Abstract Detail

Building a High-Resolution, Specimen-Based Picture of Life: Possibilities and Challenges

Rios, Nelson [1], Bart, Henry [1].

Georeferencing Natural History Collections Data: The GEOLocate Project.

Over 2.5 billion biological specimens are archived in the world's natural history museums and herbaria. Major efforts are ongoing to digitize and georeference the data associated with these collections. The GEOLocate project is an effort to develop a suite of software and services for automated georeferencing of natural history collections data. Since 2002, the project has been responsible for the release of a desktop application, a framework for collaborative georeferencing, a web based application and georeferencing & validation services to facilitate direct integration with collection digitization efforts. Within the past year, version 2 of the web services for georeferencing have been released and include greater results metadata, improved ranking & filtering of results, georeferencing language selection (English, Spanish, Catalan, Basque or Galician), determination of uncertainty radii as defined by the GBIF Best Practices for Georeferencing, and determination of uncertainty polygons. We have also included a service to retrieve results from alternative georeferencing methods, such as Biogeomancer, and pass those results back to clients in a single standardized GEOLocate response format. This presentation will provide an overview of integrating these services, the GEOLocate web application, and an evaluation of the applicability of uncertainty assessment methods.

Broader Impacts:

Related Links:
The GEOLocate Project

1 - Tulane University, Museum of Natural History, 3705 Main St., Belle Chasse, LA, 70037, USA

Keywords:
georeferencing
geolocate
natural history data
digitization.

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: SY11
Location: Franklin A/Hyatt
Date: Wednesday, July 11th, 2012
Time: 4:30 PM
Number: SY11012
Abstract ID:221