Case Study: Joint Nature Conservation Committee preserves ecological archives with Pearl Scan

Joint Nature Conservation Committee digitises 25,000 slides at 5,000 ppi with Pearl Scan

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) faced the challenge of preserving and providing access to a large archive of approximately 25,000 35mm microfiche slides containing crucial ecological data. Physical storage constraints and the risk of degradation threatened this valuable collection, and a lack of a digital catalogue prevented efficient access. JNCC engaged Pearl Scan for their 35mm negative slides digitisation service to create a secure, searchable digital archive.

Pearl Scan implemented a high-resolution digitisation process at 5,000 ppi, which included careful manual handling, digital restoration, and comprehensive metadata tagging. The results were a complete digital archive delivered on encrypted media, with all slides returned to their original order. This solution provided JNCC with secure long-term preservation, significantly improved accessibility for staff and researchers, and eliminated the need for legacy hardware, thereby supporting evidence-based conservation policy across the UK.

Joint Nature Conservation Committee