cybersex.

Thank you

WP 5

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

5.1.1. Liaison with BoD

• Start May• Responsible partner: Copenhagen• Not immediately necessary because

presently WGB representing BGBM in BoD

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

5.1.2 – Documentation of IT & I

• “Document the internal decision making structures, the internal provisions and rules for - equipment and software, and existing resources in collaborating Informatics & IT departments”

• Responsible partner: INRA • Planned start: Mai • Meeting in Berlin May 30-31, test documentation• First Deliverable (Documentation of hardware &

software resources) due Oct. 30, 2006

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

5.2.1 - Modelling the work process for Revisionary Taxonomy

• Responsible partner: Kew• Planned start: May• Workshop in Berlin in December• Further discussion of (IT) methods

since• Delay due to staffing; start 1. July• First deliverable: Nov. 30, 2006

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

5.1.3 - Informatics Committee

• “Setting up an I. C. to facilitate the dialogue and collaboration between Informatics & IT departments and deal with issues such as definition of platform environment, certification of components, and future workplans”

• Responsible partner: BGBM Berlin, supported by IBSAS

• Participating partners: all others• Planned start: May• Organisation: “Harmonisation coordinator” to be

hired in Berlin, together with Developer group lead• First milestone: Preliminary Informatics Committee

constituted and first meeting held: July 31, 2006; may be delayed.

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

5.1.4. Harmonisation

• “Management & coordination of the Workpackage, liaison and integration with other WPs”

• Responsible partner: BGBM Berlin• Planned start: May• Will start with Harmonisation Coordinator

hired• First milestone: Preliminary harmonisation

structure established: July 30, 2006

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

5.3 Virtual Library of Taxonomic Literature and Documentation

• Responsible partners: NHM und HNHM

• Start immediately with small personnel allocations

• Liaison with Biodiversity Heritage Library project

• Initiating a EU project• First deliverable Feb. 28, 2007

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

5.4. Geographical platform components

• Responsible partner: Madrid, Tervuren

• Start immediately with small personnel allocations

• First deliverables Nov. 30, 2006 and Feb. 28, 2007

• May be delayed due to missing contract

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

WP 5 Personnel 2006

• Personnel– IT&I documenter at INRA: Franck Dorkeld – Modeller at Kew (Rev. Taxonomy): Dave Taylor – Harmonisation coordinator in Berlin: Malte Ebach

(1st August) – [Developer group lead in Berlin: Markus Döring]

– Administrative assistant in Berlin: Agnes Kirchhoff

– ATBI+M modeller at Budapest: Sept. 2006– Taxonomic application checker at Bratislava:

August 2006

EDIT Kickoff Meeting, Paris, 28 June 2006

WP 5

WP 5 May-June 2006

• Liaison and coordination– WP Leader meeting in Munich– Fixing tasks for WP3– Modelling for Inventories & Monitoring:

meeting with WP7 May 24/25 in Stuttgart– Geographical tasks: Meeting with Madrid team

May 31 in Madrid– Meeting of Kew modeller with WP6 members at

NHM & BGBM– Meeting with WP6 lead before kick-off meeting– Start of Documentation task