Irina Bastrakova, GV. Sample management and International geo-sample number (ISGN) implementation at geoscience Australia. 2 Nov 2016, Canberra. International Geo-Sample Number (IGSN) Symposium.

1. Sample Management and International
Geo-Sample Number (IGSN)
Implementation at Geoscience Australia
Irina Bastrakova
2 November 2016

2. GA sample collections
GA’s repositories contain several millions samples

3. Policies and Regulations
External Policies & Regulators:
• Australian Government Public Data Policy Statement 2015
• Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013
• Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986
• Petroleum Search Subsidy Acts
Internal Policies & Regulators:
• Collection Management Policy for Physical Collections 2016
• Data Stewardship Policy and Principles 2014
• Data Management Principles 2012

4. GA sample repositories
GA Sample Repositories:
• Physical samples repository – since 1946
– Field collection (rocks, water, gas, vegetation, etc.)
– Scientific Analysis (minerals, splits, thin sections,
powders, etc.)
– Donation (rocks, water, oil, gas, fossils, minerals, etc.)
– Purchase and Transfer (rocks, fossils, minerals, etc.)
• Digital sample repository – since 1997-2001
– Major digital repository – GA’s Samples catalogue
– Other digital repositories: PIMS and LabSubs
databases

5. Recorded Sample Information
Currently captured information:
• IGSN
• Sample Name/ID
• Originator
• Sample Type
• Material Type
• Location (originally collected and standardised)
• Acquisition Date and Method
• Security, Access, Quality and Activity Flags
• Links to Sample Parents
• Relationship with other Samples (e.g. parent-child)
• Links to observed and analytical data (chemistry, lithology,
physical properties, etc.)

6. Issues
Not all samples are registered in the Sample Catalogue
• New project to register Thin Sections and Minerals
Partially implemented connectivity between Samples Catalogue
and PIMS
• Project for the next FY
Duplicate samples
• Ongoing process of samples audit and identification of the
duplicates
Incomplete or incorrect sample metadata
• Introduction of digital Field Books with direct download to
Samples Catalogue
• Improvement of sample metadata

7. IGSN implementation & sample discoverability (1)
Pre-2014: Participation in the IGSN Committee as an observer
2014: Application and acceptance as IGSN Allocation Member
2015: Implementation of IGSN
registration process
• Upgraded the Samples
Catalogue to store the
IGSNs;
• Registered ~2 mil samples
in the IGSN Catalogue
• Developed IGSN landing
page
• Implemented Internal
Sample Portal

8. IGSN implementation & sample discoverability (2)
2016: Collaborative project
supported by grant from NCRIS
RDS programme
• Australian Geo-Sample Portal
(https://igsn2.csiro.au/portal/#/
search)
• Common sample information
discovery, exchange and
display
Publishing sample related
vocabularies – PoolParty
(ANDS)

9. Why GA wants to be part of the IGSN Community
• Globally unique identification (http://schema.igsn.org/registration/)
• Discovery of samples and associated information – global support
• Common IGSN metadata (http://igsn.github.io/metadata/)
• Global and National Re-use of sample information
– no need to duplicate information,
– can be linked via web services from multiple repositories
• Connection to existing and new analytical data, e.g. Curtin
University
• Engagement with major publishers and repositories through
Coalition on Publishing Data in the Earth and Space Science
(http://www.copdess.org/) – Influence Publication outcomes
• Ability to trace history and publications

10. Phone: +61 2 6249 9201
Web: www.ga.gov.au
Email: irina.bastrakova@ga.gov.au
Address: Cnr Jerrabomberra Avenue and Hindmarsh Drive, Symonston ACT 2609
Postal Address: GPO Box 378, Canberra ACT 2601
Questions?