Oregon State University's Marine and Geology Repository houses thousands of rock samples and miles of sediment cores from ocean floors worldwide, representing millions of years of Earth's history. This National Science Foundation-funded facility is upgrading its technology to make these collections more accessible to researchers.

The repository is developing a digital system that makes it easier to find and access specific samples. Artificial intelligence helps improve data quality and search capabilities, allowing scientists to locate relevant materials more efficiently.

The facility has partnered with organizations to assign unique identifiers to samples, following international standards for scientific data sharing. They've implemented secure cloud-based backup systems that protect data and enable advanced searches.

These improvements support efforts to digitize older collections while enabling new research methods using artificial intelligence and machine learning. The system is being designed for other repositories, with deployment planned at Columbia University's collection facility.

By combining physical collections with modern digital tools, the repository creates comprehensive datasets that support regional and global research studies, ensuring these scientific resources remain available for future generations of researchers.