MIDS Information Elements

Title : MIDS Information Elements

Date version issued : yyyy-mm-dd

Date created : yyyy-mm-dd

Part of TDWG Standard : http://www.tdwg.org/standards/643

This version :

Latest version :

Abstract : Contributors :

Creator : Minimum Information about a Digital Specimen (MIDS) Task Group

Bibliographic citation :

1 Introduction

1.1 Status of the content of this document

1.2 RFC 2119 key words

The key words “MUST”, “MUST NOT”, “REQUIRED”, “SHALL”, “SHALL NOT”, “SHOULD”, “SHOULD NOT”, “RECOMMENDED”, “MAY”, and “OPTIONAL” in this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP 14 RFC 2119 and RFC 8174 when, and only when, they appear in all capitals, as shown here.

1.3 Categories of terms

2 Borrowed Vocabulary

3 Namespaces, Prefixes and Term Names

4 Term index

4.1 Index By Term Name

5 Vocabulary

Element Name PhysicalSpecimenID
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/10
Label	Physical Specimen ID
Definition	A unique identity for the specimen within the curating institution. Whatever the institution uses to uniquely identify the item. For example: DOI, stable identifier, catalogue number, barcode, etc.
Usage	To allow the curator/researcher to identify the physical specimen to which the data refer. To allow citation of the specimen. To enable the attachment of additional information to the specimen record.
Recommendations	It is strongly recommended to use a globally unique persistent identifier, preferably resolvable, e.g. CETAF Stable Identifiers or DOIs. It is strongly recommended to map these to the DwC term materialSampleID.
Examples	http://herbarium.bgbm.org/object/B100277113; (O-F-2201154, 30eff5c2-97b4-4eeb-bb46-8c12a1cf0f37, 12254)
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	nan

SKOS Mappings

Mapping Property

Element Name Organization
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/11
Label	Organization
Definition	A term to indicate in which institution the specimen is held. This may include an institution code and an institution identifier.
Usage	To allow a user to discover the location of the physical specimen to access additional information or to request access to the physical specimen.
Recommendations	It is strongly recommended to include a human readable term and a globally unique persistent and resolvable identifier from GrSciColl, GRID, ROR, etc.
Constraints	When there are multiple identifiers for the organization this term can be repeated as necessary.
Examples	dwc:ownerInstitutionCode : RBGE, dwc:institutionID : https://www.gbif.org/grscicoll/institution/0237598a-853a-492c-af74-a723fe251799; dwc:ownerInstitutionCode : MNHN, dwc:institutionID : https://www.gbif.org/grscicoll/institution/fe534fe7-dccd-4d79-8313-c11b2ea854ab; dwc:ownerInstitutionCode : BZ, dwc:institutionID : https://www.gbif.org/grscicoll/institution/6a6ac6c5-1b8a-48db-91a2-f8661274ff80
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	TRUE

Element Name Name
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/12
Label	Name
Definition	A name given to the object. Any string of characters and/or numbers by which the object is referenced within a collection. For example, the name the specimen is stored under, its scientific or taxonomic name if known, how it is labelled, etc. This name is not necessarily its name according to an accepted scientific classification, identification, or taxonomic determination (i.e., scientific name) but it often can be the same as that.
Usage	Information to aid the discoverability of specimens by users and the ability to retrieve them within a collection.
Recommendations	It is recommended to follow standard nomenclators, e.g. the International Plant Names Index (IPNI), MycoBank, AlgaeBase, Mindat, etc
Examples	Colias croceus (Geoffroy, 1785), Ophthalmosaurus, Australian Baobab, Scottish rock, etc.
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	No

Element Name SpecimenType
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/59
Label	Specimen Type
Definition	High-level term to delimit and define specimens. For example: preserved specimen, fossil specimen, as opposed to observation.
Usage	To delimit the specimens to which the MIDS specification refers.
Notes	These data are often part of the metadata for a dataset.
Recommendations	It is recommended to use the ontology being developed for the DwC term MaterialEntity.
Examples	PreservedSpecimen, FossilSpecimen
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	No

Element Name ObjectType
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/44
Label	Object Type
Definition	General term to describe the kind of specimen. In combination with SpecimenType - hierarchical; a more specific classification than described by SpecimenType.
Usage	To enable curators to determine equipment/method/cost of imaging the specimen, to enable researchers to determine equipment/method required for viewing/analysing the specimen, to enable curators/researchers to know in which collection/location within the institution the specimen is held.
Recommendations	It is recommended to use the ontology being developed for the DwC term Preparations.
Examples	Microscope slide, pinned insect, herbarium sheet.
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	No

