Sample triage and sorting limits both the assessment of community composition and building of reference databases because it currently relies on labour-intensive work by skilled persons. In marine benthic monitoring this…
can result in up to two years delay between sampling and reporting. An approach integrating image recognition and, where needed, additional techniques (e.g. X-ray, hyperspectral imaging, UV imaging, etc.) will make this process more efficient and allow identification of specimens that cannot immedi
ately be linked to vouchers in the reference database. This component will be able to process a complete range of sample types, including: passive open trap samples (terrestrial), attractant trap samples (terrestrial), soil cores, marine sa