DiversityCollection

DiversityCollection (Version 3) is part of the database framework DiversityWorkbench. Within this framework the application DiversityCollection is confined to the management of specimens in scientific collections. In this context it is designed to document any action concerning the collection, storage, exchange and treatment of specimens in a collection and is also appropriate to store observation data. DiversityCollection is distinguished from other collection management systems by its focus on biological relations between organisms collected together as one or more specimens (e.g. host, parasite and hyperparasite, symbionts etc.). Any module within the Diversity Workbench is focused on a specific data domain. DiversityCollection keeps only data connected with the handling of collection specimens and observations. Data of other realms like e.g. taxonomy are handled in separate modules. For an overview of the available modules see DiversityWorkbench. DiversityCollection might also be used as a stand-alone application.   

The image below gives you an overview of the main parts of DiversityCollection. The 4 grey squares in the image indicate the possibility of a hierarchy. This means that for example one organism can grow on another or a collection can be part of another collection. 


The image below gives an overview of some typical data depicted in DiversityCollection together with the symbols used throughout the program. A typical specimen may have been collected at a CollectionEvent during an expedition . The site of the CollectionEvent may be localized and characterized and methods have been used. The collectors collected twigs of the plant and fungi growing on the plants. These organisms were identified several times and analysed where methods have been used. The collected samples are stored as herbarium sheets and specimens in a collection . The manager sent some of the samples for which he had a request from a requester to another collection. The samples were collected as part of a project . Certain parts were cultivated and DNA extracted which was processed where methods have been used. Images were taken for the EventSeries, the CollectionEvent, the CollectionSpecimen as well as organisms and part of this specimen.

 

DiversityCollection 4.x is based on Microsoft SQL-Server 2008 or later and the .Net Framework, Version 4.8.

For licence and copyright see the licence section.