In Support of Natural History Digitization: Assistive Tools for the Mobilization of Biodiversity Data

Much of the primary biodiversity data supporting biology and environmental science are preserved in natural history collections (NHCs). Recently, these collections began to make those data digitally available through online portals thereby improving their accessibility and usability. The processes involved in creating digital representations of these physical objects are, as of now mostly manual and labor intensive. The goal of this work is to assist NHCs in making these data available. Pursuant to this goal, three assistive tools were produced based on experiences digitizing herbaria (i.e., NHCs focusing on the kingdom Plantae). The tools produced through this effort are: (1) a labor estimation model, (2) a program to assist in the capture and refinement of herbarium specimen images, and (3) a pair of programs which when used while collecting new specimens circumvents the most labor intensive step in the process of digitization.