Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
24.5.3 Relevant Projects, Policies, Organisations, Activities
SHAMAN ( http://www.shaman-ip.eu/ ), Chronopolis ( http://chronopolis.sdsc.
edu/mediawiki/index.php/Main_Page ), CASPAR ( http://www.casparpreserves.
eu/ ), iRODS ( http://www.irods.org )
24.6 Technical Science Data Concepts and Components
Each of the solutions is analysed next. For each solution there is a particular need to
review the existing digital preservation projects, review the proposals and identify
open issues. The Warwick workshop report is also relevant here.
24.6.1 Create and Maintain Representation Information
The information needed to understand and use a digital object is termed, in OAIS,
“Representation Information”. This is a catch-all term which includes informa-
tion about a digital object's format, semantics, software, algorithms, processes and
indeed anything else needed.
SCENARIO
A dataset created by one researcher may need to be used by a second, either
contemporaneously or at some later time. This second researcher may come
from a different discipline and use different analysis tools. In order to avoid
producing misleading results he/she must be able to understand what the data
actually means. For example, given an astronomical image in the current FITS
format, with its several variants, the researcher would need to be able to extract
the values of the pixels of the image from what may be quite a complex and
highly tailored digital object. In order to use an analysis tool one would need
to know how to deal with these pixel values, their units, their coordinates on the
sky and the way in which the photons have been selected e.g. the bandpass of the
filters used. Representation Information is the OAIS term for everything that is
needed in order to understand a digital object. A registry would help to ensure
that the required Representation Information is available in the future and across
disciplines.
24.6.1.1 Next Steps
Representation Information Registry holding copies of Representation
Information of all types which can be shared and enhanced by contributions
from many people.
Virtualisation techniques to facilitate easier integration into contemporary tools
 
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