The memory of the architect creation and preservation of born digital

architectural archives

Henk Vanstappen, immd.be

CVAa:

Centre of expertise coordinating the archiving of private documents on the

architectural heritage in Flanders.

research questions

¤  survey: how are digital architectural archival records created and managed?

research questions

¤  survey: how are digital architectural archival records created and managed?

¤  case study: what steps are necessary at ingest and preservation?

1.

survey

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objectives

¤  understanding of process of creation and management of digital archives.

¤  anticipate problems with digital sustainability.

¤  exploring possible win/win solutions.

design proces?

“Designing is done with pencil and paper. The CAD drawing is made by an employee.”

design proces?

“Designing is done with pencil and paper. The CAD drawing is made by an employee.”

“We import an AutoCAD drawing into Sketch-up and convert it to 3D. The result is printed and updated with marker pen. We

scan it again and edit it further in Photoshop.”

lesson #1

An understanding of the design process is a prerequisite to make decisions on

preservation actions.

importance & use?

“Our archive is a tool we use daily.”

importance & use?

“Our archive is a tool we use daily.”

“Files are moved to the basement once the acceptance is signed. We’ll only consult it in

case of a legal dispute”

lesson #2

Tell me how you use your archive, and I’ll tell you how well it’s ordered.

lesson #3

Once a file is older than 10 years, attention and care declines dramatically.

file format obsolesence?

file format obsolesence?

“Sometimes files can’t be read. We then try to find a printed version and scan it.”

CAD software

lesson #4

Architects have little issues with compatibility of files, formats and software

– for now.

security & back-up?

“Yes, it’s something we should do.”

lesson #5

Some architects like to live on the edge.

2. case study

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projects

Christian Kieckens, HOUSE VM-D, OUDENBURG Restructuring of a farm house (1995-2001)

file analysis

¤  5 projects files

¤  >20,000 files

¤  up to 65% duplicate files

¤  quasi duplicates (e.g. pdf)

¤  73 different file formats

media

media

Apple 655-0394 Quantum Fireball 1.2GB 50-Pin SCSI Hard Disk Drive

file format identification

unrecognized file formats (DROID v6.01)

vector formats variants

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divergent versions of IGES file format

the treats

¤  obsolete / divergent file formats

¤  obsolete / licensed software

¤  obsolete operating systems

¤  obsolete hardware

¤  obsolete media

¤  bitrot

preservation file format?

¤  open format

¤  usage and software libraries

¤  geometry vs. intelligence (e.g. layers)

¤  reversibility

¤  external reference files (x-refs)

¤  … and try to keep it simple

incompatibility 1

how to define a circle...

incompatibility 2

how to define a sphere (tesselation issue)

testbed

¤  matrix formats & software migrations

¤  visual check (!)

¤  reversibility tests

migrate 2D vwx

VWX (native)

migrate 2D vwx

VWX > DWG: tesselation

migrate 2D dwg

DWG (native)

migrate 2D dwg

DWG > DXF

migrate 2D dwg

DWG > STEP: intelligence lost

migrate 2D dwg

DWG > VRLM: more intelligence lost

migrate 3D skp

migrate 3D skp

skp > dwg: look & feel lost

reversibility 3D skp

skp > dwg > skp intelligence lost

reversibility 3D skp

skp > dwg > skp: stairs lost too...

turnkey?

availability   openess   intelligence   other  

3DM   ✖   ✖  

COLLADA   ✖  

DGN   ✖   ✖  

DWG   ✖   ✖  

DXF   ✖   ✖   ✖  

IFC   ✖   ✖   ✖  

IGES   ✖   ✖  

OBJ   ✖   ✖   ✖  

PDF/A-­‐2/3   ✖   ✖  

PDF/E   ✖   ✖  

PDF/E-­‐2   ✖  

PRC   ✖   ✖  

STEP   ✖   ✖  

SVG   ✖  

U3D   ✖   ✖  

VRML   ✖   ✖  

XRD   ✖  

3.

conclusions

recommendations 1

archival practice:

¤  document design process

¤  document hard- en software use

¤  redefine selection policies

¤  anticipate

recommendations 2

preservation strategy:

¤  no turnkey solution ¤  define users

¤  define users’ expectations

¤  define significant properties

¤  define migration pathway

¤  quality control

recommendations 3

expertise & research needs: ¤  update file format registries ¤  update file format identification tools ¤  document conversion methods & tools ¤  develop validation tools & tools ¤  develop CAD – qualified repositories ¤  research emulation strategies ¤  share expertise

www.immd.be/files/CVAaSurvey_rapport_final.pdf

www.immd.be/files/CADarchivering_rapport_final.pdf

henk@immd.be