Sample Management and International Geo-Sample Number (IGSN) Implementation at Geoscience AustraliaIrina Bastrakova

2 November 2016

GA sample collectionsGA’s repositories contain several millions samples

Policies and Regulations

External Policies & Regulators:

• Australian Government Public Data Policy Statement 2015• Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013• Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986• Petroleum Search Subsidy Acts

Internal Policies & Regulators:

• Collection Management Policy for Physical Collections 2016

• Data Stewardship Policy and Principles 2014

• Data Management Principles 2012

GA sample repositoriesGA Sample Repositories:• Physical samples repository – since 1946

– Field collection (rocks, water, gas, vegetation, etc.)– Scientific Analysis (minerals, splits, thin sections,

powders, etc.)– Donation (rocks, water, oil, gas, fossils, minerals, etc.) – Purchase and Transfer (rocks, fossils, minerals, etc.)

• Digital sample repository – since 1997-2001– Major digital repository – GA’s Samples catalogue– Other digital repositories: PIMS and LabSubs

databases

Recorded Sample InformationCurrently captured information:• IGSN• Sample Name/ID• Originator• Sample Type• Material Type• Location (originally collected and standardised)• Acquisition Date and Method• Security, Access, Quality and Activity Flags• Links to Sample Parents• Relationship with other Samples (e.g. parent-child)• Links to observed and analytical data (chemistry, lithology,

physical properties, etc.)

IssuesNot all samples are registered in the Sample Catalogue

• New project to register Thin Sections and Minerals

Partially implemented connectivity between Samples Catalogue and PIMS

• Project for the next FY

Duplicate samples

• Ongoing process of samples audit and identification of the duplicates

Incomplete or incorrect sample metadata• Introduction of digital Field Books with direct download to

Samples Catalogue

• Improvement of sample metadata

IGSN implementation & sample discoverability (1)

Pre-2014: Participation in the IGSN Committee as an observer

2014: Application and acceptance as IGSN Allocation Member

2015: Implementation of IGSN registration process• Upgraded the Samples

Catalogue to store the IGSNs;

• Registered ~2 mil samples in the IGSN Catalogue

• Developed IGSN landing page

• Implemented Internal Sample Portal

IGSN implementation & sample discoverability (2)

2016: Collaborative project supported by grant from NCRIS RDS programme• Australian Geo-Sample Portal

(https://igsn2.csiro.au/portal/#/search)

• Common sample information discovery, exchange and display

Publishing sample related vocabularies – PoolParty (ANDS)

Why GA wants to be part of the IGSN Community• Globally unique identification (http://schema.igsn.org/registration/)

• Discovery of samples and associated information – global support

• Common IGSN metadata (http://igsn.github.io/metadata/)

• Global and National Re-use of sample information– no need to duplicate information,– can be linked via web services from multiple repositories

• Connection to existing and new analytical data, e.g. Curtin University

• Engagement with major publishers and repositories through Coalition on Publishing Data in the Earth and Space Science (http://www.copdess.org/) – Influence Publication outcomes

• Ability to trace history and publications

Phone: +61 2 6249 9201Web: www.ga.gov.auEmail: irina.bastrakova@ga.gov.auAddress: Cnr Jerrabomberra Avenue and Hindmarsh Drive, Symonston ACT 2609Postal Address: GPO Box 378, Canberra ACT 2601

Questions?