2001 IFA conference session

Half-day HEIRNET session to be held at the 2001 IFA conference, to be held at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne on the morning of 11 April 2001

Session title: So what do we want from our HEIRs?

Session organiser: Dr Mike Heyworth, Council for British Archaeology, St Mary's House, 66 Bootham, York YO30 7BZ, tel 01904 671417, email mikeheyworth@britarch.ac.uk

Session abstract:

HEIRs (Historic Environment Information Resources) are developing in numbers and complexity, stimulated by rapidly advancing technology and selective funding opportunities, but with a lack of mutual awareness that is inhibiting useful co-operation and co-ordination.

In an attempt to address some of these issues, the Historic Environment Information Resources Network (HEIRNET) was set up by the Council for British Archaeology in 1998 as a delegate body representing organisations which have a direct interest in information systems within archaeology and the historic environment. Its geographical scope is the United Kingdom, in the context of wider European and international developments.

HEIRNET started out by commissioning a project mapping the landscape of information systems. Its consultants, David Baker, Gill Chitty & the Archaeology Data Service, came to the view that a strategic vision for HEIRs requires user needs to be at the centre of future information system development. They concluded that it is desirable to maximise interconnectivity or interoperability between physically dispersed systems, moving away from earlier models of global information management. Provided this is done in the service of roles that relate clearly to user-needs, this will be more than just another technical exercise in restructuring. It has the potential to transform and strengthen the roles of the major organisations at national and local level, by defining them as points of access to both national and local data-sets, in the service of nation and community.

This conference session will present the work of HEIRNET and its consultants and hear from a number of HEIRNET members about projects that are attempting to show the way forward at regional, national and international level. Further relevant contributions are invited.

Session programme:

9.00-9.05 Chairman's welcome
(Prof Anthony Harding, University of Durham & HEIRNET Chairman)

9.05-9.15 An introduction to the Historic Environment Information Resources Network
(Dr Mike Heyworth, Council for British Archaeology - CBA)
HEIRNET is a delegate body representing organisations which have a direct interest in information systems within archaeology and the historic environment.
It was set up in July 1998 by the CBA to facilitate cooperation between organisations across the UK. Its brief is to:

develop a strategic vision for UK information systems relating to the historic environment which enables access, is geared to the requirements of users and emphasises public benefit

review current developments in information systems, sharing information on developing initiatives

encourage cooperative approaches to information strategy across the UK, within the context of established and developing data and technical standards

encourage efficient but effective resource use and development, and economies of effort in data collection

Current members of HEIRNET are the Archaeology Data Service, the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, the Association of Regional & Islands Archaeologists, the British & Irish Archaeological Bibliography, Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments, the Council for British Archaeology, the DCMS Portable Antiquities Scheme, English Heritage, the Environment & Heritage Service (Northern Ireland), Historic Scotland, the Institute of Field Archaeologists, the Institute for Historic Building Conservation, Manx National Heritage, mda (Museum Documentation Association), Resource: the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council, the Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland, the Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Wales, the Society of Museum Archaeologists, and the Standing Conference of Archaeological Unit Managers.
Further details are available on the HEIRNET web site at http://www.britarch.ac.uk/HEIRNET.
Powerpoint presentation (16K file)

9.15-9.35 Joining it all up: relevant standards and developments from the Heritage sector and beyond
(Dr Paul Miller, United Kingdom Office for Library & Information Networking - UKOLN)
The recommendations contained within the HEIRNET consultants' report represent part of a broader trend towards distributed, public-facing, information systems.
From digital library projects funded in the UK and elsewhere to the range of e-Government initiatives currently under development, rich resources are being made available to a range of users.
Fundamental to all of these developments, whether in the Heritage sector or elsewhere, is consistent and considered deployment of a range of technical, processual, semantic and other standards.
This paper includes a review of certain significant initiatives, and anintroduction to a number of the key standards involved.
Powerpoint presentation (377K file)

