TDWG - Globally Unique Identifiers

A globally unique identifier, or GUID, is a system that provides mechanisms to identify and access data objects on the Web. The main characteristics of a GUID system are:

• GUID systems have identifiers, which are character strings associated with data objects. GBIF and doi:10.1000/182 are examples of identifiers.
• An identifier in a GUID system is persistent, i.e., it is permanently associated with a data object.
• An identifier in a GUID system is globally unique, i.e., it identifies a single data object uniquely within the system.
• Identifiers in a GUID system are actionable, i.e., the system provides mechanisms for clients to access a data object from its associated identifier. This is equivalent to saying that objects in a GUID system are locatable.
• A GUID system also provides mechanisms to describe data objects, i.e., it provides metadata about them.

This group has selected LSID as the GUID technology for identifying Biodiversity Informatics∞ objects and is standardising its use within the community.

Join the TDWG-GUID Mailing List∞ to follow the discussions.

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Relevant Documents

• TDWG LSID Applicability Statement

The TDWG GUID group is now drafting the TDWG LSID Applicability Statement. This document is planed to serve as guideline for implementation of LSID resolvers in biodiversity information applications. This specification will summarize all agreed decisions by the GUID group. Comments and suggestions are very welcome.

• LSID Roadmap

We are also defining the priorities for the group for the next 6 to 9 months regarding LSID work. Take a look and provide your comments on the LSID Roadmap.

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GUID Working Groups

Two main working groups have been created during GUID-1 Workshop (see the report) to implement the initial components of the GUID infrastructure and to address outstanding issues:

• InfrastructureWorkingGroup - will address the key issues regarding the deployment of LSID as the GUID technology for biodiversity informatics.
• PrototypingWorkingGroup - will develop prototypes of test cases to test aspects of a GUID infrastructure.

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Events

• GUID-1 Workshop - Feb 1-3, 2006 at NESCent∞, Durham, NC, USA - This event is past

• GUID-2 Workshop - June 10-12, 2006 at the e-Science Institute (e-SI) in Edinburgh, Scotland - This event is past
  • Agenda
  • List of Participants
  • GUID-2 Report - PDF Version∞
  • GUID-2 Report Comments

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General Content

• Background - Information on the TDWG/GBIF GUID initiative
• Glossary - Definition of terms used by this community
• Process - How we are organizing the work
• How to participate - Add your comments to the wiki and join our mailing list∞
• How to use this wiki - Please read before adding new pages
• People
• ExistingProjects
• OutdatedPages

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Other Documents

• GUID Technologies - Candidate technologies under evaluation
• Use Cases
• GUIDs and LSIDs∞ - Powerpoint presentation by David Thau (TDWG meeting 2004)
• Globally Unique Identifiers for Biodiversity Informatics∞ - Powerpoint presentation by Donald Hobern
• GBIF GUID Services Strategy∞ - outline plan for development of GBIF GUID services from GBIF Data Portal Strategy∞

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Contacts

For further information, please send messages to guids@gbif.org∞.

The TDWG Infrastructure Project Team is:

• Lee Belbin, Australia - Project Manager
• Roger Hyam, United Kingdom - Technical Architect
• Ricardo Pereira, Brazil - Software Engineer

The GBIF contact is:

• Donald Hobern, Programmer Officer for Data Access and Database Interoperability (dhobern@gbif.org∞)

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