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Hi Nick (again)
Data exchange is a big issue up here as well. It is something we are thinking seriously about in Highland in respect of monument records and I’m also interested in others’ views. ASPIRE is still in discussion/development but my feeling is there is still a need for a very simple, standardised set of fields which can easily be compiled by the whole range of contributors in various formats.
I don’t think any of us would expect to get finished records from this kind of process. It’s more a case of getting a basic initial record into the HER that will flag up the presence of more information. At the most basic level, we are looking at using the following field structure:
UID
Name
Record type (terms supplied by HER)
Site type (free text, but preferably using the EH/RCAHMS thesauri)
Period (terms supplied by HER)
Description (free text)
Site condition/survival, as appropriate (terms supplied by HER)
Grid reference
These basic fields can easily be entered in a flat file database or spreadsheet. With links to source and event records created during the import process this gives a very basic record with enough information to work with until the record can be enhanced.
I recently had a student working with me over the summer who had no archaeological background, and she was able to quickly grasp how to create basic monument records which approximated to the above content. My point being that if a completely untrained individual can understand these information units, then local community groups and contractors should also find them easy to work with.
Cheers
Sylvina
Sylvina Tilbury | HER Officer | Planning & Development | Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX | T: 01463 702503 | F: 01463 702298
-----Original
Message-----
From: Issues
related to Historic Environment Records [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Nick
Boldrini
Sent: 20 October 2009 09:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Data Exchange
Hi HERO's
one of many things I am pondering is data exchange.
By this I mean exchanging digital data of event, monument finds etc data with different groups.
I have had some experience of this, we have received some data from Contractors, quite a bit from some Community Archaeology Projects, and shared data with Neighbouring LA's.
The data has varied from GIS layers which we don't need to incorporate into the HER fully (eg neighbouring LA data) to GIS and databases we would want to bring in fully.
There are lots of issue relating to bringing the data into the HER (Copyright, actually importing the data and related data standard issues, etc).
However, when talking to people about this I am regularly asked if there are any set standards to use when they create the data.
Obviously I mention MIDAS and INSCRIPTION and their eyes glaze over...
I am also aware that there are various initiatives looking at these issues eg I think it was suggested OASIS to look at getting GIS coverage of events from contractors at HER Forum in Sheffield (or was it HBSMR UG?), and also ASPIRE is available (though this seems to have stalled).
The point of all this is one of the things I am trying to come up with is a quick, short and Plain English introduction to what information an HER would require from people as a minimum, to make the records useful, and easy to integrate.
Has anyone looked at this or produced anything like it for their HER?
I would also be interested to hear any experience of data swapping and things to avoid/worked well when getting data from contractors local societies etc.
thanks
best wishes
Nick Boldrini
Historic Environment Record Officer
Direct Dial (01609) 532331
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