9.35-10.15 The Information Landscape
(David Baker, Historic Environment Conservation & Dr Gill Chitty, Hawkshead Archaeology & Conservation)
In seeking to 'map' the information landscape, the HEIRNET project set out to chart territory in which boundaries are notoriously ill-defined. There was a risk of producing descriptive material of limited value unless it was placed within a cohering context. Survey work identified many and varied systems, and a multiplicity of linkages between different operational sectors and various uses of the historic environment. It found diverse approaches to archaeological recording and building conservation, to museums collections, historical archives and records and other cultural and biological information resources. There is uneven and patchy coverage in some topic areas, and much repetitive data collection.
That cohering context is broad and fairly obvious; it is an awareness that information has to be systematically acquired, stored and curated so that it can be used comprehensively for understanding, conserving and explaining the historic environment. It involves recognising a framework of four interacting elements, the historic environment in all its aspects, the conservation process in all its stages, the management of information, and organisational structures. The interaction has to serve a family of information users, each defined by particular needs, for information that is relatively 'raw', or has been variously selected, synthesised, processed or mediated. To put it another way, information systems must be integrally involved with all aspects of a widely and inclusively defined conservation process, able to communicate its scope, functions and purposes, as a practical aid to resource discovery.
The HEIRNET study concluded that the inhabited landscape of information systems is starting to move towards a distributed network of inter-operable systems. This is the route towards the 'virtual' comprehensive multi-purpose information systems needed to satisfy user-requirements at each level. However arranged, they have to be managed and developed by professional staff with appropriately broad training. Within national and local levels communications must be improved between general and specialised systems that can contribute together towards a range of wider goals. Part of the task is to recognise and define distinctive roles in research, conservation and explanation for nations, regions and local communities. Clarity and consensus must be achieved about the concepts of, and responsibility for 'curation', 'holding' and 'accessing', especially in the context of new agendas of public 'access' and social 'inclusiveness'. Inaccessibility is recognised as one of the principal barriers to effective synthesis, and networks are important facilitators of effective information flows. But achieving these has to be tempered by technical solutions that are realistic, aware of disparate user-needs, and the costs and benefits of enabling access.

10.15-10.30 discussion

10.30-11.00 coffee

11.00-11.20 HEIRgates and HEIRports: tools for resource discovery
(Dr Julian Richards, Archaeology Data Service - ADS; Nigel Clubb, English Heritage National Monuments Record;Hilary Malaws, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales; Diana Murray, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland)
The Internet is the fastest growing source of information on the planet. If we are to avoid being overwhelmed then it is vital to develop tools which enable us to locate, quickly and effectively, the information we need. Automated search engines are frequently ineffective means of locating web sites of interest and there has been investment in creating gateways and portals which provide indices to web sites and use standard metadata and protocols to allow cross-searching of distributed resources, often referred to as interoperability.
The HEIRNET report "Mapping Information Resources" (http://www.britarch.ac.uk/HEIRNET/rep1.html) made a number of strategic recommendations to enable us to make information systems work for us in ways which will encourage economies of effort. This paper will describe two of the ways in which partnerships have been activated to take forward some of the technical recommendations of the Report.
First, the report recommended that "A central Internet register of HEIRs, supported by the community of information providers, should make available details about the status and accessibility of information systems." A partnership between the Archaeology Data Service and the National Monuments Records of England, Scotland and Wales, in conjunction with the Council for British Archaeology, is developing a prototype Internet register which will allow users to identify and locate Historic Environment Information Resources and to register details of new resources.
Secondly, the report recommended that developing systems should make full use of interoperable cross-searching. A prototype portal for Historic Environment resources is being developed by the ADS, in partnership with the Scottish NMR and the Portable Antiquities Programme. This will allow users to search simultaneously for related resources within the databases held by each of these organisations. In time it is intended to extend the portal to encompass other key information providers.
Powerpoint presentation (2Mb file)

