Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Preservation by addition of Representation Information is an alternate strategy.
Capturing NetCDF documentation and libraries from Unidata [
180
] means that if
future user community still have skills in FORTRAN, C, C++ or Java they will be
able to easily write software to access the required parameters.
14.6.3 Secondary Responses to a Preservation Strategy
Where a dependency between information objects has been identified a secondary
preservation strategy may need to be developed for the associated object.
14.7 Preservation Plans
As multiple strategies can be developed a number of competing preservation plans
are available. A preservation plan should consist of:
•
a set of information objects
•
a set of supply relationships
•
a set of preservation strategies
Each plan will allow an archive to carry out a series of clear preservation actions in
order to create an AIP. The archive should then be in a position to take a number
of plans to the cost/benefit/risk analysis stage where they can be evaluated and a
preferred option chosen.
14.8 Cost/Benefit/Risk Analysis
The final stage of the workflow is where plan options can then be assessed
according to
•
Costs to the archive directly as well as the resources knowledge and time of
archive staff
•
Benefits to future users which ease and facilitate re-use of data
•
Risks - what are the risks inherent the preservation strategies and are they
acceptable to the archive.
•
Options - if the answers to be above are not entirely clear then what options
should be kept open so that decisions can be made in future.
While it is recognised that it is not possible to assess these in a quantitative way,
nevertheless it should be possible to get enough of an evaluation, supported by evi-
dence, to allow decision makers to make an informed judgement. Once this analysis
is complete the optimal plan can be selected and progressed to preservation action.
If no plans are deemed suitable then the process must begin again with an adjustment
to the preservation objective and/or the designated community to be served.
