In a time of threatened natural wealth globally, botanical collections are an important record of biodiversity. Consequently, there is a need for those data to be preserved and made available to the scientific and general public. In the last two decades, efforts have been made to digitize the data in most Herbaria worldwide.

Digitization, i.e. the conversion of botanical collections’ data into electronic form, began with the creation of databases containing basic information on a sample (scientific name, collector, date and collection area). Innovations resulting from the design and usability of a database, the implementation of global standards for biodiversity data collections, such as the Darwin Core, and improved sampling methods, have significantly increased the pace of the digitization process.

The process of digitization involves the preparation and organization of samples, the recording of label data in electronic forms and the digital photography. Each stage of digitization requires time and attention. At TAU a digitalization effort has begun following international standards and adapting to the needs of Herbarium (e.g. historical collections, phytogeographical departments of Greece, etc.). The procedure followed, in summary, comprises of the following steps:

  1. Electronic data entry in spreadsheets. These data include what is shown on the sample labels, i.e., family and plant name, location and date of collection, sample and collector code, type of label and any notes.
  2. Geo-referencing of the plant sample.
  3. Printing of a label with the above digitized information and a barcode unique to each plant sample. These two labels are affixed to the the plant sample.
  4. Digital photograph of the sample on a color and metric scale.
  5. Entering of the digitized information into Specify 6 biological collection management software.
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