specify 7
Brief description
With the introduction of Specify, the museum is establishing a central, sustainable digital infrastructure for its scientific collections. The aim is to record collection data in a standardised manner, preserve it in the long term, integrate it in a quality-assured way, and make it available for research, administration, publication and international networking. Specify functions not only as a collection database, but also as a central data repository within the museum’s digital catalogue infrastructure.
Background
The museum’s scientific sub-collections comprise an estimated 30 million objects from various disciplines. Data structures that have evolved over time, heterogeneous recording practices and decentralised data management make it difficult to use, analyse and publish the data across the board.
Specify creates a uniform system environment that:
- establishes cross-collection standards
- structures integration processes systematically checks data quality
- enables sustainable data archiving supports international exchange formats (e.g. Darwin Core)
Specify is an internationally established, collection-oriented database solution for natural history collections (Specify Collections Consortium). Source: Specify Collections Consortium (2024): Specify 7 Documentation & Project Information – https://www.specifysoftware.org
Key areas of the initiative
- Data integration and migration Development of standardised integration checklists Establishment of import pipelines Structured data cleaning Harmonisation of controlled vocabularies
- Quality management Development of QA processes Definition of cross-collection data standards Monitoring of data gaps and structural inconsistencies
- Process development Establishment of clear roles and responsibilities Development of support structures Documentation of workflows on the intranet
- Training and community building Internal training formats Workshops for collection staff International networking within the Specify community
Strategic significance
Specify is a central component of the museum’s digital transformation. The initiative lays the foundation for: long-term preservation of scientific collection data improved analysability and researchability transparent data processes international visibility and cooperation Implementation takes place as part of a multi-stage integration project with a defined test phase (Part 1) followed by the establishment of standardised processes across the organisation (Part 2).
Organisation
The initiative is coordinated by the Specify team and is being carried out in close collaboration with the Collections department, IT and other cross-functional areas of the museum.
