Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

GERNANDT , DAVID S [1], Melo Samper, Ubaldo [2], Pérez Castillo, Daniel [3], Giménez Héau, Joaquín [3].

Digitization of the National Herbarium of Mexico: data validation and error correction.

The National Herbarium of Mexico (MEXU) houses the largest collection of dried plants in Latin America. In the last 22 months, more than 500,000 vascular plant specimens have been photographed and have had their label data captured as part of a project financed by the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO). More than 150 families have been 100% digitized to date, the largest of which are Lamiaceae and Cactaceae. The digital collection platform used to manage specimen data is divided into four modules: capture, monitoring, error reporting, and quality control. The capture interface permits direct entry of specimen data without requiring the use of catalogs. The monitoring interface permits the project supervisor to monitor the capture process in real time and detect systematic errors during capture. The error-reporting module permits the data entry technicians to report errors or incompatibilities in the specimen data to the project supervisor. The data validation module is divided into two processes. The first process validates structural quality, in which the data are compared to administrative, taxonomic, geographical, and curatorial catalogs. Assignment, omission, spelling, and systematic errors are corrected and documented. Registers with errors that cannot be resolved logically are flagged for quality control by a specialist. Latitude and longitude are specified on 37% of the specimens. 

1 - Instituto De Biologia, UNAM, Apartado Postal 70-233, Coyoacan, Mexico, N/A, 04510, Mexico
2 - Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior S/N Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico, DF, 04510, Mexico
3 - Coordinación de Colecciones Universitarias Digitales, Universidad Naci, Circuito exterior S/N Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico, DF, 04510, Mexico
4 - Coordinación de Colecciones Universitarias Digitales, Universidad Naci, Circuito exterior S/N Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico, DF, 04510, Mexico

Keywords:
Digitization
Herbarium
biodiversity.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Eyrie/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSY047
Abstract ID:799
Candidate for Awards:None