Barcodes are Dead, Long Live Barcodes!

Improving the Inventory of Living Plant Collections Using Optical Technology

Authors

  • Reinout Havinga Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
  • Havard Ostgaard Botanical Software Ltd.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24823/Sibbaldia.2016.196

Abstract

The use of barcodes for record keeping in botanic gardens has been pioneered before, but attempts have not always been successful. It has even been claimed that, for use in living collections, barcodes are altogether obsolete. This is difficult to imagine given the success of barcodes in almost any professional logistic or auto-ID application. We have tried to find the ‘sweet spots’ of barcode use and have implemented the technology at the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam. Integrated with the list-making functionality in the collection management software, barcodes have proved to be an invaluable tool in improving the quality and accuracy of the inventory.

Author Biographies

Reinout Havinga, Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

Curator

Havard Ostgaard, Botanical Software Ltd.

Manager and Software Engineer

References

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Published

2017-01-17

How to Cite

Havinga, R., & Ostgaard, H. (2017). Barcodes are Dead, Long Live Barcodes! : Improving the Inventory of Living Plant Collections Using Optical Technology. Sibbaldia: The International Journal of Botanic Garden Horticulture, (14), 133–140. https://doi.org/10.24823/Sibbaldia.2016.196

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Section

Articles