11.20-11.40 A Sense of Place - Cultural Heritage and the Learning Networks
(David Dawson, Resource - The Council for Museums, Archives & Libraries)
In the last 5 years, the vision of seamless access to heritage information has reached the point where it can become a reality. Much still needs to be done, not least in creating the underlying databases for SMRs, museums and archives. Even where these do exist, many were created by professionals, for professionals, and are unlikely to be readily understood by a wider public.
The Government is committed to universal internet access by 2005. A key policy direction is therefore to create the content and services that will encourage new groups of people to develop IT skills, and begin a learning journey that will result in a more highly skilled and adaptable workforce. Early evaluation of UK Online Centres has shown how local and family history and heritage are important to encourage new users of ICT to develop their skills and to begin to make technology work for them. No edition of Time Team or Meet the Ancestors is complete without an extensive plug for the linked websites that guide users to find out more and to join on-line discussions.
Formal education is also moving away from fact-based to skills-based learning, encouraging the development of flexible distance learning courses, delivered as small packages, that be credited and built into a range of qualifications. Delivered over the internet, these courses will require a new range of teaching and mentoring skills.
By recognising the importance of these developments, the cultural heritage sector can begin to unlock the funding that will be needed to create user-centred learning resources as well as the information networks on which they will be based. The People's Network, NGfL and DNER share a common strategic approach and help the sector deliver elements of this agenda. In March, the DCMS launches a vision report for its Culture Online initiative, that may provide a focus for taking the agenda forward.
HTML presentation (on People Network web site)

11.40-12.00 The National Biodiversity Network
(Dr Jim Munford, NBN Trust)
At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, 150 Heads of State, including our own Prime Minister, underlined the importance of conserving wildlife by signing the Convention on Biological Diversity. In the UK, this has been translated into a Biodiversity Action Plan (1994), which builds on the commitment of individuals and organisations at all levels.
However, effective action must be underpinned by relevant and accurate information about biodiversity. Decision-makers at all levels need access to data about the nation's wildlife. Yet at the moment, there is no readily available picture of our wildlife. There isn't even an agreed list of all our animal and plant species.
Currently, data is held in various locations and forms in the UK, and these data sets are growing fast. Easier access to the knowledge within such data sets is vital; without this how can we plan, make decisions and learn from this valuable information?
Just as importantly, standards are needed to ensure that data is trustworthy, reliable and recorded in a consistent way.
The National Biodiversity Network aims to be the solution to these issues by becoming the national system that links the demand for wildlife information to its collection. The NBN will:
Add value and importance to all UK records by making them accessible.
Be of particular value to those who observe wildlife and work with the resulting data.
Help to spread knowledge of our wildlife and develop understanding of its importance.
Have a strong influence on how we interact with our natural environment by allowing decisions at all levels to be based on accurate, up-to-date information.

This paper will provide an overview of the developing NBN.
Powerpoint presentation (660K file)

