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| Historic Environment Information Resources Network: | http://www.britarch.ac.uk/HEIRNET/ |
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Technical advisory servicesFrequently Asked Questions
This page includes some useful sources of information but if none of them seem relevant to your enquiry please email HEIRNET@britarch.ac.uk. Creating databases and catalogues Back to topForum for Information Standards in Heritage (FISH).The Forum on Information Standards in Heritage exists to promote and develop
standards covering the compilation and organisation of archaeological and architectural
heritage 'inventories'. MIDAS HeritageMIDAS Heritage is the UK data standard for information about the historic environment developed for and on behalf of the Forum on Information Standards in Heritage (FISH). The data standard (PDF) is available online to download for free at http://www.midas-heritage.info. English Heritage has worked with the whole of the Heritage Sector over the last three years to complete 'MIDAS Heritage' a new UK-wide data standard to assist the sharing of knowledge of the past. For the first time MIDAS Heritage also sets standards to record the work undertaken to understand, protect and manage change to the historic environment. MIDAS Heritage will help make it easier to find out what work has been done, how decisions were made and where to find out more. In other words, it covers the individual assets that form the historic environment (buildings, archaeological sites, shipwrecks, areas of interest and artefacts and ecofacts); the work that is undertaken to understand, protect and manage change to those assets and the relevant sources of further information. INSCRIPTIONINSCRIPTION is a set of standard wordlists that have been developed in consultation
with the members of FISH. These define appropriate terms for
use in compiling and indexing inventories. NMR ThesauriiEnglish Heritage's Data Services Unit is continually developing new thesauri,
in consultation with the members of FISH, to provide structure and guidelines for
the standardisation of terms to be used when creating new records of the past.
Seven separate thesaurii are available on-line: mda wordHOARDmda wordHOARD provides information about UK museums' terminology initiatives The International Committee for Documentation of the International Council of Museums (CIDOC - ICOM)CIDOC is the international focus for the documentation interests of museums and
related organizations. English Heritage Data Services UnitThe English Heritage Data Services Unit have considerable experience in developing
and implementing common standards in recording and describing the historic environment. Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries has published
'ICT Projects - Management and Implementation', a free guideline on planning,
implementing and managing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects
based on the experiences of the successful Resource/DCMS ICT Challenge Fund.
The publication focuses on five key strands of delivering a successful project: 'ICT Projects - Management and Implementation' can be
downloaded free of charge from the People's Network website at
http://www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk/content/itcfguidelines.asp. The aim of the Archaeology Data Service (ADS) is to collect, describe, catalogue,
preserve, and provide user support for digital resources that are created as a product
of archaeological research. The ADS has a responsibility for promoting standards and
guidelines for best practice in the creation, description, preservation and use of
digital archives, metadata and resource discovery. The aim of the National Preservation Office is to provide an independent focus
for ensuring the preservation and continued accessibility of library and archive
material held in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Nof-digitise Technical Advisory Service is provided by UKOLN on behalf of the New
Opportunities Fund and in association with the People's Network. It provides
technical advisory support for stage two applicants to nof-digitise. The Technical Advisory Service for Images has been set up to advise and support
the academic community on the digital creation, storage and delivery of digital
image archives. TASI provides advice and guidance on all the issues involved in
creating and using digital image archives for learning, teaching and research. The Office of the e-Envoy is leading the drive to get
the UK online, to ensure that the country, its citizens and its businesses derive maximum
benefit from the knowledge economy. The Office is developing guidelines for public sector
organisations who are developing web resources, these include: JANET-CERT is the Incident Response Team provided by UKERNA as one of the services
on the JANET network. The team provides emergency assistance to customers of the network
who have suffered a security incident; publishes advice to raise awareness and improve the
security of computers and networks; speaks at training courses and other events related to
security. UKOLN is a national focus of expertise in digital information management. It provides
policy, research and awareness services to the UK library, information and cultural
heritage communities. Its goals are to: influence policy and inform practice; advance the
state of the art and to contribute to knowledge; build useful and innovative distributed
systems and services; and promote community building and consensus-making through
awareness and events services. UKOLN Web Focus is a national web coordinator post, funded by JISC and based at the
University of Bath. The WebWatch project is designing software to audit and monitor web
design practice and use of technologies on the web. UKOLN Interoperability Focus is jointly funded by the Joint Information Systems
Committee (JISC) of the Further and Higher Education Funding Councils and Resource:
