Abstract:

This paper describes the development of ADS easy, an online system for facilitating the deposit of digital research data with the Archaeology Data Service, a trusted digital repository for the UK historic environment sector. ADS easy provides an online costing tool and a mechanism for the upload of data and metadata files. The semi-automation of the deposit and ingest process will reduce costs but will also give users great control of their archiving. It is argued that this may, in turn, lead to greater engagement with selection and retention decisions.

Keywords:

ADS easy, Digital Repository, Digital Archive, Automated Ingest, Selection and Retention

Introduction

The growing dependence on digital data in archaeology has raised awareness of the need for long-term preservation of the datasets resulting from archaeological research. The Archaeology Data Service (ADS) is the mandated repository for many organisations within both commercial and academic sectors within the UK, providing archiving services for the digital outputs of archaeological fieldwork and research (http:// archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/). The ADS has been able to harness over fifteen years of experience in preserving and disseminating archaeological digital data, to develop an online system that will both streamline and enhance elements of the archiving process. It is hoped that ADS easy, an online tool to allow depositors to estimate archiving charges and to upload files and metadata to the ADS repository, will reduce archiving costs and make digital preservation an economic reality for those working within the archaeological community. At a time when the historic environment sector is suffering from reduced funding the need to develop a sustainable funding model is an imperative (ADS 2012).

ADS easy is being developed under the SWORD-ARM project, and has been funded by the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC). Within SWORD-ARM the ADS is refining and enhancing the archive ingest and charging processes, using a SWORD client that will both streamline and semi-automate the deposition process. SWORD- ARM will deliver real benefits to depositors in terms of their ability to deposit data, create and validate metadata, and engage in the process of selection and retention. It will also allow them to manage single and multiple deposits and, perhaps most significantly, to manage cost estimates and accounts. SWORD-ARM presents the opportunity to enhance ADS data management systems and to build upon existing business infrastructure and role as a discipline-based repository.