IBF Diversity Workbench and Data Repository

The tasks of the working group "IBF Diversity Workbench and Data Repository" are mainyl twofold. First, they comprise the set up and enhancements of the database framework [Diversity Workbench http://www.diversityworkbench.net] with its currently 12 components. Diversity Workbench represents a modularized system for multiple scientific purposes concerning analysis and management of biological data, e. g. collection data, observation data, descriptive and ecological data, taxonomy, taxon-mediated checklist data, ecological plots, images and literature data. It is thereby flexible enough to build the software backbone for long-term institutional data repositories for biological data. Components optimized in the IBF context are DiversityCollection, DiversityTaxonNames, DiversityProjects, DiversityUsers, DiversityAgents and DiversitySamplingPlots with GIS functionality.

A large number of biodiversity research projects depend on field mapping and ecological data of high quality. Therefore it is necessary to link data sets gathered in the field to a verified backbone information from major biological, taxonomic or environmental data sources, e.g., lists of taxonomic names. Further on, there is a need to link additional information like Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates and multimedia information, such as images or sound, at the time of data gathering. A seamless and transparent flow of data from the field to a central data storage system which may simultaneously be used by several participants is a necessity. “Seamless” in this sense means that data are available as stored datasets shortly after gathering; and “transparent” in the sense that every operation applied to data can be traced back ("data provenance"). For these core requirements, the Diversity Workbench includes a mobile application used to gather biological research data in the field that enables the dataflow to the data repository. For a further consistent data flow it is crucial that the database is set up at an institutional data repository which acts as GBIF data provider like the IT Center of the Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns. There the GUID is connected with a persistent Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). The latter is published and accessed by global networks like GBIF.

services for biologist involved in the project downloads of software releases protocols, working procedutes

service for software developpers Feedback

storage of schemata?

software repository **** administration of source code

The tasks of IBF Diversity Workbench and Data repository are institutional. Storage od multimedia data

institutional data provider with permanent identifiers

software repository / download

data repository

project management administration after the end of the project keep running of Wiki software

Scientists in this workpackage: D. Neubacher, W. Reichert, Dr. D. Triebel, Dr. M. Weiss

IBF Diversity Workbench - Internal Sites