Element Name License
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/58
Label	License
Definition	License under which the specimen data are published
Usage	To enable all users to determine how they can use the specimen data
Recommendations	Use Creative Commons license framework. Use as unrestricted license as possible.
Examples	CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name Modified
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/8
Label	Modified
Definition	UTC date/time of date/time of first creation or subsequent modification, if any
Usage	To enable users (humans/machines) to determine if there have been any changes to the record since it was last viewed.
Recommendations	Use ISO 8601. UTC date/time, extended format (for human readability)
Examples	2021-01-20 10:54:18
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name QualitativeLocation
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/19
Label	Qualitative Location
Definition	A term to describe the where the specimen was collected. In combination with quantitativeLocation; should capture textual geographic information.
Usage	A human readable location. Can also be used to help identify the quantitativeLocation.
Notes	The repeatable value could be different levels of geography
Recommendations	The most precise locality should be captured, given information available with the specimen. It is recommended to include additional higher level geography, mapped to the appropriate terms, to reduce ambiguity of place names.
Examples	Flinders Ranges, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, on rough track north of Arkaroola Village by Radium Creek, 120 meters past the turn-off for the Ridgetop Track, off rough graded track in dry sandy gravely creek bed.
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name QuantitativeLocation
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/27
Label	Quantitative Location
Definition	A term to describe where the specimen was collected. A quantitative measure that would include coordinate or shape data, an identifier, or data that can be easily converted into a quantitative measure. In combination with the qualitative term, qualitativeLocality.
Usage	To enable a person or machine to identify and/or map the geographical location in which the collection was made.
Notes	The repeatable value could be different methods used to provide coordinates
Recommendations	It is strongly recommended to follow the best practice in the Georeferencing Quick Reference Guide (Zermoglio PF, Chapman AD, Wieczorek JR, Luna MC & Bloom DA, 2020 https://doi.org/10.35035/e09p-h128). It is recommended to use an identifier for the most precise spatial region or named place, given information available with the specimen. If an identifier is not being used then the data should correspond to a recognised geographic standard (eg, OGC webservices, WFS, ISO 3166, Geonames, GADM)
Examples	-30.23713, 139.33683, WGS84; https://www.geonames.org/7839420/flinders-ranges.html; https://gadm.org/maps/AUS/southaustralia/flindersranges.html
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name CollectingAgent
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/22
Label	Collecting Agent
Definition	A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups, or organizations responsible for recording the original Occurrence.
Usage	For many biological collections the collector in combination with collectingNumber has been used as an identifier for the specimen in literature. It also helps in the identification and validation of the collecting location.
Notes	As we already have a collectors ID should this not be modified so that ORCID and Wikidata is not mention here? (Response from EH: The recommendation here is to include identifiers but this is not required until MIDS 3)
Recommendations	It is recommended to include a verbatim version of the name as it appears on the label. The primary collector or observer, especially one who applies a collecting identifier (recordNumber), should be listed first. It is also strongly recommended to include people identifiers such as ORCID, Wikidata (See mids:CollectorID).
Examples	Carl Linnaeus (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1043),
Required	Yes (Biology)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name DateCollected
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/24
Label	Date Collected
Definition	The date/time at which a gathering event occurred. For specimen gathering, this is the date/time when the event was recorded.
Usage	To provide accurate information about when the specimen was collected.
Notes	It could be range of dates but that would not be a repeated value.
Recommendations	It is strongly recommended to use ISO 8601 standard with extended format for human readability. “s.d.” (sine diem - without date) or equivalent if not present or not known.
Examples	2023-12-08; s.d.
Required	Yes (Biology)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name CollectingNumber
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/23
Label	Collecting Number
Definition	An identifier given to the specimen at the time it was recorded. Often serves as a link between field notes and a specimen record.
Usage	For many biological collections the collector in combination with collectingNumber has been used as an identifier for the specimen in literature. It also helps in the identification and validation of the collecting location.
Recommendations	It is recommended to use “s.n.” (sine numero - without number) or equivalent if not present
Examples	BPL-1001, 154/23, 254, s.n
Required	Yes (Biology)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name Media
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/33
Label	Media
Definition	A list (concatenated and separated) of media associated with the specimen.
Usage	To allow a user to locate mediafiles of the specimen
Recommendations	It is strong recommendation to follow Audiovisual Core standards; identifier for IIIF manifest and/or image
Examples	https://www.unimus.no/felles/bilder/web_hent_bilde.php?id=14501286&type=jpeg
