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A Data Model for Invertebrate Paleontological Collections Information

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 July 2017

Paul J. Morris
Paul J. Morris*
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Group, Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Extract

PALEONTOLOGICAL data are complex. They involve a wide variety of different classes of information relating physical objects, such as type specimens to all manner of different things including collecting localities, systematic concepts such as a genus, and published statements about stratigraphic or systematic placement. This data model has been designed to describe the structure of information used in invertebrate paleontological museum collections (Appendix IX).

The heart of the data model is the concept of Collections Objects. Collections objects are fossils and other such things that make up the material of invertebrate paleontological museum collections. Collections management involves essentially tracking collections objects and maintaining the data that is associated with collections objects. The key data associated with collections objects are their provenance (where and when they came from) and added value data such as what names, if any, have been applied to them, or what publications they have been illustrated in.

A data model is a formal description of some set of information. It consists of a picture of the main concepts involved (the Entity-Relationship diagram) and a set of formal written documentation that defines these concepts and their relationships with each other. For an introduction to the concepts and symbols of data models see the references below, or good summaries provided in the ASC and PaleoBank models.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Paleontological Society Special Publications , Volume 10: Guidelines for the Management and Curation of Invertebrate Fossil Collections including a Data Model and Standards for Computerization , 2000 , pp. 105 - 108
Copyright
Copyright © 2000 by The Paleontological Society 

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References

Selected References on Data Models

Bruce, T.A., 1992. Designing Quality Databases with IDEF1X Information Models. Dorset House, New York.Google Scholar
Celko, J. 1995. SQL for Smarites: Advanced SQL Programing. Morgan Kaufman, San Francisco, 467pp.Google Scholar
Chen, P.P., 1976. The Entity-Relationship Model: Towards a unified view of data. ACM Transactions Database Systems 1:9–36.Google Scholar
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Krebs, J.W., Kaesler, R.L., Bronsius, E.A., Miller, D.L. and Chang, Y.M. 1996. Paleobank, a relational database for invertebrate paleontology: The data model. Univ. Kansas. Paleont. Contrib. ns. 8:1–7.Google Scholar
Shaler, S., and Mellor, S.J. 1988. Object-Oriented Systems Analysis: Modeling the world in data. Yourdon Press, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.Google Scholar
Teorey, T.T., 1994. Database Modeling and Design: The fundamental principles. Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco.Google Scholar