12.00-12.30 discussion

Home page

Document last revised: 26 April 2001 by Mike Heyworth

9.00-9.05	Chairman's welcome (Prof Anthony Harding, University of Durham & HEIRNET Chairman)
9.05-9.15	An introduction to the Historic Environment Information Resources Network (Dr Mike Heyworth, Council for British Archaeology - CBA) HEIRNET is a delegate body representing organisations which have a direct interest in information systems within archaeology and the historic environment. It was set up in July 1998 by the CBA to facilitate cooperation between organisations across the UK. Its brief is to: develop a strategic vision for UK information systems relating to the historic environment which enables access, is geared to the requirements of users and emphasises public benefit review current developments in information systems, sharing information on developing initiatives encourage cooperative approaches to information strategy across the UK, within the context of established and developing data and technical standards encourage efficient but effective resource use and development, and economies of effort in data collection Current members of HEIRNET are the Archaeology Data Service, the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, the Association of Regional & Islands Archaeologists, the British & Irish Archaeological Bibliography, Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments, the Council for British Archaeology, the DCMS Portable Antiquities Scheme, English Heritage, the Environment & Heritage Service (Northern Ireland), Historic Scotland, the Institute of Field Archaeologists, the Institute for Historic Building Conservation, Manx National Heritage, mda (Museum Documentation Association), Resource: the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council, the Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland, the Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Wales, the Society of Museum Archaeologists, and the Standing Conference of Archaeological Unit Managers. Further details are available on the HEIRNET web site at http://www.britarch.ac.uk/HEIRNET. Powerpoint presentation (16K file)
9.15-9.35	Joining it all up: relevant standards and developments from the Heritage sector and beyond (Dr Paul Miller, United Kingdom Office for Library & Information Networking - UKOLN) The recommendations contained within the HEIRNET consultants' report represent part of a broader trend towards distributed, public-facing, information systems. From digital library projects funded in the UK and elsewhere to the range of e-Government initiatives currently under development, rich resources are being made available to a range of users. Fundamental to all of these developments, whether in the Heritage sector or elsewhere, is consistent and considered deployment of a range of technical, processual, semantic and other standards. This paper includes a review of certain significant initiatives, and anintroduction to a number of the key standards involved. Powerpoint presentation (377K file)
9.35-10.15	The Information Landscape (David Baker, Historic Environment Conservation & Dr Gill Chitty, Hawkshead Archaeology & Conservation) In seeking to 'map' the information landscape, the HEIRNET project set out to chart territory in which boundaries are notoriously ill-defined. There was a risk of producing descriptive material of limited value unless it was placed within a cohering context. Survey work identified many and varied systems, and a multiplicity of linkages between different operational sectors and various uses of the historic environment. It found diverse approaches to archaeological recording and building conservation, to museums collections, historical archives and records and other cultural and biological information resources. There is uneven and patchy coverage in some topic areas, and much repetitive data collection. That cohering context is broad and fairly obvious; it is an awareness that information has to be systematically acquired, stored and curated so that it can be used comprehensively for understanding, conserving and explaining the historic environment. It involves recognising a framework of four interacting elements, the historic environment in all its aspects, the conservation process in all its stages, the management of information, and organisational structures. The interaction has to serve a family of information users, each defined by particular needs, for information that is relatively 'raw', or has been variously selected, synthesised, processed or mediated. To put it another way, information systems must be integrally involved with all aspects of a widely and inclusively defined conservation process, able to communicate its scope, functions and purposes, as a practical aid to resource discovery. The HEIRNET study concluded that the inhabited landscape of information systems is starting to move towards a distributed network of inter-operable systems. This is the route towards the 'virtual' comprehensive multi-purpose information systems needed to satisfy user-requirements at each level. However arranged, they have to be managed and developed by professional staff with appropriately broad training. Within national and local levels communications must be improved between general and specialised systems that can contribute together towards a range of wider goals. Part of the task is to recognise and define distinctive roles in research, conservation and explanation for nations, regions and local communities. Clarity and consensus must be achieved about the concepts of, and responsibility for 'curation', 'holding' and 'accessing', especially in the context of new agendas of public 'access' and social 'inclusiveness'. Inaccessibility is recognised as one of the principal barriers to effective synthesis, and networks are important facilitators of effective information flows. But achieving these has to be tempered by technical solutions that are realistic, aware of disparate user-needs, and the costs and benefits of enabling access.
10.15-10.30	discussion
10.30-11.00	coffee
