NSW Herbarium offers global access to digital plant platform

People from around the world can now access digital records of more than one million plants with the launch of the first searchable image archive from the National Herbarium of New South Wales.

Located at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, the Herbarium holds specimens from across the Pacific region for critical biodiversity, ecological, and evolutionary research studies.

Over the past five years, scientists from the Botanic Gardens of Sydney have archived and digitised the entire collection, including more than 800 specimens collected by botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander on Captain Cook’s first voyage to the Pacific in 1770.

The new platform is the most comprehensive searchable image archive in Australia, and the first and largest mass digitisation of a natural history collection undertaken in the southern hemisphere. Around 4,000 images were taken daily to transform the plant specimens into high-resolution images.

The digitisation process has already revealed new discoveries of Australia’s botanical science history, including specimens collected by celebrated Indigenous painter Albert Namatjira and illustrations by renowned botanical illustrator Margaret Flockton. 

The collection of high-resolution images has been uploaded to Amazon Web Services (AWS), who are providing free storage as part of the AWS Open Data Sponsorship Program. The program covers the cost of storage for publicly available datasets, supporting community access to the records for the first time. 

People can visit the Botanic Gardens of Sydney Herbarium search portal and search for plants using scientific name, collection date, collector and other criteria. The search result will reveal the images of the plants and collection data associated with the specimen.

Commenting on the program, Botanic Gardens of Sydney Chief Executive, Simon Duffy stated “to see the transformation from an 18th century specimen library to a cutting-edge digital collection for public use is quite extraordinary.

“Technological advancements such as this also help foster better collaboration with educators and students, decision-makers, private land holders and managers, and community groups to help save plants from extinction in this rapidly changing world.”

Chief Technologist Public Sector, Amazon Web Services, Simon Elisha added “AWS is proud enable the digitisation of over one million priceless plant specimens by the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.”

“Leveraging our scalable cloud and AWS Open Data Sponsorship Program, the Botanic Gardens of Sydney has created a globally accessible digital treasure trove that can revolutionise botanical research and conservation.”

Images: The digitisation process at the National Herbarium of NSW (top, credit: Picturae) and the exterior of the National Herbarium of NSW (below).