Quantification of cost and time in the process of computerization of the Brazilian biological collections: the experience of the herbarium of the Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro

ABSTRACT

This study summarizes the process of digitizing about 300,000 specimens of the herbarium RB, presenting the main results in terms of time and cost per computerized specimen (typed, validated and/or scanned), values that allowed to point the best management model among the four experienced in elapsing of the studied period (August 29, 2005 to July 12, 2007). The project was taken as an example of feasibility for similar initiatives, and their suitable results as reference values. As such, they were compared to estimates of cost and time used in the document "Guidelines and strategies for the modernization of brazilian botanical collections with a focus on the training of taxonomists and consolidation of integrated systems of information on biodiversity" (Peixoto et al. 2006) and the main conclusions were that the estimated cost per specimen typed is in agreement with this work, but the time was overestimated.

Key words:
computerization of herbaria; botanical collections; biodiversity informatics; environmental information management