A New EMu Users Perspective

2. A New EMu Users Perspective David Smith Petrology Curator Mineralogy EMu Implementation Team Leader European KE EMu Users Group Meeting 10-11th April 2006

3. Recrystallisation of Mineralogy Collections Databasing David Smith European KE EMu Users Group Meeting 10-11th April 2006

4. 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.

5. Jan - Mar Jul - Sep Apr - Jun Jul - Sep Apr - Jun Jan - Mar Oct - Dec Jul - Sep Apr - Jun Jan - Mar Oct - Dec Oct - Dec Programme Delivery Timeline 2005 2006 2007 Mineralogy Entomology Palaeontology Zoology Botany Note: this timeline is strictly for illustration purposes and changes are likely to occur as the programme unfolds.

6. 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)

7. Supporting datasets Specimen datasets Analytical datasets Mineralogy B.E. (Before EMu) • Taxonomy Lists • Mineral Name • Rock Name • Soil Name • Specimen • Specimen Name • Specimen No. • Field/ Other No. • NHM Types • Mineral Name • Specimen No. • Loans • Specimen No. • Borrowers Name • Organisation n.b. 5 independent datasets

8. Supporting datasets Specimen datasets Analytical datasets Mineralogy B.E. (Before EMu) • Taxonomy Lists • Mineral Name • Rock Name • Soil Name • X-ray diffraction • Specimen No. • Field/ Other No. • Specimen • Specimen Name • Specimen No. • Field/ Other No. • NHM Types • Mineral Name • Specimen No. • Infra-Red Spec. • Specimen No. • Field/ Other No. • Loans • Specimen No. • Borrowers Name • Organisation • Preparation • Specimen No. • Field/ Other No. n.b. 5 independent datasets

9. 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!

10. 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

11. Esquel, pallasite

12. 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

13. 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

14. Manage names • Manage name changes (classification or determination)

15. Principal Principal Secondary Secondary Pyrite Quartz Gold Quartz Newminite Manage names Catalogue Module Analysis Module Analysis

16. Principal Principal Secondary Secondary Pyrite Gold Quartz Quartz Gold Quartz Newminite Manage names Catalogue Module Analysis Module Analysis Analysis 2

17. Principal Principal Secondary Secondary Gold Gold ‘Newminite’ Gold Quartz Quartz Quartz Pyrite ‘Newminite’ Quartz ‘Newminite’ Manage names Catalogue Module Analysis Module Analysis Analysis 2

18. Specimen Management

19. Meteorite Fragmentation Parent Event 2 Event 1 80g 10g 2g 5g 1g On loan section Audit history 100 80, 10, 5 80, 10, 2, 1, P.1234 Effective specimen management 100g 5g lost to research

20. 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>

21. Resources Tools  Resources

22. 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 !!

23. 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.

24. Resources: Georeferencing Malham Cove

25. Resources Canyon Diablo meteorite Over 30 tonnes of fragments found since its discovery in 1891 in the vicinity of Meteor Crater, Arizona, USA. Where….?

26. Resources: Google Maps 500m

27. Vanadanite

28. 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

29. Enhancement of specimens by research

30. BEFORE Simple, dispersed datasets with weak bonds (theoretical only) DURING Dissolve/break-down to small components (fields and data types) AFTER Recrystallise in more integrated, cohesive structure Conclusion

31. Questions?