Purpose and approach
Preservation goes beyond keeping a copy of a file. Records need to remain authentic, reliable, intact and usable as software and storage systems change. The project investigates standards such as OAIS and E-ARK, packaging approaches and established archival tools.
Project result
Archive Wrapper
Developed for H-SEARCH, this tool integrates dossier preparation and granular CORDRA metadata with the Archivematica pipeline. It puts the implementation goals of this work package into practice.
See the workflow and screenshots →Tasks & planned deliverables
Month numbers are relative to the proposed project start. They do not indicate confirmed completion dates.
Task 2.1 · Months 3–18
Design the preservation workflow
Review archival standards, existing practices and preferably open-source software. Define a storage and backup strategy that uses BELSPO’s long-term preservation platform and can be refined through practical evaluation.
Task lead: Stephanie Buyle
Planned deliverables
- D.2.1.1State of the art and draft archival workflowMonth 12
- D.2.1.2Workflow model for long-term archivalMonth 18
Task 2.2 · Months 7–24
Implement the archival infrastructure
Set up environments for evaluating software and workflow choices, then implement the final model. Plan off-site storage of archival packages through BELSPO’s LTP platform and KIK/IRPA’s own tape infrastructure.
Task lead: Edwin De Roock
Planned deliverables
- D.2.2.1Technical documentation of the archival infrastructureMonth 24
Task 2.3 · Months 13–30
Evaluate the preservation workflow
Run the dossiers selected in WP.1 through the workflow. Feed findings back into the model and implementation so that both can be improved iteratively.
Task lead: Véronique Van der Stede
Planned deliverables
- D.2.3.1Evaluation reportMonth 30
How this work connects
WP.2 and WP.3 share preparatory steps but have different priorities: long-term preservation and the dissemination of research data. Their workflows are designed together.