From Plant Press, Vol. 3, No. 2, April 2000.
The United States National Herbarium is developing another tool to improve access to its fully inventoried collection of over 93,000 type specimens. Using state-of-the-art digital photography equipment, high-resolution images of individual type specimens have been generated. These images are being stored locally at present, but eventually will be placed on the Institution’s Image Archive server. As this project unfolds, smaller versions of each image will join their data record on the Department web site. The high-resolution images may be made available to researchers upon special request.
When the initial test phase, using a number of smaller families, is completed, work will commence on the families for which staff expertise exists. This is expected to be done within 12 months (excluding the entire Poaceae and Asteraceae type collections). The target for completion of the entire type collection is 5 years. As work through the type collection proceeds, specimens will also be digitized prior to being loaned out of the country. This process replaces the former task of transporting these specimens to the Photo Services Laboratory and dramatically reduces the turnaround time.
A dedicated space is being prepared in Room W427, formerly the “rug room” under the domain of the Building Manager’s Office. This renovated space will be designated the Botany Digital Laboratory. Our contract photographer is Susan Hunter, a graduate of the Savannah School of Design, and a former intern in the Photo Services Laboratory, NMNH.
Comments