Preservation Network Models: Creating Stable Networks of Information to Ensure the Long Term use of Scientific Data

Meaningful preservation of scientific data is that which permits reuse. This is frequently dependent on a number of digital objects and sources of information which will have been subjected to preservation action such as format conversion or the addition of representation information. A future user may be required to interact with a number of unfamiliar digital objects in order to achieve meaningful reuse of data. As a result an archivist will be confronted with the task of designing an information network which a future data user can navigate and effectively engage with. A preservation information network model is a representation of the digital objects, operations and relationships which allow a preservation objective to be met for a future designated community. The model provides a sharable, stable and organized structure for digital objects and their associated requirements. The model also directs the capture and description of digital objects which need to be packaged and stored within an OAIS compliant Archival Information Package. In this paper we wish to present our approach to modelling these networks using illustrative examples from the CASPAR testbeds. We intend to demonstrate how preservation networks can be designed modelled and terminated for a variety of digital objects supporting the long term reuse of scientific data.