Frank Schwarzbach
Professor
Dresden University of Applied Sciences
Frank Henze
Research Assistant, Chair of Surveying
Brandenburg University of Technology
In recent years more and more archaeological research projects (both in fieldwork and in literature or material studies) have started to create, process and store project data and results using digital tools. However, new projects have tended to develop their own individual systems optimized for unique research questions at specific places. Often, the generated data are not saved and published in a sustainable manner and, usually, they are not linked with other research data.
Based on this analysis, the German Research Foundation (DFG) supports the development of an open source, Web-based information system for use in various historical and related scientific disciplines. This system, named OpenInfRA, aims to be a key element of the research data infrastructure in the domain of archaeology. It will be freely available for projects at universities, museums, academies and other national institutions as well as for joint research projects with international cooperation partners. OpenInfRA takes into account a wide range of working methods, such as excavations, building archaeology, geophysics, surveying and restoration. To achieve a high level of interoperability, domain-specific standards and interfaces will be implemented. OpenInfRA shall become a central component in the archaeological working process in which a comprehensive and sustainable long-term documentation of primary data must be assured.
The first part of the presentation will address general requirements and objectives for the development of an infrastructure component for antiquity studies. Specific research topics that are relevant to the design and implementation of the system will be explained in more detail in the second part.