3D Data Repository Features, Best Practices, and Implications for Preservation Models: Findings from a National Forum

Abstract

This study identifies challenges and directions for 3D/VR repository standards and practices. As 3D technologies become more affordable and accessible, academic libraries need to implement workflows, standards, and practices that support the full lifecycle of 3D data. This study invited experts across several disciplines to analyze current national repository and preservation efforts. Outlined models provide frameworks to identify features, examine workflows, and determine implications of 3D data on current preservation models. Participants identified challenges for supporting 3D data, including intellectual property and fair use; providing repository system management beyond academic libraries; seeking guidance outside of academia for workflows to model.

The emergence of digital reformatting in the history of preservation knowledge: 1823–2015

“…This study does not discuss post-2015 trends in preservation, such as current trends in the preservation of emerging media, e.g. 3D data and virtual reality (see: Cook and Lischer-Katz, 2019;Grayburn et al, 2019;Hardesty et al, 2020;Lischer-Katz, 2020). However, analysis of these trends can be integrated into the framework presented here.…”

“…3D data and virtual reality (see: Cook and Lischer-Katz, 2019; Grayburn et al. , 2019; Hardesty et al. , 2020; Lischer-Katz, 2020).…”

Fossils in a Digital Age

“…Although digital libraries hold the power to create an easily accessible repository of fossil data, removing geographic barriers, and preserving the integrity of fossils, such a library poses unique problems due to the nature of the data. These problems include how to catalogue, acquire, and preserve the data in addition to how to protect the rights of those who create and own the data (Berquist et al, 2012;Boyer et al, 2017;Davies et al, 2017;Hardesty et al, 2020;Skinner et al, 2013;Ulguim, 2018;Zamyadi et al, 2013). Literature about previous and existing digital fossil libraries, and similar digital libraries containing 3D data, provides important insight into how to create, maintain, and grow a repository of 3D fossil data moving forward.…”

“…One of the biggest inconsistencies in current online digital libraries housing 3D data is a lack of standardized metadata schemas both within and between digital libraries (Hardesty et al, 2020). In the past, schemas have used modifications of Dublin Core (Mi & Pollock, 2018)…”

“…Additionally, metadata must function to aid discoverability, usability, and interoperability of the stored information (Hall et al, 2019;Mi & Pollock, 2018;Ulguim, 2018). Fields that support searchability and discoverability might include institutional identifiers, holding location information, and keywords (Hardesty et al, 2020;Mi & Pollock, 2018). Similarly, fields containing information about physical characteristics of an object and the scan specifications contribute towards the usability of information (Davies et al, 2017;Hall et al, 2019;Mi & Pollock, 2018).…”