11.00-11.20	HEIRgates and HEIRports: tools for resource discovery (Dr Julian Richards, Archaeology Data Service - ADS; Nigel Clubb, English Heritage National Monuments Record;Hilary Malaws, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales; Diana Murray, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland) The Internet is the fastest growing source of information on the planet. If we are to avoid being overwhelmed then it is vital to develop tools which enable us to locate, quickly and effectively, the information we need. Automated search engines are frequently ineffective means of locating web sites of interest and there has been investment in creating gateways and portals which provide indices to web sites and use standard metadata and protocols to allow cross-searching of distributed resources, often referred to as interoperability. The HEIRNET report "Mapping Information Resources" (http://www.britarch.ac.uk/HEIRNET/rep1.html) made a number of strategic recommendations to enable us to make information systems work for us in ways which will encourage economies of effort. This paper will describe two of the ways in which partnerships have been activated to take forward some of the technical recommendations of the Report. First, the report recommended that "A central Internet register of HEIRs, supported by the community of information providers, should make available details about the status and accessibility of information systems." A partnership between the Archaeology Data Service and the National Monuments Records of England, Scotland and Wales, in conjunction with the Council for British Archaeology, is developing a prototype Internet register which will allow users to identify and locate Historic Environment Information Resources and to register details of new resources. Secondly, the report recommended that developing systems should make full use of interoperable cross-searching. A prototype portal for Historic Environment resources is being developed by the ADS, in partnership with the Scottish NMR and the Portable Antiquities Programme. This will allow users to search simultaneously for related resources within the databases held by each of these organisations. In time it is intended to extend the portal to encompass other key information providers. Powerpoint presentation (2Mb file)
11.20-11.40	A Sense of Place - Cultural Heritage and the Learning Networks (David Dawson, Resource - The Council for Museums, Archives & Libraries) In the last 5 years, the vision of seamless access to heritage information has reached the point where it can become a reality. Much still needs to be done, not least in creating the underlying databases for SMRs, museums and archives. Even where these do exist, many were created by professionals, for professionals, and are unlikely to be readily understood by a wider public. The Government is committed to universal internet access by 2005. A key policy direction is therefore to create the content and services that will encourage new groups of people to develop IT skills, and begin a learning journey that will result in a more highly skilled and adaptable workforce. Early evaluation of UK Online Centres has shown how local and family history and heritage are important to encourage new users of ICT to develop their skills and to begin to make technology work for them. No edition of Time Team or Meet the Ancestors is complete without an extensive plug for the linked websites that guide users to find out more and to join on-line discussions. Formal education is also moving away from fact-based to skills-based learning, encouraging the development of flexible distance learning courses, delivered as small packages, that be credited and built into a range of qualifications. Delivered over the internet, these courses will require a new range of teaching and mentoring skills. By recognising the importance of these developments, the cultural heritage sector can begin to unlock the funding that will be needed to create user-centred learning resources as well as the information networks on which they will be based. The People's Network, NGfL and DNER share a common strategic approach and help the sector deliver elements of this agenda. In March, the DCMS launches a vision report for its Culture Online initiative, that may provide a focus for taking the agenda forward. HTML presentation (on People Network web site)
11.40-12.00	The National Biodiversity Network (Dr Jim Munford, NBN Trust) At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, 150 Heads of State, including our own Prime Minister, underlined the importance of conserving wildlife by signing the Convention on Biological Diversity. In the UK, this has been translated into a Biodiversity Action Plan (1994), which builds on the commitment of individuals and organisations at all levels. However, effective action must be underpinned by relevant and accurate information about biodiversity. Decision-makers at all levels need access to data about the nation's wildlife. Yet at the moment, there is no readily available picture of our wildlife. There isn't even an agreed list of all our animal and plant species. Currently, data is held in various locations and forms in the UK, and these data sets are growing fast. Easier access to the knowledge within such data sets is vital; without this how can we plan, make decisions and learn from this valuable information? Just as importantly, standards are needed to ensure that data is trustworthy, reliable and recorded in a consistent way. The National Biodiversity Network aims to be the solution to these issues by becoming the national system that links the demand for wildlife information to its collection. The NBN will: Add value and importance to all UK records by making them accessible. Be of particular value to those who observe wildlife and work with the resulting data. Help to spread knowledge of our wildlife and develop understanding of its importance. Have a strong influence on how we interact with our natural environment by allowing decisions at all levels to be based on accurate, up-to-date information. This paper will provide an overview of the developing NBN. Powerpoint presentation (660K file)
12.00-12.30	discussion