Towards Globally Unique Identification of Physical Samples: Governance and Technical Implementation of the IGSN Global Sample Number

Authors

Jens Klump Mineral Resources, CSIRO, Perth WA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5911-6022
Kerstin Lehnert Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades NY https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7036-1977
Damian Ulbricht Library and Information Services, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6298-758X
Anusuriya Devaraju TERN, University of Queensland, Brisbane https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0870-3192
Kirsten Elger Library and Information Services, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5140-8602
Dirk Fleischer Center for Ocean and Society, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0108-4675
Sarah Ramdeen Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades NY https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1135-5942
Lesley Wyborn National Computational Infrastructure, Australian National University, Canberra https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5976-4943

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2021-033

Keywords:

persistent identifier, metadata, physical specimen, research data infrastructure

Abstract

Persistent unique identifiers (PID) are a critical element in digital research data infrastructure to unambiguously identify, locate, and cite digital representations of a growing range of entities – publications, data, instruments, organizations, funding awards, field programs, and others. The IGSN was developed as the International Geo Sample Number to provide a persistent, globally unique, web resolvable identifier for physical samples. IGSN is both a governance and technical system for assigning globally unique persistent identifiers to physical samples. Even though initially developed for samples in the geosciences, the application of IGSN can be and has already been expanded to other domains that rely on physical samples and collections. This paper describes the current architecture and technical implementation of IGSN, how IGSN relates to other sample identifiers, and how its technical systems are supported by an international governance structure.

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Published

2021-10-28

Issue

Vol. 20 (2021)

Section

Research Papers

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