View
913
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Citation preview
How to find a needle in a haystack? Implementation of RFID as an improvement in the management of a scientific collection: the case of Institut Català de
. Institut Català de Paleontologia, Sabadell, Catalonia cp.cat
Paleontologia Laura Celià‐Gelabertlaura.celia@i
. The aim of this communication 0
gement of the locations, which we try improve with the introduction of new technologies.
s, but we think it’s interesting to share the project’s onception and the methodology used.
to share of our short experience will help other stitutions to solve the problem faster.
. Presentation of the ICP
In 2007 the collection management department of ICP was restructured. At that time several shortcomings were detected. However, it was not until last year that we started to implement some solutions. One of these new projects is the manato We have just begun, we are not expertc Often small museums (like ours) have not the resources to solve some problems. These are common in many centers. So we thinkin 1
ERC belong to the world of art. So please, let me troduce you into the world of fossils.
What it is
atalonia (research department, not culture) and it is eir of an old Institute created in 1969.
ical heritage at an international level and allow the efficient transfer of knowledge society.
lts in scientific magazines and to its xposure in the mass media, exhibitions and museums.
. Where it is
in the niversity (UAB) and the Museum and warehouses are located in the city of Sabadell.
. The collection of the ICP
First of all I would like to present our institution and our work. I think it’s important because the majority of the participants in thein a. The Institut Català de Paleontologia (ICP) is a private foundation created in November of 2006. It belongs to the local government of Ch As a center of reference in research, conservation and diffusion of the paleontology of vertebrates in Catalonia (Spain), the ICP aims to promote research and conservation of the paleontologto We carry out all the stages of paleontology from the finding, excavation and preparation of a fossil to its conservation, study and publication of resue b Due to the expansion experienced over the last years (nowadays we are 50 people) our Institute has four sites. The research departments and preparation labs are locatedU 2
Our collection is used basically to research and, sometimes, to exhibit what is investigated. It cludes fossils, current material as well as the moulds and casts of different pieces.
How many pieces it has and from where they come
It is considered one of the most important collections of fossil ertebrates in Europe.
ieces; and microfossils, with more than forty thousand pieces, mainly mice and shrew teeth.
ninsula, but there are lso specimens coming from France, North Africa and the United States.
Annual rate of entries
d fossils in Catalonia are deposited in our enter, which is responsible for their preservation.
these inputs of material, including the transport and inventory from e site to the centre.
Consultations and movements per year
removed and the fossil is onsolidated. Now, they are ready to be catalogued and studied.
. Scientists from Spain, Europe and other ontinents come to Sabadell to study our fossils.
is a movement of about 8000 fossils per year, regardless of the inputs of new aterials.
. Main problems of the collection of the ICP
in a. It contains more than two hundred thousand specimens that are between 240 million years and 10,000 years old.v It can be divided into: macrofossils, with almost sixty thousand prepared and cataloguedp The origin of the pieces is diverse. We have materials from the Iberian Pea b. How do fossils arrive to ICP? As in other countries, Spain has an important regulatory framework which governs the proceedings on cultural heritage. These laws require that all construction activities carried out on archaeological or paleontological sites should have a technical control. They also mark that all pieces appeared should be deposited in a public and monographic museum. In our case, all the excavatec Each year, about 22.000 new fossils arrive to the ICP. For that reason we have a specific department to manageth c. All these fossils are stored in a special warehouse. From there, they are transported to the preparation lab, where the sediment that surrounds them is c The main use of our collection is the researchc We have an average of 200 requests per year, including loans and consultations. This means that there m 3
ocols and to solve the roblems accumulated over 50 years. The main problems we have are:
. In terms of conservation
fy problems of conservation. We lso need time and people to solve each problem identified.
Currently, the departments related with the collection include 11 people (curators and managers). This number is not enough to standardize the collection protp a We need to improve the screening of the collection to identia
b. In terms of documentation (to solve the most urgent)
. In terms of documentation 4
rom a specific point of view, we have two problems with:
. Problems with databases (non unified)
ction manager has used a ifferent program and a different methodology of documentation.
ion was divided into 4 different rmats and there was no file with the entire unified catalog.
ach time we had to find a fossil, we had to do 4 quests: one in each format.
is database creates some problems, but allows us to unify ocumentation criteria.
. The main difficulty: management of locations
om where it omes and the age it has. These are the five filters we use to attend the requests.
mes and that has a lot of movement of fossils, we need to manage very well all the cations.
hen we use them?
a fossil. On the other, when we need to ake an inventory of the collection (total or partial).
boxes, if it is in a researcher office… So e need a system to quickly locate a fossil in a room.
. Need to find solutions for managing locations
e have to do this is by hand. This means a great investment of time (A me we do not have!).
