International Geo Sample Number
Encyclopedia
The International Geo Sample Number or IGSN is a 9 character sample
identification code generated by the System for Earth Sample Registration (SESAR). The IGSN preserves the identity of a sample even as it is moved from lab to lab and as data appear in different publications, thus eliminating ambiguity that stems from similar names for samples from the earth. The IGSN unique identifier allows researchers to track the analytical history of a sample and build on previously collected data as new techniques are developed. Additionally, the IGSN provides a link between disparate data generated by different investigators and published in different scientific articles.
at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
and is managed by the Geoinformatics for Geochemistry Program under the direction of K. Lehnert to address data curation
obstacles such as different samples that share the same name, and samples that are renamed as they move between laboratories and thus generating analyses that are published under different aliases. As a result, metadata that ensure unique identification is often missing. The SESAR database is designed to address these issues.
Sample (material)
In general, a sample is a limited quantity of something which is intended to be similar to and represent a larger amount of that thing. The things could be countable objects such as individual items available as units for sale, or a material not countable as individual items. Samples of countable...
identification code generated by the System for Earth Sample Registration (SESAR). The IGSN preserves the identity of a sample even as it is moved from lab to lab and as data appear in different publications, thus eliminating ambiguity that stems from similar names for samples from the earth. The IGSN unique identifier allows researchers to track the analytical history of a sample and build on previously collected data as new techniques are developed. Additionally, the IGSN provides a link between disparate data generated by different investigators and published in different scientific articles.
History
The IGSN and SESAR were developed with the support of the National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
The Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory is a research unit of Columbia University located on a campus in Palisades, N.Y., north of Manhattan on the Hudson River.- History :...
and is managed by the Geoinformatics for Geochemistry Program under the direction of K. Lehnert to address data curation
Digital curation
Digital curation is the selection, preservation, maintenance, collection and archiving of digital assets.Digital curation is generally referred to the process of establishing and developing long term repositories of digital assets for current and future reference by researchers, scientists,...
obstacles such as different samples that share the same name, and samples that are renamed as they move between laboratories and thus generating analyses that are published under different aliases. As a result, metadata that ensure unique identification is often missing. The SESAR database is designed to address these issues.
Sample Registration
To obtain an IGSN, users need to register a sample by submitting information about it to SESAR via spreadsheets and, in the near future, a client system that can access SESAR through web services. Once logged in, users can:- register individual samples or batches
- track relationships between samples and subsamples (e.g., bulk samples and mineral separates)
- update information on registered samples
- download bar code images for labeling purposes
- request new sample types to be added to the system