Sustaining MorphoSource 3D data Repository: Supporting a transformation in research and education practices relying on biodiversity and natural history collections

杜克大学获得了一个奖项，以支持MorphoSource 3D标本数据的在线数据资源。MorphoSource是一个web可访问的数据存储库，它是唯一专门用于表示博物馆或实验室收藏的物理标本的3D/2D图像数据。3D数据的来源包括CT扫描仪（3D图像的常见来源）、激光扫描仪、摄影测量建模等。在过去的十年中，MorphoSource通过前所未有的数据访问，在解剖学研究中掀起了一场革命。除了为科学家进行研究提供数字数据和工具外，MorphoSource还支持公众参与，并被广泛用于公共教育和宣传。通过使3D数据可发现和访问，MorphoSource有助于消除由于地理位置、旅行能力、材料脆弱性或高需求而造成的访问限制。MorphoSource通过使用基本的计算机或移动设备为任何学生提供可访问的网络3D图像，以一种前所未有的方式扩大了生物多样性和自然历史博物馆藏品的使用包容性。2013年，MorphoSource.org成立，旨在广泛访问数字化“虚拟标本”和3D数据，用于解剖表型的高级分析。MorphoSource已成为生物多样性和自然历史收藏中标本解剖形态三维数据的重要研究资源。MorphoSource已经被约1100篇论文引用用于数据访问或归档，并服务于一个不断增长的活跃社区，拥有15,000名用户（约1,600名数据贡献者）。实现这一地位在很大程度上取决于其基于标准的数据模型、文件格式专业知识、丰富的管理工具和协作开发的策略。此外，MorphoSource支持与各种联邦资助的生物信息学平台的深度集成，是国家努力实现生物多样性收集数字化以满足3D需求的天然而强大的合作伙伴。凭借前所未有的分类采样深度和强大的3D网络查看器，Morphosource首次实现了从“虚拟标本”开始到结束的大规模解剖变异模式研究。获取和测量大量标本中细微的解剖差异的能力对于实现NSF在生物研究中利用机器学习、计算机视觉和人工智能等计算机科学前沿的远景目标至关重要。这份NSF奖将允许MorphoSource在未来五年内继续为其多样化的社区提供服务，并进一步制定政策和程序，最终授权用户社区的某些部分来帮助支持平台。利用MorphoSource的研究结果经常发表在同行评议的科学期刊上，并在科学会议和许多推广和培训演讲中展示。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

An award to Duke University is made in support of the MorphoSource on-line data resource for 3D specimen data. MorphoSource is a web accessible data repository that is uniquely specialized for 3D/2D image data representing physical specimens from museum or lab collections. Sources of 3D data include CT scanners (a common source of 3D imagery), laser scanners, photogrammetry modeling and more. Over the last decade, MorphoSource has initiated a revolution in the study of anatomy through unprecedented data access. In addition to providing digital data and tools for scientists to conduct research, MorphoSource also supports public engagement and is being widely used for public education and outreach. By making 3D data discoverable and accessible, MorphoSource helps neutralize access limitations due to geography, capability of travel, fragility of material, or high demand. By making web accessible 3D imagery available to any student with a basic computer or mobile device, MorphoSource broadens inclusivity in use of biodiversity and natural history museum collections in a way that was never previously possible.In 2013, MorphoSource.org was created to enable broad access to digitized “virtual specimens” and 3D data for advanced analyses of anatomic phenotypes. MorphoSource has since become a vital research resource for 3D data on anatomical form of specimens in biodiversity and natural history collections. MorphoSource has been cited by ~1,100 papers for data access or archiving and served a growing, active community of 15,000 users (with ~1,600 data contributors). Achieving this status has hinged largely on its standards-based data model, file format expertise, rich management tools, and collaboratively developed policies. Furthermore, MorphoSource supports deep integrations with a variety of federally-funded bioinformatic platforms and is a natural and robust partner in national efforts at digitization of biodiversity collections for handling 3D needs. With unprecedented depth of taxonomic sampling and a powerful 3D web viewer, Morphosource has already enabled start-to-finish studies of large-scale patterns in anatomical variation from “virtual specimens” for the first time. The ability to access and measure nuanced anatomical variation in massive numbers of specimens is essential to realizing NSF’s visionary goals of leveraging computer science frontiers like machine learning, computer vision and artificial intelligence in biological research. This NSF award will allow MorphoSource to continue serving its diverse communities as they grow for the next five years and to further develop policies and procedures that will eventually empower certain segments of user communities to help support the platform. Results from studies that leverage MorphoSource are frequently published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at scientific meetings and in numerous outreach and training presentations.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.