A New EMu Users PerspectiveDavid Smith

Petrology CuratorMineralogy EMu Implementation Team Leader

European KE EMu Users Group Meeting 10-11th April 2006

Recrystallisation of Mineralogy Collections DatabasingDavid Smith

European KE EMu Users Group Meeting 10-11th April 2006

Introduction

• Variations in CM databases and databasing.

• Old unsupported systems.

• Raise and set standards in collections management to common level.

• Requirement for MLA accreditation to be SPECTRUM compliant.

Programme Delivery Timeline

Oct - DecJan - MarApr - JunJul - SepOct - DecJan - MarApr - JunJul - Sep Jan - MarApr - JunJul - SepOct - Dec

MineralogyMineralogy

EntomologyEntomology

PalaeontologyPalaeontology

ZoologyZoology

BotanyBotany

2005 2006 2007

Note: this timeline is strictly for illustration purposes and changes are likely to occur as the programme unfolds.

Where were we before EMu?

• 18 disparate datasets

• Flat-file format

• Repetition of data

• No validation

– inconsistencies within & between datasets

• Not networked

– Limited access

• Limitations to managing data and samples (inefficiency & costs)

Mineralogy B.E. (Before EMu)

Supporting datasetsSpecimen datasetsAnalytical datasets

Taxonomy Lists-Mineral Name-Rock Name-Soil Name

NHM Types-Mineral Name-Specimen No.

Loans-Specimen No.-Borrowers Name-Organisation

Specimen-Specimen Name-Specimen No.-Field/ Other No.

n.b. 5 independent datasets

Mineralogy B.E. (Before EMu)

Supporting datasetsSpecimen datasetsAnalytical datasets

Taxonomy Lists-Mineral Name-Rock Name-Soil Name

NHM Types-Mineral Name-Specimen No.

Loans-Specimen No.-Borrowers Name-Organisation

Specimen-Specimen Name-Specimen No.-Field/ Other No.

X-ray diffraction-Specimen No.-Field/ Other No.

Infra-Red Spec.-Specimen No.-Field/ Other No.

Preparation-Specimen No.-Field/ Other No.n.b. 5 independent

datasets

Major decisions & why?

• Mineral Taxonomy

– one of few museums researching pure mineral systematics

– preserve and manage name changes

– reorganise systematic storage & display order

• Analytical Processes

– Efficient feedback of re-determinations & enhancement

• Preparations

– sub-samples managed as per parent

– were created without curatorial knowledge

• Look-up lists (e.g. USGS)- international standards!

Top Tips

• Familiarisation with the product

– Navigation & querying

– Attachment process

– Nested grids

• Document all decisions

• Ensure mapping document kept up to date

– Clarity over who has control

• Summaries aid the checking process

Esquel, pallasite

What have been (will be) the benefits?

• Department

– Integration

– Access

• Collections Management

– One stop shop for specimen info. & transactions

– Improvement to quality, accuracy and detail of collection data

– Better handle on the use of collections

– Improvement to the service – more professional

– Potential to efficiently & accurately report meaningful KPI’s

What can we do now?

• Manage name changes (re-classification or re-identification)

• Manage specimen preparations in association with parent

• Manage meteorite fragments in association with parent

• Link to external resources

Manage names

• Manage name changes (classification or determination)

Manage names

PrincipalSecondary PrincipalSecondary

Pyrite Quartz GoldQuartz

Newminite

Analysis

Catalogue Module Analysis Module

Manage names

PrincipalSecondary PrincipalSecondary

Pyrite Quartz GoldQuartz

Newminite

Gold Quartz

Analysis

Analysis 2

Catalogue Module Analysis Module

Manage names

PrincipalSecondary PrincipalSecondary

Gold Quartz PyriteQuartz

‘Newminite’

Gold Quartz

‘Newminite’Gold

Quartz‘Newminite’

Analysis

Analysis 2

Catalogue Module Analysis Module

Specimen Management

Effective specimen management

Meteorite Fragmentation

Parent Event 1 Event 2

100g 80g

10g

5g 2g

1g

sectionOn loan

Audit history 10080, 10, 580, 10, 2, 1, P.1234

5g lost to research

Resources

• Available with EMu version 3.1

• Entry in registry

<resource> <location> <if column="ClaSpecies" filled="yes"> <text>http://www.mindat.org/search.php?minname=</text> <value column="ClaSpecies" format="url" /> </if> </location></resource>

Resources

Tools Resources

Resources: Benefits

• Capability to link to a wealth of information on the web that would ordinarily be impossible to include in a database.

• Remove costs of institute maintaining data

• Check accuracy of data from authorities in the field

– Mindat.org

– Meteoritical Bulletin

• Georeference our data

• Nb. Be careful !!

Resources: Georeferencing

• Process of converting text descriptions of locations to computer-readable geographic locations.

• Particularly important for biodiversity studies with a view to bio-conservation and land management.

Resources: Georeferencing

Malham Cove

Resources

Canyon Diablo meteorite

Over 30 tonnes of fragments found since its discovery in 1891 in the vicinity of Meteor Crater, Arizona, USA.

Where….?

Resources: Google Maps

500m

Vanadanite

What are our priorities?

• Training

– 2 hour initial introductory training

– Development of user group specific training

• Data cleansing

• Reports

• Deliver to the web

• Encouraging researchers to use system

– Data preservation at early stage

– Enhancement of collections information

– Adds context

Enhancement of specimens by research

Mg Al Si K Ca Ti Mn Fe Total14.22 16.89 33.72 4.08 0.54 0.19 10.13 79.7714.26 17.21 34.8 4 0.5 0.26 9.99 81.0314.08 16.99 34.49 4.27 0.35 0.29 9.7 80.18

9.23 23.79 1.6 6.13 0.12 40.8713.72 17.27 33.67 4.17 0.66 0.17 9.7 79.3714.32 17.15 34.02 3.95 0.53 0.21 10.09 80.27

Conclusion

BEFORESimple, dispersed datasets with weak bonds (theoretical only)

AFTERRecrystallise in more integrated, cohesive structure

DURINGDissolve/break-down to small components (fields and data types)

Questions?