the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. Based within UKOLN, Interoperability
Focus works on a range of issues including metadata, distributed library systems and
public library networking. Interoperability Focus also has a special interest in moving
beyond the library sphere, encompassing museums, archives, and other aspects of the
cultural heritage, as well as Government and community information. Cadw's mission is to protect, conserve, and to promote an appreciation of the built
heritage of Wales. Cadw can offer information about projects that are happening currently
in Wales. English Heritage is the Government's lead body for the
historic environment in England. It is responsible for protecting the best of England's
legacy of historic buildings, landscapes and archaeological sites for the benefit of this
and future generations. English Heritage Archaeology Commissions and the Centre for Archaeology both
provide advice and support to a variety of archaeological programmes. The NMR is English Heritage's public archive. The NMR
aims to encourage the understanding and enjoyment of the historic environment of
England by providing access to our archives and information sources Environment and Heritage Service takes the lead in implementing the Government's
environmental policy in Northern Ireland. The Agency can offer information about current
projects in Northern Ireland. Historic Scotland safeguards Scotlands's built heritage by scheduling monuments of
national importance and by listing historic buildings of special architectural or
historic interest. Historic Scotland can offer information about scheduled monuments,
listed buildings, conservation areas and specialist advice about building conservation. RCAHMS is the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.
RCAHMS aims to survey and record the man-made environment of Scotland and can offer
information about current projects in Scotland. The NMRS is the national collection of material relating to the archaeological and
architectural heritage of Scotland. The NMRS makes information available to the public
that has been gathered by RCAHMS Architectural, Archaeological and
Aerial Survey programmes and also its own programmes of record gathering. The NMRS
constantly enhances its Collections through purchase, loan and copying of material
relating to Scotland's architectural and archaeological heritage. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) carries
out surveys, maintains an archive, library and national database and can offer information
about current projects in Wales. The Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA) is the professional organisation for
archaeologists in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1982 to advance the practice of
archaeology and allied disciplines, it promotes professional standards andethics for
conserving, managing, understanding and promoting enjoyment of the heritage.
Archaeologists are responsible for the care of a vulnerable and diminishing resource,
and for promoting understanding and enjoyment of the past. On behalf of the public and
its precious heritage, all archaeologists have a duty to adhere to the highest
professional and ethical standards. These are embodied in the IFA Code of conduct,
which is binding on all members. The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) is the professional institute
which represents conservation professionals in the public and private sectors in the
United Kingdom and Ireland. It has over 1500 members, divided between 14 branches.
The Institute exists to establish the highest standards of conservation practice to
support the effective protection and enhancement of the historic environment. UKIC seeks to promote the highest standards of conservation by encouraging education,
study and research and co-ordinating and improving the knowledge, skills and standards
needed to protect, preserve and maintain the condition and integrity of any objects or
structures which, because of their history, significance, rarity or workmanship, have an
accepted value and importance. Assisting in the exchange and dissemination of technical
and professional information relating to the field of conservation, and providing
facilities for the interchange of knowledge between members. The Joint Information Services Committee (JISC) has built up a collection of
digital resources and the technical infrastructure to deliver those resources
for use in teaching, learning and research in higher and further education
institutions. Portals play an important part in the JISC information environment
as they provide the point where content is brought together and presented to
users. The JISC portals programme is reviewing the role of portals within
the JISC information environment. The programme has developed a useful
'Portals FAQ' to explain the context for its work. The PORTAL project (Presenting natiOnal Resources To Audiences Locally) has
been funded under the JISC's FAIR programme and is a partnership between Academic
Services Interactive Media at the University of Hull and UKOLN. The project is
exploring a wide range of issues relating to institutional portals, and the
integration of national resources with institutional information and services. The Open Archives Initiative (OAI) is an initiative to promote interoperability
standards to facilitate dissemination of digital content. The organisational
website is online at:
Open Archives Initiative. UKOLN is a centre of expertise in digital information management that provides
advice and services to the library, information, education and cultural
heritage communities. UKOLN has put together a page of 'frequently asked questions'
about OAI in the context of the JISC information environment. These are online at:
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/distributed-systems/jisc-ie/arch/faq/oai/
If none of these sources of information seem relevant then please email
HEIRNET@britarch.ac.uk. |
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