Lapidator
Software
AThe main goal of the Lapidator Project is to compile the digital archive of the Koch Sándor Mineral Collection, which is located at the Department of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology, University of Szeged. The archive would be managed by an up-to-date software, handling 2D and 3D photographs and databases on the characteristics of minerals.
As an early outcome of the project we have already set up a software, which goes well beyond the execution of ordinary database commands, and ensures the technical background for various educational, demonstrational and promotional projects.
Preliminary works has started with the planning of the general setup of the system. As a first step a Systematic Mineralogy Database was constructed on the basis of the mineral-database of the IMA (International Mineralogical Association). This contains the name, taxonomy, formula, elementary composition, physical characteristics, and photographs of the minerals. Further sub-databases were also added to the software in order to enhance the primary, systematic framework. These are: the digital Koch Sándor Mineral Database, the archive of Hungarian mineralogical publications, and the most important places of occurrences within the Carpathian Basin, supplemented with maps. The basis of the software, i.e. the Systematic Mineralogy Database, also provides a didactic guideline for the user to digest the presented knowledge. The digital Koch Sándor Mineral Database includes all the 6000 minerals of the collection, with 3D rotating images of some of the most beautiful pieces, exhibited at the department in glass-cases. With a simple search one can gather those publications of the previous decades which write about or mention a chosen mineral. Further important information can be gained by checking the places of occurrence and accessibility on maps covering the whole Carpathian Basin. Beside all of these, the software can also give a historical view on the life and work of famous scientists dealing with mineral collection.
The appearance of the software was designed to be simple and elegant at the same time. Different options can be accessed easily, while parameters referring to each other and hypertext solutions provide a web like character for the whole system. In accordance with the Hungarian user environment the software is supported by Win32 based operational systems, however current developments aim at involving Macintosh based systems too. The installed software downloads updates and changes in the database through the internet automatically, thus the user is always faced with the latest version of the digital collection.
In all we have produced a software which is ready to be applied by people of any age, both with a professional or non-professional background and either for research or simply for studying the wonders of minerals.
The search environment of the Lapidator software was composed under Delphi. Algorithms are running in encrypted databases standardised to Microsoft Access. The starting application shows a window displaying the list of options through which one can refine a search according to the characteristics of the chosen mineral or minerals. The software provides several further steps. The first is mineral identification or mineral search. This is followed by the description of the chosen mineral. Thirdly the software searches for the name of the mineral among the keywords published in articles of ACTA Mineralogica-Petrographica, and lists these results. Finally, an image is presented on, which is enhanced by 3D illustrations in order represent the selected mineral in its full beauty.
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In our example project, which can be seen on this poster, the only search condition we set is "triclinic" crystal system. The opening window of the software, "Mineral Identification" module, automatically offers the IMA database, which can be restricted to the database of the Koch Sándor Mineralogical Collection, by setting the "Collection Filter" option. Using the default settings of the software, after launching a search for "triclinic" a list is going to be created about those minerals which fulfil the above feature. In this case the name of 389 minerals appears in the new window. Moving through the list, at each record a small image of the mineral pops up, which is supplemented with the results of the searches made on the Publication Database and the Koch Sándor Database, i.e., one receives information if the mineral is mentioned in any of the articles of the ACTA Mineralogica-Petrographica between 1922 and 2006, or it can be found in the Koch Sándor Mineralogical Collection. For example "anorthite" occurs in two publications, and there are four hand pieces of this mineral in the Koch Collection.
Preview...
As a next step in the example project the software offers the loading in of a general description on the chosen mineral. Stepping further a detailed description can also be accessed containing additional pieces of information, with special respect to the mineral's historical context. Most of the images of this description module are originating from the previously mentioned reference databases, however, due to aesthetical reasons some of them are supplemented with photographs from other mineralogical resources, as well. These images are listed with precise citations when the chosen mineral is described, partly because of copyright reasons and partly in order to introduce available internet resources on mineralogy.
Previously we have seen that the "anorthite" occurred twice as a keyword in the ACTA Database. Moving forward from the detailed description module one can take a look at publications with the keyword "anorthite" in a temporal order. Publication searches can also be made on their own. Similarly to the options of the mineral identification module seareches can be refined here as well, this time according to the author or authors, keywords, date and volume of publication.
The Lapidator also displays if the searched or selected mineral can be found in the Koch Sándor Mineralogical Collection. As the collection may contain more pieces from one mineral, just like in other modules the software provides a list from which the user can choose the proper item, complemented with a spectacular 3D image.
The program has got a user friendly environment which is supplemented with a very effective help module. This contains not just detailed descriptions on the functions of the software but a general summary on the mineral world, too.
Photographs were taken in the Koch Sándor Mineralogical Collection in front of a homogenous background at the light of four 100 W lamps with adjustable filters. From the high resolution raw images each mineral was cropped and shaded aesthetically. No adjustments were made concerning the shape and colour of the minerals. 3D images are the results of special panoramic photographs. Minerals were put on a turntable and photographs with a nearly 30% overlap were taken of the rotating objects, pictures were then mosaiced and transformed into a cylindrical projection. The image created this way can be rotated, which provides a spectacular, realistic 3D view of the mineral.
Creators
The software algorithms: Krisztián Forrai
Mineral photos, database and software desctop: Tibor Jánosi
Database of publications: Edit Fodor
CD-ROM and DVD accessories: Zsolt Jánosi
Lectors and correctors: Elemér Pál-Molnár (PhD), Balázs Kóbor (PhD)
Other collaborators:
Németh Ágnes, Gangl Éva, Sóla Angelika, Muschál Szabolcs, Meszlényi Dávid, Csesznok Tamás, Raffai Enikő, Magossy Tibor, Nagy Boglárka Csilla, Barna András, Fülöp Zoltán Dezső, Joó József János, Németh Árpád, Olasz Angéla, Sulyok Dávid, Rappay Balázs, Korcsmáros Réka, Bodai István, Apjok Gábor, Makó Csaba László, Erdélyi Diána, Laczkó Edit, Kincses Anna, Takács Éva, Ferkó Edina, Török Zsófia, Jendrics Anikó, Vinkó Tamás, Király Kinga, Lehotai Nóra, Pintér Tamás, Tobak László, Schleier Zita, Tóber Márta, Rónavári Andrea, Kiss Julianna, Koroknai Levente, Czobor Edina, Aszódi Andrea, Izsákovics József, Tatár Gergely, Tatár-Kis Balázs, Pál Máté, Krajkó Judit, Mahmoud Ágnes, Mahmoud Gábor, Fehérváry Zsolt, Erdődi Károly Ferenc, Kiss Anita, Kis Gyöngyi, Kis Ágnes, Puskás Róbert, Ceglédi Kinga, Szakács Péter, Deák Orsolya, Régert András, Lajkó Péter, Mérei Ágnes, Bíró Renáta, Seres Judit, Harcos József, Walla Ádám, Gazsi Erzsébet, Farkas Ágnes, Fábián András Ferenc, Nagy Attila, Tóth Balázs, Ferencz Mónika, Érits Viktor, Kozma-Bognár Tibor, Magyar Zsuzsanna, Somogyi László, Blahó Tamás, Nyúzó Norbert, Németh Csaba, Kiss Adrienn, Tolnay Emőke, Bodor Attila, Balogh Erika, Csatári Tünde, Sváb-Kovács Dániel, Debreczeni Tamás, Virág Gábor József, Balogh Andrea, Balázs Krisztián, Bereczky Bence, Józsa Bella, Várnagy Adrienn, Zsódi Bence, Katus Noémi