What an excellent idea!
On 2 Nov 01, at 10:20, Niall Hammond wrote:
Dear All,
Following the rising tide of comments seen over the last few weeks on the FISH
gis conference and more recently on SMR Forum regarding the disparity in
heritage information that front-line local government archaeology services both
need and can provide compared with English Heritage, is the time ripe to ask a
very fundamental question? Why in such a poorly resourced sector do we have a
network of SMRs, an NMR, ADS and separate listing/scheduling mapping sections?
Many of which seem to be re-inventing the wheel in various electronic
guises...some more round in shape than others.
Surely with improvements in IT technology we could use existing resources much
more effectively if we adopted something allong the lines of the following model
which would still allow flexibility and a degree of local idosynchranicity
EH provide a national archive(NMR aerial photos, hard copy material and
ADS digital catalogue) and a national framework/standard for SMR structure
and content. The NMR as an electronic database in its current form is phased
out.
ADS/EH/ALGAO develop a national virtual heritage record. This would hold
no data itself but merley be a front end search engine which allows anyone to
remotely question and search all English(ultimately British?) SMRs through
the adoption of the national standard utilising Dublin Core and Z39.50
standards(something which the progressive HLF funding programmes should
achieve anyway). A good search engine design should allow specific topics,
themes ,geographical areas etc. to be seperately available to the users
hearts content.
SMRs gain additional resources and staff to adopt the national standard,
provide detailed GIS mapping at a useful scale, improve content and deliver
informed heritage information to a local audience meeting local specific
demands whilst still contributing their data to the national picture with new
data effectively going on-line within hours/days of being added to an
individual SMR.
Now obviously this will upset lot of people, tread on vested interest and
demolish institutions we have come to know and love(?!), The end product will
however be a true national system but one informed by and meeting specific local
demand and needs. I might even guess it would be cheaper than the current muddle
and definitely be best value. Shouldn't we be brave enough to embark on this ?
DCMS are currently inviting comments on EH as part of the quinquennial review
process of government agencies,(look on the DCMS site at www.culture.gov.uk for
the papers and details or email [log in to unmask]). Surely then there
is an opportunity to raise this issue begging a response?
The IT technology exists for such a system including on-line GIS functionality
as we are adopting it for the next phase of the Durham on-line SMR, our HLF
funded Keys to the Past project with Northumberland CC, so any or most problems
of different IT at different local authorties should be able to be overcome on
a timescale which EH and their digital capture of SM information for one don't
seem able to meet.
Thoughts on several postcards gratefully received.
Niall
Niall Hammond
County Archaeology Officer
ALM Department
Durham County Council
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5TY
Tel 0191 383 4212
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Victoria Bryant
Information and Records Officer
Worcestershire Archaeological Service
Woodbury Hall
University College Worcester, WR2 6AJ
Tel: 01905 855494
Fax 01905 855035
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