Research Team
Mr Chris Burns and Assoc Prof Christine Garnaut
Archiving born digital architectural records
One of the research projects undertaken by the Architecture Museum developed a framework for archiving born digital architectural records. The key challenges associated with archiving these records involves: establishing the rationale for collecting records produced in a digital environment, determining which records to archive and how to archive them, and understanding how to achieve digital continuity in rapidly evolving and changing electronic environments. This research was funded by NATSPEC, a national not-for-profit organisation whose objective is to improve the construction quality and productivity of the built environment through leadership of information. You can learn more about how our project and how to archive digital records on the NATSPEC website HERE.
This project builds on one funded by the UniSA Research Themes Investment Scheme 2015/16 and developed a framework for archiving born digital architectural records. The key challenges associated with archiving these records included: (1) establishing the rationale for collecting records produced in a digital environment; (2) which records to archive and (3) how to archive them; and (4) how to achieve digital continuity in rapidly evolving and changing electronic environments.
The project:
- undertook a scoping survey focused on these four challenges. The aim of the survey was to summarise the status of
(a) professional (libraries, archives, museums) and architectural practitioners’ endeavours to archive born digital records and
(b) identify existing guidelines to support current professional and practitioner born digital archiving endeavours. - drafted a provisional framework for archiving born digital architectural records. The framework was tested with a number of selected stakeholders. The framework is usable for digital architectural records and transferable to other disciplinary categories eg in building and construction, engineering.
Funded by NATSPEC, a national not-for-profit organisation whose objective is to improve the construction quality and productivity of the built environment through leadership of information. The "Archiving Digital Records" resources developed from this research are available on the NATSPEC website HERE. A Report on the project is available below.
Download National Framework Report
(420KB PDF)
(4890KB PDF)
The challenges of collecting born-digital architectural records sit alongside the increasing demand for the digitisation of paper records, yet both face risks for their future preservation. Dr Julie Collins, Curator at the Architecture Museum, has written a piece for the Association of Consulting Architects calling for the preservation not only of paper based architectural records, but also those born in the digital age. In it she shared some important steps architects can take to ensure future generations will have the opportunity to remember today’s architecture. You can read the article HERE.
