On long-term digital preservation information systems : a framework and characteristics for development

Abstract

There is a need for the long-term preservation of digitally recorded information, for historical, juridical, democratic and recollective purposes. The digital preservation realm is facing two major problems: hardware and software obsolescence and the rapid growth of information. The problems jeopardise the possibilities for long-term retention and accessibility to digitally recorded information. These problems cannot be solved, but alleviated by managing digital preservation in a long-term perspective. For this to be achieved, special competence is needed. For this reason, Long-term Digital Preservation has emerged as a new field of research and practice, addressing new models, methods and tools. So far, Digital Preservation systems have not been elaborated from an Information Systems perspective. In this thesis, a framework for Long-term Digital Preservation Information Systems (LDP-IS) and some characteristics of such systems and their development are put forth. The research question posed is: What might constitute a framework for realising systems for long-term digital preservation? Subordinated questions are: What are feasible components of such a framework? and What might characterise systems based on such a framework? The research approach is exploratory since this is a new field of investigation. The results comprise an integrated trinity of preservation systems: the framework itself, the concept of LDP-IS and several characteristics of LPD- IS. The characteristics are intended as a basis for requirement specifications in the development of LDP-IS. The framework is a construction emerging from Information Systems theory in combination with contemporary archival theory. The framework is formed as a ladder of decreasing substitutionality. The Information Continuum Model is at the foundation and least substitutional level. The Records Continuum Model constitutes a theoretical framework at the next level. At the level below that, the OAIS Reference Model is placed as a conceptual framework; it is used for talking about components of the preservation system. At the four lowest levels is Model Driven Architecture (MDA), which contains components prone to substitution. The concept of Long-term Digital Preservation Information Systems, LDP-IS, is a general overview of information systems used for preservation of digitally recorded information in the long term. LDP-IS, due to its Information Continuum foundation that kernels the continuing value of information, ensures that social systems will be reproduced as memory tracks of human activities in the future. The characteristics of LDP-IS are divided into meta-principles, general principles and desirable features. Meta-principles can be characterised as top wishes within the preservation community. The meta-principles uncovered in the research are automation (of activities performed by hand), ruling (setting up preservation policies) and preservation planning (a key concept in preservation). General characteristics found are documentation (capturing information about the material and the processes), linkability (building navigable structures across the material), substitutionality (refining the system by replacing system processes and modules), and diversification (creating different ways of using information). One desirable feature was found: learning (introducing systemic intelligence into the system)

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