Why we need a Biodiversity Image Archiving System Arthur D. Chapman Australian Biodiversity Information Services

Images and Biodiversity Informatics Increase in high quality digital images Increase in high quality digital images Increase availability of images Increase availability of images Havesting Tools Havesting Tools Creative Commons Licensing Creative Commons Licensing Availability of tools for tagging and harvesting Availability of tools for tagging and harvesting Availability of identification services Availability of identification services Active Citizen Scientist community wanting to contribute Active Citizen Scientist community wanting to contribute Projects wanting to use available images Projects wanting to use available images Images contain valuable information Images contain valuable information Identification Identification locational locational

Flickr Internet tool for images Internet tool for images Includes millions of Biodiversity Images Includes millions of Biodiversity Images ‘Flickr Groups’ make grouping a breeze ‘Flickr Groups’ make grouping a breeze EOL Group EOL Group Field Guide to Insects of Australia Field Guide to Insects of Australia Many images are tagged with Machine Tags Many images are tagged with Machine Tags Used by EOL, Wikipedia, ALA etc. Used by EOL, Wikipedia, ALA etc. Images are an essential part of projects such as Images are an essential part of projects such as Encyclopedia of Life Encyclopedia of Life Atlas of Living Australia Atlas of Living Australia Wikipedia in its various forms Wikipedia in its various forms

Long-term resource These images are (or can be) a valuable long- term biodiversity resource These images are (or can be) a valuable long- term biodiversity resource But what happens to the images if the Flickr account ceases through death, financial hardship, lack of interest, etc.? But what happens to the images if the Flickr account ceases through death, financial hardship, lack of interest, etc.? In my case – I’d like my images to be available long after my death – so how can we achieve that? In my case – I’d like my images to be available long after my death – so how can we achieve that? For these images to be truly valuable long-term we need a biological image archive For these images to be truly valuable long-term we need a biological image archive

A Biological Image Archive Who could run such an Archive? Who could run such an Archive? Single or multiple archives? Single or multiple archives? Global projects? e.g. Global projects? e.g. Biodiversity Heritage Library Biodiversity Heritage Library Encyclopedia of Life Encyclopedia of Life Global Biodiversity Information Facility Global Biodiversity Information Facility Morphbank Morphbank iDigBio iDigBio Other Cloud options Other Cloud options National projects? National projects? Atlas of Living Australia Atlas of Living Australia Combinations of one or more Combinations of one or more Should it be a free service or charged? Should it be a free service or charged? It would require voluntary opt-in/opt-out It would require voluntary opt-in/opt-out

Conclusion These are largely questions without answers at this time These are largely questions without answers at this time So where to from here? So where to from here? I suggest a TDWG sponsored white paper to I suggest a TDWG sponsored white paper to Examine the issues Examine the issues The extent of the problem The extent of the problem Include a user needs analysis? Include a user needs analysis? Questionnaire Questionnaire Image suppliers Image suppliers Image users Image users Archiving organisations Archiving organisations Propose a set of Options Propose a set of Options Perhaps this could be included into the newly- formed Citizen Science Interest Group’s charter? Perhaps this could be included into the newly- formed Citizen Science Interest Group’s charter?

Thank you