Introduction

This blog will detail many of the features in ScioQualis.com, an Online Natural History Collections (aka Biocollections) management database, and ScioTR, a integrative digitization tool for the rapid digitization of Natural History Collections labels. It will become something of a living user's manual and forum, in one place. The intention here is not to sound like a commercial for these software products, but to explain certain features in depth; particularly in cases where wide adoption of a technical strategy could result in a positive outcome for the community as a whole.

ScioQualis.com was modeled after the Darwin Core standard, but adds a number of other useful fields. It uses GUIDs (Globally Unique IDentifiers) throughout to link pieces of information together. It was specifically designed to address many of the high level needs (like those described in the NIBA Implementation Plan) that are specific to the accessibility and usefulness of Natural History Collections data while also offering an easy management solution for small and large collections alike, as well as collections in areas of the world in which access to technical resources for database development are scarce. Because ScioQualis is 100% online, it is accessible from anywhere there is an internet connection. For more information, please see the ScioQualis Training Page.

www.scioqualis.com

ScioTR is a Windows 8 'Modern' app, currently under development. In June of 2013, we presented the strategies and theories behind ScioTR’s comprehensive workflow process and later gave a live demo of the software in action at SPNHC, DemoCamp in South Dakota. A video covering content similar to that presented in the SPNHC demo is available on the ScioQualis YouTube Channel:

We welcome your comments and feedback - please contact us via the comments after blog posts and/or privately at robin (a) scioqualis.com.