The document discusses the Institut Català de Paleontologia's plans to implement RFID technology to improve tracking of their large scientific fossil collection. Some key points: - ICP has over 200,000 fossil specimens from 10,000 to 240 million years old requiring documentation and storage across multiple locations. - Current tracking relies on inconsistent documentation leading to difficulties finding specimens. RFID is seen as a solution to unequivocally identify and inventory specimens. - ICP reviewed RFID options and providers, selecting a customized solution using three tag sizes for small fossils, larger specimens, and storage boxes. - Implementation will include designing a system, tagging specimens, and developing software over the remainder

1. Implementation of RFID as an improvement in the management of a scientific collection: the case of Institut Català de Paleontologia [email_address]

2. 1. Paleowhat?? ICP presentation 2. Our scientific collection 3. Our problems are your problems 4. Tracking the collection: solutions 5. Looking for providers 6. Application of RFID in the ICP

3. 1. Paleowhat?? ICP presentation Institut Català de Paleontologia Government of Catalonia (Research department) Heir of an older Institut, created in 1969 We are a research centre, not a museum www.icp.cat

4. We carry out all stages of paleontology Preparation Storage Excavation Documentation Research

5. Research departments: university Depot warehouse: Sabadell Preparation labs: university Exhibition + collection: Sabadell Where are we? 4 homes:

6. 2. Our scientific collection Used to investigate (not exhibit) 200.000 specimens From 240.000.000 to 10.000 years From Iberian Peninsula, France, North Africa, USA

7. How do fossils arrive to ICP? 22.000 fossils / year

8. 200 requests/year 8.000 fossils

9. 3. Our problems are your problems 50 years with no unified criteria of documentation - In terms of documentation - In terms of conservation Locations: many human errors It ’ s like finding a needle in a haystack!

10. 4. Tracking the collection: solutions Daily work No specific knowledge External company Software implementation

11. Gross cost: 36.000 €/year Lower investment (economic & psychological)

12. New technologies: different options 1. Barcodes Linear 2D QR Datamatrix EAN

13. “ Visual contact ”

15. 2. RFID

17. No “ visual contact ”

20. 6. Application of RFID in the ICP Our goal: to design, develop, implement and integrate a RFID solution for the unequivocal identification and inventory of the specimens of ICP collection

22. Customized versus standard products

23. How to save information in a tag? Types of RFID tags used 1. For lego pieces

24. 20 x 12 mm Adhesive 60.000 2. For macrofossils 65 x 45 mm Non adhesive 70.000 Institut Català de Paleontologia M. Crusafont IPS: Element: Taxó: Jaciment: Edat: Ubicació:

25. 3. For boxes (locations) 85 x 25 mm Non adhesive 3.000

26. How we read the information?

27. Costs Micro: 0,12 € / unit Macro and boxes: 0,16 € / unit Software: it depends on the number of simultaneous users

28. Thank you very much!