Required	Yes (Biology)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name GeologicalAge
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/61
Label	Geological Age
Definition	Refers to the geological age of a Earth Science specimen (i.e. Fossil, Rock, Mineral or Meteorite) and can be any kind of stratigraphic age, isotopically determined age or structural age.
Usage	To provide information about the age of the geological, mineralogical, fossil or meteorite specimen
Recommendations	If relevant, it is recommended follow the International Commission on Stratigraphy chart, and that litho- and biostratigraphy, where available, should also be provided.
Required	Yes (Geology & Palaeontology)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name TypeStatus
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/26
Label	Type Status
Definition	An indication of the nomenclatural type status of the specimen, where a null value is taken to mean "Assumed not to be a type".
Usage	The nomenclatural type specimens are some of the most important specimens in a collection, particularly for taxonomic research. They anchor the taxon name to a physical object.
Notes	Although it could be a syntype and a lectotype, but the value would presumably be selected from these.
Recommendations	It is strongly recommended to follow the list of terms included in the relevant codes of nomenclature.
Constraints	A null value is taken to mean "Assumed not to be a type"
Examples	Holotype, Isotype, Syntype, Cotype, Epitype, Neotype, Lectotype
Required	Yes (Biology)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name InstitutionID
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/57
Label	Institution ID
Definition	An identifier for the institution having custody of the object(s)
Usage	To allow a user (human or machine) to locate the physical location of the specimen.
Notes	Is GRID relly recomended, it seems to have been superseeded by ROR: https://www.grid.ac. (Response from EH: GRID is not recommended by GrSciColl is)
Recommendations	It is strongly recommended to use a globally unique persistent and resolvable identifier such as GrSciColl, ROR.
Examples	https://ror.org/01xtthb56, https://www.gbif.org/grscicoll/collection/772f9e37-4643-452b-82b4-a06550283096, https://www.gbif.org/grscicoll/institution/e3d4dcc4-81e2-444c-8a5c-41d1044b5381
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name CollectorID
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/79
Label	Collector ID
Definition	A list (concatenated and separated) of the identifier(s) for the person, people, groups, or expeditions responsible for collecting the specimen.
Usage	To uniquely identify the collector of a specimen in a machine readable format.
Recommendations	It is strongly recommended to use resolvable ORCiD identifiers for people, or Wikidata identifiers for people or expeditions. It is also recommended to list the primary collectorID, especially one who applies a field/collecting number, first.
Examples	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1568-xxxx \| https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?title=Q94522
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name ScientificNameID
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/74
Label	Scientific Name ID
Definition	An identifier for the nomenclatural (not taxonomic) details of a scientific name.
Usage	To uniquly identify the taxon name of a specimen in a machine readable format.
Recommendations	It is strongly recommended to use identifiers from the recognised nomenclators for the appropriate taxonomic group (e.g. the International Plant Names Index (IPNI), MycoBank, AlgaeBase, Mindat, etc).
Examples	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:184409-1; mindat:1:1:1375:4 ; https://mindat.org/4ca61d6f-4208-8fb2-3b0eecbcs8f0
Required	Yes (Biology and Geology)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name GeographicalLocalityID
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/81
Label	Geographical Locality ID
Definition	An identifier for the geographical locality where the specimen was collected.
Usage	To provide an identifier for the geographical locality which ensures that there is no ambiguity, particular for geographical locality names which are not unique. Also has the potential to create a link between the geographical locality name and a shape file.
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name IdentifiedByID
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/72
Label	Identified By ID
Definition	A list (concatenated and separated) of the identifier(s) for the person, people, groups, or organizations responsible for assigning the scientific name to the subject.
Usage	To provide provenance for the identification of the specimen.
Recommendations	It is strongly recommended to use resolvable ORCiD identifiers for people, or Wikidata identifiers for people or expeditions.
Examples	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q94522; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7698-3945 \| https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q276405
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	nan

Element Name AssociatedMediaID
Element URI	https://github.com/tdwg/mids/issues/75
Label	Associated Media ID
Definition	A list (concatenated and separated) of identifiers of media associated with the Specimen.
Usage	To allow a user (human or machine) to locate mediafiles of the specimen
Notes	Is this the same as mids:media? (Response from EH: mids:media is presence whilst this is for the identifier)
Recommendations	It is strongly recommended to follow Audiovisual Core standards; identifier(s) for IIIF manifest and/or image
Required	Yes (all)
Repeatable	nan

On this page

MIDS Information Elements

MIDS Information Elements

1 Introduction

1.1 Status of the content of this document

1.2 RFC 2119 key words

1.3 Categories of terms

2 Borrowed Vocabulary

3 Namespaces, Prefixes and Term Names

4 Term index

4.1 Index By Term Name

mids0

mids1

mids2

mids3

5 Vocabulary