COMPUTER-AIDED WOOD IDENTIFICATION USING CSIROID

A new wood identification programme, CSIROID, has been developed to re place the commercial package CARDBOX-PLUS (R). The programme is intera ctive, completely self contained and is capable of running any suitabl e identification key using original features. Two-feature states are u sed and an allowance is made for variable and uncoded features. One un known sample can be identified at a time. Maximum key size is 500,000 taxa (species) with 2000 features. All communication and data access i s performed via pop-up window displays. A number of options are availa ble from the programme: selection of keys, setting of features, featur e definitions, features used in a previous search, setting of names fo r matching taxa, display of matched taxa, detailed information on taxa , search sequences used during identification, and 'best subsequent fe ature'. The use of this latter option for indicating differences and s imilarities between taxa is discussed. The potential for using graphic s images to illustrate features and taxa is indicated. ASCII-coded ana tomical features and corresponding feature list from any key can be ad apted for use with CSIROID.