University Digitisation Centre

 

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The University Digitisation Centre offers advice, training and services about converting analogue materials like books, research papers and 3D objects to digital formats for editing, data mining, resource sharing and preservation.

The University Digitisation Centre digitises items from the University’s collections to support research. We also offer consultation, advice and self-service options for students and staff.

Our services include:

  • Scanning books, maps, posters, loose documents and papers, transparencies, and negatives to industry standards
  • Extracting text from scanned images to create editable documents or to facilitate text mining (this may include licencing fees for processing)
  • High-quality, self-service scanning at no cost (for university teaching and research business)
  • Digitisation advice, including technical requirements, specifications and feasibility for grant applications.

Recently we have been working with Professor Andrew May on the digitisation of the Sand and McDougall directories (historical land use directories for Melbourne) to create an address-level database and a map of records. We have also been extracting data from paper-based surveys to support the Sleep and Education: Learning New Skills Early study in the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences.

Visit the centre

Resources

  • ABBYY Recognition server
  • Books scanners (A3-A1)
  • Digitisation project planning
  • Flatbed scanner (A3 with transparency adapter)
  • High resoltuion digital cameras
  • Photogrammetry expertise
  • Photographic slide/negative digitisation equipment
  • Photographic studio
  • Scientific photographer

User information

The platform is available free-of-charge to all members of the University of Melbourne community.

Contact us

University Digitisation Centre
digitisation-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au
Phone
+61 3 8344 6161

Book online using iLab

You can book this resource or platform using the iLab booking system. You will need to create an account before logging in. Access user guides and videos to help you set up an account and navigate the iLab system:

iLab booking system

If you're familiar with iLab and already have a login, visit the University Digitisation Centre Core.

More information on this platform can be found on the Research Gateway, which is available to all University of Melbourne academic and honorary staff, graduate researchers and professional staff. Please note, to access the Research Gateway, you will need to login with your University of Melbourne username and password.

Banner image: A person using a large scanning device. Image by Ben Kreunen