Stančić, Hrvoje.
(2005).
Theoretical Model of Persistent Preservation of Authenticity of Digital Information Objects.
PhD Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Information Science.
[mentor Prelog, Nenad].
Abstract
Motivated by the fact that the growing amount of digital materials is born digitally as well as by the fact that the hardware and the software environment of their preservation is constantly changing, the author in this dissertation explores and analyses the field of preservation of digital information objects and persistent preservation of their authenticity in the context of archives, libraries, museums and other information-documentation institutions that can have the mandate for the preservation of digital materials.
Therefore, firstly he analyses the influence of the basic characteristics of digital information objects on their long term preservation. The basic characteristics are described through physical, logical, and conceptual levels of digital information objects. The author emphasises and clarifies the existence of multiple interconnections of those three levels. Further he analyses the reference model for open archival information system (OAIS) as the basis of the system which is independent of the hardware and the software changes in the preservation environment or which maximally absorbs those influences. Then he analyses fourteen different methods for the preservation of electronic records which can be used by such a digital archive.
Subsequently the author examines the structure of an electronic record in order to find out which of its elements need to be considered by the before mentioned preservation methods. In addition to this the explained structure shows which characteristics of a record have to be preserved in the long run in order for the record to retain its authenticity, reliability, integrity, usability.
Next, the author explains the technique of evaluation and selection of the most suitable preservation method. The technique breaks down the important characteristics of a set of records into the measurable units and assigns the importance factors to them. By using this technique one can obtain the comparable success results of the preservation methods applied to the selected representative sample of records before the method is applied to all preserved electronic records.
Subsequently, the author explores the approach to the persistent preservation of authenticity, firstly by analysing the requirements supporting the presumption of authenticity and then the requirements supporting the verification of authenticity. After that the author examines the system for persistent preservation of authenticity through the analysis of its outer and inner characteristics and emphasises the importance of implementation and usage of digital signatures and persistent identificators as the support for the process of preservation of authenticity. Furthermore, the author adds the concept of certification of applied procedures and methods of preservation to the theoretical model. He defines the forms of certification, explains the development and organisation procedures of the certification process as well as the steps of the process. The author concludes that the trust in institutions that are applying the preservation procedures to the electronic records as well as the confidence that those institutions are applying the appropriate methods of preservation compatible with the internationally recognised standards can be achieved only by the establishment of the certification system.
Finally, the author presents the results of the comparative analysis of the research on the application of theoretical approaches to the long term preservation of digital information objects in the institutions abroad with those in Croatia. By analysing the data and synthesising the results the author arrives at the conclusion at three different levels – the level of comprehension of the term “preservation”, the level of application of the preservation procedures, and the level of preservation policies and practices.
By developing the theoretical model the author defines the organisation, structure and procedures of the whole process of persistent preservation of authenticity of digital information objects as well as emphasises the importance of recognising the need of the institutional level of support to the preservation process. The results of the survey contribute not only to the better understanding of the situation in the field of digital preservation in Croatia but also, because of the comparative analysis with the experiences abroad, to the ranking of Croatia in the international context.
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