. The difficulties of finding solutions
F a Databases were started to use during the nineties and until twenty ou seven there have not been uniformed criteria to use it. In each previous stage, each colled For this reason, in twenty ou seven the catalog of the collectfo E Since 2008 we have implemented a data base offered by the local government of Catalonia, called Museumplus. Thd b With this program we can control 5 “static” characteristics of each fossil: the registration number, the animal to which it belonged, the anatomical identification, the site frc But there is one critical area: the location. In a collection with 200.000 pieces, divided into 4 different holo W Like everybody… On one hand, when we need to findm Basically the problem is that sometimes is not in the box it should. And there Is no way to know if the fossil is missing, if it is in another of 3000w c Actually, the only way wti 5
h the locations existed from the nineties, but had never sought an effective olution. Why?
irst of all, because daily work does not allow enough time to track the market.
The problem wits F
Second, because our collection staff do not have adequate knowledge to evaluate the market
This company is CCQ and they had the time and the nowledge to search solutions for us.
. Looking for solutions
offerings. In our case it was very important the role of an external company, specialized in process analysis and in software implementation.k 6
. Analysis of procedures of the Collection Department
ment and terviewed us. During these meetings, they identified the points for improvement.
. Improvement options: staff increasing versus new technologies
blem is hiring more staff. owever there are options with a lower cost and higher efficiency.
to different people (which finally left the museum for a more stable nd better paid work).
e locations with the urrent staff, the investment (economic and psychological) will be lower.
our case, the introduction of a new technology has one con: the lack of background.
. Our choice: new technologies
ur choice was the introduction of new technologies to improve the locations anagement.
. New technologies in the market: different options
a Its first step was to analyze the work of collection area. What we did and how we did it. This analysis allowed having an objective view of our procedures and hot spots in the collection management. To do the analysis, CCQ met with all members of the departin b The solution that seems the simplest to solve the locations proH In Spain, the gross cost of hiring a full‐time technician is about 36.000 € per year. Normally it is possible to hire staff for some months, but not permanently. This means investing time in training again and againa If we can introduce a system capable to improve the management of thc In c Despite this, om 7
tion of a fossil in the store, there are asically two options in the market: barcodes and RFID.
. Barcode
s you know, there are two major types of barcodes: linear and bi‐dimensional.
Article Number). Normally it presents 13 digits which codify different formation.
the case of bi‐dimensional codes we can find the data matrix and the QR code.
When we are looking for solutions to improve the detecb a A The most common type of linear barcode is EAN: European Article Number (now called International in In
In both cases (linear and bi‐dimensional), the main handicap is the need to have “visual contact” between the tracker and the label. For us, this is a great disadvantage because the storage of fossils does not allow this “visual
So, barcodes are not useful to find a needle in a haystack!
g and remotely retrieving data, using trackers and labels called TAGs. he main purpose of RFID technology is identification and tracking of objects via
ach tag consists of a small chip, which stores all the information, and a big antenna, which
t ignals once an external source has been successfully identified) and passive (which have no
romagnetic field to initiate a signal transmission).
the signal
s environmental conditions, RFID technology does not work at temperatures above 70oC and
d tag.
ssive labels do not require power and are cheaper than active ones.
contact”. b. RFID RFID is a system of storinTelectromagnetic waves. Etransmits and receives this information by radiofrequency. Essentially there are two types of tags: active (which contains a battery and can transmispower source and require an external elect The problems may have RFID technology: ‐ The presence of metal, which bounces the signal ‐ The presence of liquid, which reduces ‐ A bad use, which can break the chip ‐ The presence of potent frequency inhibitors CLIC Abelow ‐20oC. (I think any person should work under these temperatures…) The main advantage for us is that it does not need visual contact between tracker an In addition, pa 8. Providers a. Searching companies The main problem when we have to choose a new technology: ‐ The selling company has tightly controlled the sale process, but the buyer (the museum) is
consulting company helps the buyer TO CHOOSE what he buys (not to buy what the seller
de the following steps to find companies:
ls Contacting with companies that already use the product successfully
almost neophyte. Awants). In our case, CCQ ma ‐ Internet tracking ‐ Finding references through friendly channe‐
‐ Contacting with associations of providers. With all the data collected a short list was drawn up with the 8 best providers in Spain. They found no history of use of passive RFID in the management of museum collections.
f the short list using the following criteria:
alization of the company (only RFID or more products) ity to the ICP (due to the need for develop a specific software)
Company age ector
ach one was asked a proposal to solve our problem. Thanks to the document and several
his process was also useful to verify that RFID technology was mature enough to start the
EPCglobal ember and they have worked in many professional sectors: distribution and logistics,
tation congress, hospitals etc. www.saident.com
b. Evaluation and selection CCQ then made a refinement o ‐ Previous experience in RFID ‐ Degree of speci‐ Physical proxim‐ Company size ‐ ‐ Quality of the information obtained in the s The final result was a tie of two companies. Emeetings it became clear what the best company for the project was. Tnew project. c. Saident Saident RFID solutions was the company chosen. It was founded in 2003 to work in the integration of RFID technology. They aremjewellery, laundry, cellars, accredi 9. Application of RFID in the ICP After choosing the company, we have to make more concrete the ICP project, adjusting it to
oal: to design, develop, implement and integrate a RFID solution for the unequivocal n and inventory of the specimens of ICP collection.
t
m to 22nd
mber 25th
the real needs. a. Goals and schedule Gidentificatio Schedule: ‐ Project start: July 19th‐ Analysis and design: from July 19th to August 1s‐ August: holidays ‐ September: inauguration of the new museu‐ Project review and corrections: from October 6th‐ Final project acceptance: October 25th ‐ Software development: until Nove
‐ Test: from November 25th to December 3rd ‐ Validation: until December 17th
oject should be finished.
son it was necessary to develop a product oftware) specific for the ICP. We think a customized product has a great disadvantage: a
the location problem is common to many museums, we propose to develop a tandard product applicable to other collections. In this case, our role is to be the first test
any’s experience was very portant to convince Saident that museums are an active sector in full development and
dent accepted.
:
ssessment in software implementation.
hen we create a new register in the database, we must record this information in a tag.
with the company that develops collection software do not allow integrating RFID in is software. So, we have a small application that acts as a bridge between the database and
we place the new tag. With this pecific software, we do record the information of the new fossil. This information is
TAG by radiofrequency.
e essentially will use three types of tags, all passive ones. These types depend on the size of
70.000 pieces), which have a specific label and ey are stored in plastic boxes CLIC (3.000 boxes). So, we are interested in controlling the lego
e. How we read the information in an RFID tag?
‐ At the end of 2010, the pr b. Partners of the project As we have already said before, there was no known reference to the use of passive RFID in control of museum collections. For this rea(sfuture client’s weakness against the provider. Because of sinstitution. Saident had to decide if it was interesting to host this project as a new line of business growing and opening a new sector: the museums. The consulting compimgrowth in relation to new technologies. Finally, Sai So, this project is developed by three partners ICP: contributes expertise on the collection. Saident: contributes expertise on RFID implementation. CCQ: contributes expertise on general a c. How to insert information in a tag? WHow? Problemsththe tag. We have a USB device connected to our computer, on which stransmitted from the database to the d. What types of RFID tags we use? Wthe material to control. In our collection we have microfossils, which are stored individually above lego pieces (near to 60.000 pieces); CLIC and macrofossils (near tothpieces, the macrofossils labels and the boxes.
The first decision was to use UHF frequency, which brings many advantages to the project ncreased the range and the speed reading).
PDA. Before to start, we must ynchronize it with the database, to collect the latest changes.
can begin the process of inventory or search by choosing one of two ptions in the tracker.
applied, the acker will check the collection letting us know when it finds something sought.
ith database information. Upon ompletion, it generates a report with the errors detected.
Initial handicap.
in one direction: from the database to the FID software. Never in the wrong way round.
t correct errors found during the inventory, something that would be ery useful to save time.
. Cost
t once. We can make a plan and see how fast we will se them and then, to buy as we need.
mall tag: 0,12 €/UNIT
ossil and box tag: 0,16 €/UNIT
he software cost is for the annual license, depending on the number of simultaneous users.
0. Work done to date and next steps
(i To read the tag information we use a portable tracker, like a s Once synchronized, weo ‐ If we make a total inventory: the tracker begins to read the pieces detected. We can stop atany time and keep the information already checked, allowing us to continue at another time. ‐ If we make a partial inventory: first we must choose the search criteria. Oncetr In both cases, the tracker contrasts real information wc f. For the moment, due to problems generated by software used for database (created by a different company), data communication goes onlyR This means that we cannov g The main cost of RFID technology is the tags. For example, we need more than 100.000 tags. But it is not necessary to buy all them au S F T 1
. Contract signing and first tests
s begun. As we xplained, it is expected the application will be running at the end of the year.
Project development and evaluation
ject and begin to develop some provements (such as bidirectionality tracker‐database).
1. Conclusions
a At this time ICP has signed the contract with Saident and development phase hae b. In the early months of 2011 we will evaluate the proim 1
‐ Because of the problems accumulated over 50 years and the current rate of requests, we ave the need to find a specific solution for managing the locations.
We opted for the new technologies in order to make more efficient the work of our staff.
For us, new technologies are cheaper than hiring.
t” between the label and the reader, we hoose the passive RFID instead of barcodes.
ith the aim f creating an important customer lobby and not be alone in front of the provider.
ment, allows full and partial inventories and also to make specific earches by various criteria.
e it is important that museums professionals have the advice of other specialists groups.
h ‐ ‐ ‐ Due to the impossibility of having “visual contacc ‐ We are developing a standard product that can be applied to other institutions, wo ‐ This product, under develops ‐ This process of analysis and solution would not have been possible without a consulting company specialized in new technologies. We believ